The Christmas Gift

The Christmas Gift

The weather was cold as the small girl made her way down the road.  Her breath billowed out in the form of smoke as she rubbed her hands together to warm her chilled fingers.  The height of the snow would have reached just above the ankles, if a full grown man was walking through it, but it reached its way to almost the girl’s knees.  A few times, when she tripped, the snow would engulf her and you could not tell that anyone had disturbed the white sheet of snow.

            The pudgy girl had a package clasped under her right arm, and protectively held her left hand over her coat pocket.  No one knew about the small collection of coins in her pocket, but she felt as if they shone brightly, calling out to all who passed by.  As she walked, she kept her head down and watched as her legs plowed a path in the snow.

            She ducked into the candy store to warm her hands and regain feeling in her toes.  As she recovered she browsed the displays of delectable candies and gazed in awe as the women behind the counter shaped the chocolates.  Any other child would have given in to the urge to buy some candy.  The speed their little hands would shoot to place the money on the counter would have been faster than any dog chasing after a rabbit.  Despite the strong urge to buy the candy and temporarily satisfy her sweet tooth, the girl headed back into the snow.

            The girl had walked for a few minutes when the snow began to fall faster.  She quickly ducked into a toy store hoping the snow would lighten up.  While she waited she gazed longingly at all the pretty dolls and shiny, toy cars that lined the shelves.  Again any child would be selfish, and quick to thrust their money at the cashier, and again the girl ignored her longing and rushed outside once more.  The snow had not slowed down so every few buildings the girl would duck into a doorway to warm herself before heading out again. 

She had waited in a fabric store and jumped around ignoring the pretty dresses and silky cloths that begged to be bought.  At the food store she paid no attention to the delectable pastries that seemed to be leaping off  the shelves.  At the shoe store she stared at her socks peeking through her worn shoes and disregarded the complaining of the little boy who wanted more than one pair of play shoes.

Finally, she had reached her last stop; the girl crept into the drug store and made her way to the counter.  She took no notice of the family that shared a root bear at the soda counter as she picked up a bottle of fever medicine.  She laid her coins on the counter next to the bottle and gazed up at the man behind it. 

He slowly counted the coins and smiled sympathetically at her, he knew that the money was nowhere near enough for the medicine.  He also knew that she came from a poor home, the holes in her shoes and gloves showed it, along with her thin winter coat and her dirty stockings.  He took a few bills out of his own pocket and put them into the register and handed the selfless, young girl the bottle, along with a candy cane.  She beamed up at him with joyful tears in her eyes; she mouthed a thank you, then left.

As she rushed home the girl thought about how pleased her mother would be with her for her purchase.  Her mother and baby brother had been sick for a few weeks and her mother didn’t have enough money to pay for the medicine.  Since the two had a fever, the girl’s mother and father decided it best for the family to spend Christmas alone.  This caused a great disappointment among everyone.  Now, three days till Christmas, the girl hoped her early gift would allow her mother and brother to feel better, and brighten everyone’s Christmas.