The Gift

Posted by Paula Gembarosky in Stories - Uplifting on 17-7-13

Perhaps it was the mixtures of cinnamon scented pinecones, or the music of Christmas that was causing my migraine, but the intense pain was slowing getting worse.
Step by step, I became more and more agitated as my head throbbed in time with each step I took.
December twenty-fourth. Another day, and it would be doomsday.
This happened every Christmas. The amount of stress and commercialism was hardly worth the trouble.
Today I would have loved to remain home, enjoying some quality time with my mattress. Instead, I had promised Mother I‘d take her shopping.
I was all but clawing my brain out through my eye sockets when I felt a tugging on my sleeve.
“Maxine, are you coming Hunny?”
I pulled my fingers away from my eyes long enough to see Mother pointing to Taylor’s Treats. It was one of the few local stores left that sold used goods at a reasonable rate.
Since they came into town, Mother had become one of their best customers.
Sighing, I smiled, and hoped my headache, and Christmas would just go away.
Mother walked at a faster pace than normal. The store had just expanded into something called, “Monty’s Mix Up,” which was the basement of the building filled with miss-matched goods.
We headed down the stairs, and I heard a loud squeal which, had made me think Mother had stepped on a mouse.
I should have known better though, as I looked to the left, and saw her hugging an old doll house.
“Maxine, I MUST have this. I have wanted a doll house for as long as I can remember. Look at it. Homemade no less.”
“Mother, I…”
I never got to finish as she let go of the house, and was already talking to the girl who was at the register.
Mother handed over a ten dollar bill, and I felt the throbbing in my head worsen.
I let out a long breath, and began to lug the house out to our car.
We drove home, and Mother put her new toy out for display. Moving around it, she threw her hands in the air.
“Maxine, I just had THE BEST idea. We should decorate my new house.”
I knew where this was heading.
“Mother, why don’t you call around, and see if any stores have what you want before we leave the house.”
She gave me a quick pout, and her green-brown eyes showed fake tears.
“Mother, save us some leg work. Just make the call.”
She pulled her bottom lip in, and grunted. She opened the drawer we kept the phone books in, and decided not to waste anymore time.
Twenty stores later, and no luck, I finally realized just how far humanity had sunken. Something as precious as a child’s imagination had been taken away. In the place of dolls, board game, and action figures, were cell phones, video games, and computers. It made my stomach turn to think what this world was coming to.
I realized more and more, Christmas was just a reason to sale products, and nothing more. One last store she called had only a few pieces, so we grabbed our purses and coats, heading out to find her treasures.
Driving up the street, I had finally had more than enough of Christmas music.
“Bah-Humbug,” I said, as I flicked the radio knob to the off position.
In the passenger’s side of the car came a loud shriek, and I half expected to see a banshee dressed with mistletoe instead of Mother.
She pounded on my arm, making me feel a bit like one of her cookie doughs that she was kneading.
“Look Maxine, that must be it. Look at the sign…”
A giant neon, flashing jack-in-the-box was jumping out at us. It held a big, pink donut that shined the words, “Barney’s Brick N’ Brack.”
I knew that had to be the place she was talking about.
I was barely parked when Mother took off running. I held my hands over my eyes, and followed behind my dear, sweet Mother.
We opened a very pink door, and when I turned the knob, a loud voice came from over-head.
“Welcome to Barney’s Brick N’ Brack. Have some fun. This is a place for kids. Little and big. If you want a treat, have a seat.”
My eyes darted around the room, half expected a killer clown to appear. Instead an short, round man did.
Mother clapped her hands, and let out a giggle. I stood slightly behind her, in case we had to run.
“Hey there, I be Barney. This is my home away from home. Come on in Ladies. What are you looking for today?”
Mother, being the people person she was, jumped right in.
“I need furniture for my doll house. I just got it, and we can’t find any no matter when we’ve looked.”
“Not a problem,” said Barney. “If you go straight ahead, past the dolls with no name, you’ll see a room marked, “Minnie’s Minis. Have a look around, and make me a deal.”
His cheeks almost looked as if there were light bulbs behind them. There was something different about this little man. Almost as if he wasn’t quite…
“Ah,” I thought. It must be this lighting in this bizarre place.
Mother was far ahead of me. I went to follow, but my arm was snatched by Barney. I was about to give him what for, when he looked at me. Something about his whole demeanor had changed. It was far more serious, and the clown grin had dropped as though gravity was paying him a visit.
“So tell me, what is it YOU are looking for?”
“Nothing. There is nothing I want or need.”
He got a bit closer.
“I think you, Little Lady, need some spirits, perhaps, of the otherworldly kind.”
I went to pull my arm away when he let go. His face went back to normal, and I rubbed my arm.
“Two rooms before you hit the back wall, on the left. There’s another customer back there who found what he needed. I am certain you will as well.”
I blinked, and rubbed my eyes. Was this really happening? When I opened my eyes, Barney was gone, and in his place was a pile of glitter.
I decided to let Mother browse uninterrupted, and have a look around for myself. Though the logical side of my brain told me to get the heck out of there. Putting one foot in front of the other, I began a walk into another world.
After walking down a long hall, I found myself in a room that smelled like Heaven. That would be of course, if Heaven smelled like chocolate.
I began to see the candies of my childhood. Chocolate coins, wrapped in golden foil, which Mother had always bought for me. So many wonderful Christmas candies, many with old-style toys. My mind began to flood with images of Christmas past, and of good times.
I felt a kind of giddiness pass through me as the sights and scents surrounded me, and the visions of the Christmases of simpler times.
I went to reach for a candy cane, when I heard a voice I knew only too well.
I turned around quickly, and found myself face to face with none other than Santa Clause.
“Santa,” I yelled as I ran up to give him a hug.
As I let go, my co-worker, Art, readjusted his Santa hat. His grin warmed my heart as he truly did look the part of Santa.
“Well hello there Missy. How are you?”
I couldn’t help but to smile.
“I’m well Art. What brings you to this place?”
Art grinned even wider.
“I’m playing Santa for an assisted living home today. It’s one thing I love to do. I came here to get some goodies for the residents.”
I was in shock. I knew Art was a good person, but to do this? It was remarkable.
Art laughed at the look on my face.
“Let me explain just why I do this. You see, it is quite selfish of me. The amount of joy I receive for doing this, well, no amount of money can bring that to me.”
He told me of a few of his visits, and each one brought tears to my eyes. The first tale was of two sisters. One girl saw Santa was about to leave, and asked him for one thing. She told him of her sister that was very ill. The only thing she wanted was to have a visit from Santa, as she couldn’t leave her home.
She then ran off, and Art had everyone get the information on who this girl was. After they found her parents, they explained the sister had cancer, and not long to live. Art arrived at the girl’s house on a fire truck, and he said the child’s eyes lit up when she saw Santa. Art was at the house for three hours with the girls and their family.
A week later, the girl lost her battle to cancer. What Art had discovered was that the sister that had asked for that one wish also had cancer. A full year later, she passed on as well. The girls received their last wish thanks to Art. He felt so good he could give those girls their Christmas wish.
He told me of his latest visit was to a geriatric patient. He couldn’t move or talk. Art went over to him, and sat with him. He told the man, “Santa says God Bless you.”
The man wanted desperately to speak, but couldn’t. He curled up his hand as best he could around Art’s, and tears ran down the man’s face. Art said he would never give up being Santa every year because it gives him such fulfillment.
By the time Art had finished, and I dried my tears, I began to feel something inside me change.
“Thank you Art for such a special gift.”
Art tilted his head.
“What do you mean?”
“That you truly are Santa Clause.
We said our good-byes, and I went to hunt Mother. As I went to move into the room Mother was in, Barney jumped out in front of me. In his hand was a Christmas gift.
“I do believe this is what you were looking for my dear…”
He handed me the present, and before I could say a word, he interrupted.
“Your mother is already up front, and paid. This my dear is for you. But do not peek until Christmas Day.”
I attempted to question Barney, and his disappeared before my eyes. All that was left behind was glitter, and the scent of sugar cookies…
On the drive home, Mother drifted off. I looked by her foot, and there was the present Barney had given to me. I just wondered…
I ended up forgetting about it as a deer jumped in front of the car. It looked straight at me, and would budge. I heard mother moving in her seat, so I turned my head to check on her.
When I looked back, the deer was gone, and there was no tracks or any signs there had ever been one at all.
I started the car back up with shaking hands, and drove home as fast as I could with out wrecking.
Finally safe at home, there was several messages on the answering machine. We opted to forget about them until tomorrow.
Mother went to bed earlier that night, as she would be cooking tomorrow. I crept into the kitchen, and on a whim, got into the cookie jar. I set a few cookies on a plate, and left a glass of milk out.
“Hey, why not?” I thought.
Considering…I heard a loud noise on the roof, and shook my head.
“Time for bed.” Off I went.
I laid awake in bed for sometime. It was now after midnight, and officially Christmas. Sitting up, I saw Barney’s gift on my dresser. Getting up, I sat down at my desk, and looked at the wrapping paper.
“Well, I guess this is it huh?”
I started to tear open the paper, and heard a crash in the living room. The box fell open, and inside was glitter, and a note.
I picked it up, and began to read it.
“Dearest Maxine,
“For far too long have you had your “Christmas Spirit.” So this year, since you have been a very good girl, I am giving you what you sought out the most. Enjoy.
Love,
Santa”
I almost passed out as in the glitter that was now all over my room, I begun to hear a voice speaking to me.
“Maxine…Christmas is more than just about how much money you spend, the amount of gifts under the tree, or rushing from house to house, eating dinner and running.
It’s about the time we have with those we love, watching the children laugh and play, of life and being alive. Enjoying the snow as it falls to the ground, making snow angels, and having snowball fights, then running inside, and having hot chocolate by the fire with those you love. It’s about giving of yourself and your heart.
Seeing our kids wait by the window with anticipation for the footsteps on the roof, and setting out cookies and milk for Santa. That is what Christmas is about. Family, friends, and love.
In this world, life flies by so quickly, and in a blink of an eye, life is over. Therefore, that is why we must embrace those we love while we have them, and when the time comes and they’re no longer with us, we can look back, and remember them in our hearts.
Enjoy everyday you have, throw those snowballs, and keep those you love close.
This is the true meaning of Christmas, and the greatest gift of all.”
As I managed to pull myself up off the floor, another crash sent me into the living room.
My vision a tad blurry, I looked at the Christmas tree. Underneath of it was countless presents. But standing beside it was none other than Barney. But he wasn’t Barney anymore…he was SANTA.
“How? Why? What in the world?”
Barney laughed, and nibbled on one of the cookies I had left out. A short wave of his hand, and he disappeared.
“SANTA?”
I heard jingle bells, then the sounds of hooves on our roof. Looking around, I knew I had been given a gift worth more than it’s weight in gold.
I realized that, in that box was my Christmas spirit, and a new appreciation of life.
I closed my eyes, and smiled.
“Merry Christmas to all, and to all I good night.”
I moved to the tree, and fell asleep watching the twinkling lights.

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