A Christmas Story

I think I would give my right arm to have a warm blanket and a pillow. Just one pillow. I live in a sketchy part of town, someplace where the windows don't quite shut and the door hangs just a bit ajar. That wouldn't be so bad if it didn't get so cold at night during the winter. I sleep on the floor. My younger siblings need the mattress. Which is fine because I could sleep anywhere - if I had a pillow and a blanket.

Mom asks me what I want for Christmas this year. I would feel stupid asking her for a pillow and a blanket so instead I say, "Nothing". She presses me and instead I tell her I'll think about it. Then she asks Raymond and Celine and they go on and on and on about the toys they want for Christmas. "Mom and Dad can't get you everything you want," I scold. But Mom just waves me away and lets them have their fun making their lists.


Dad tells me we've been invited to a Christmas party. There will be games for the kids and a free lunch, even a visit from 'Mrs. Claus'. I'm surprised he evens wants to socialize with a bunch of other parents while the kids are doing whatever. (I don't plan on playing the stupid games; I am 12 after all, way too old for musical chairs and whatever else.) Mom must've talked him into it.


We're at the Christmas party, hosted by a bunch of kids who want to support the community. Cool cause, but I'm just not into it. Mrs. Claus has brought a bunch of presents, gifts I guess they are going to hand out to all the kids here. I'm expecting something stupid, like a game or a toy. Raymond and Celine are all psyched up for the gift giving. But before that they try to get me to play some of their games. I'm too old for kid stuff, I say, and they smile and leave me alone as they invite my siblings over instead.

After lunch they finally start giving out the gifts. I just want Ray and Cel to get their presents so we can leave. I hear Mrs. Claus call the names (Ray and Cel get exactly what they asked for - games and toys; so that's why Mom wanted to know what I wanted for Christmas.) and all of the sudden she calls mine. I'm confused, so confused I don't get up to claim my prize, so one of the volunteers brings it over. It's big, almost too hard to hold. I don't open it because she's called my name again. Suddenly I have three big packages and I keep looking around waiting for someone to say there's been a mistake.

My parents urge me to open them. I don't really want to because I know they are stupid presents and I don't really want anyone to scold me for being ungrateful and disappointed. Instead my siblings come over and yank the wrapping off for me. What I see stuns me.

A blanket. And two pillows. Not one but two. I'm so confused at my gifts. These are stupid, I try saying. But instead my voice cracks and I can't see. Why am I crying? So what if I would have had to sleep on the cold, hard floor? So what if absolutely adore the color purple - the exact shade of the pillows and the blanket? So what if someone somewhere knew exactly what I wanted?

Stop trying to put on a front, I hear inside my head. So instead I cuddle one pillow to my chest and I smile into it as my tears melt away.