Tenth Day of Christmas Story
From Santa, With Love
by Nan Roloff
by Nan Roloff
Billy Barnett sat in the living room and stared at the blinking lights of the brightly decorated tree. Here he was, a big grown-up boy of eight, and Christmas just didn't seem to be as much fun this year. He wondered if getting older was the reason.
Oh sure, he had made up his Christmas list. He wanted a new robot toy that would change into a rocket ship, and he wanted cars, and planes, and books, and trains, and a new bike. He already had lots of toys, but he knew he would get whatever he wanted. He always did. So why wasn't he having more fun? As a matter of fact, he even had a ten dollar bill from his Uncle John to spend any way he liked.
At school everybody was really excited about Christmas. It was only a few days away. During recess everyone was telling their friends what they wanted.
"I want a new, action-packed laser weapon," said Chuckie Glenn. He was a cool dresser and always had lots of money.
I'm going to get and electric train that really whistles," said Sean Cramden, "What about you, Billy?"
"Oh, I don't know..." Billy said, "guess I'm just not in the mood for Christmas this year."
He noticed that nobody asked Joey Ryder what he wanted. In fact, nobody talked to Joey much at all. Maybe because his shirts always had holes in them even though they were clean, and he never wore a hat or gloves, even when it was extra cold. Joey was sitting on the steps by himself writing a letter.
After school, Billy and Joey always walked home the same way, but Billy never walked with him because everyone thought Joey was weird. On this day, Joey stopped and looked thoughtfully at the mailbox on the corner. Then he stepped up and quickly shoved a letter into the slot. He hurried away so fast, he didn't see that the letter got stuck and tumbled to the ground.
"Hey, Joey, wait!" called Billy, but Joey was already gone. Billy leaned over and picked it up. "Humph," he thought, "Joey didn't even put a stamp on it." He looked at the address:
Oh sure, he had made up his Christmas list. He wanted a new robot toy that would change into a rocket ship, and he wanted cars, and planes, and books, and trains, and a new bike. He already had lots of toys, but he knew he would get whatever he wanted. He always did. So why wasn't he having more fun? As a matter of fact, he even had a ten dollar bill from his Uncle John to spend any way he liked.
At school everybody was really excited about Christmas. It was only a few days away. During recess everyone was telling their friends what they wanted.
"I want a new, action-packed laser weapon," said Chuckie Glenn. He was a cool dresser and always had lots of money.
I'm going to get and electric train that really whistles," said Sean Cramden, "What about you, Billy?"
"Oh, I don't know..." Billy said, "guess I'm just not in the mood for Christmas this year."
He noticed that nobody asked Joey Ryder what he wanted. In fact, nobody talked to Joey much at all. Maybe because his shirts always had holes in them even though they were clean, and he never wore a hat or gloves, even when it was extra cold. Joey was sitting on the steps by himself writing a letter.
After school, Billy and Joey always walked home the same way, but Billy never walked with him because everyone thought Joey was weird. On this day, Joey stopped and looked thoughtfully at the mailbox on the corner. Then he stepped up and quickly shoved a letter into the slot. He hurried away so fast, he didn't see that the letter got stuck and tumbled to the ground.
"Hey, Joey, wait!" called Billy, but Joey was already gone. Billy leaned over and picked it up. "Humph," he thought, "Joey didn't even put a stamp on it." He looked at the address:
To: Santa Claus Toy Town North Pole, USA
"Gee, doesn't he know this can't get anywhere without a stamp..." Billy shook his head. The envelope was open. "Maybe I'll take it home and ask Mom for a stamp." Billy carefully put the letter into his notebook.
When he got home he ran straight to his room and took out the letter. He knew he shouldn't read it, but, gee, Joey still seemed excited about Christmas. If he could take one little peek at the letter, maybe he would feel good about Christmas, too. The letter said:
When he got home he ran straight to his room and took out the letter. He knew he shouldn't read it, but, gee, Joey still seemed excited about Christmas. If he could take one little peek at the letter, maybe he would feel good about Christmas, too. The letter said:
Dear Santa Claus,
I know my mom said you won't be able to come this year because you have so much to do, and Dad just lost his job, and there isn't enough food for everyone. And, really, I don't mind. I don't need anything. Honest. But my little brother Ben - well, he's had his heart set on a teddy bear. And that's all he's talked about. And he's been extra good this year. And me, too. You don't need to bring anything for me. But, if you could take just a minute to stop by my house for Ben - I promise to be extra tood forever. How about it?
Your best friend,
Joey Ryder
505 Hill Street
Pleasantville, Missouri
Billy was shocked. Santa not coming? He felt sad as he thought of how little Ben would feel, and Joey, too, if Santa didn't show up. But now, Billy was really worried. Even if he got a stamp and mailed the letter, what if Santa didn't get it in time? Better talk to his mom! He ran into the kitchen with the letter in his hand and held it up, quickly explaining how he got it in the first place.
Oh, okay! I guess I can stop a few minutes and look at it if it's so imporotant," smiled Mom, wiping the flour off her hands with a towel. As she read the letter, she stopped smiling. In fact, she put the towel up to her eye like maybe she had some flour in it.
"Well, Billy, what do you think we should do about this?" she asked, finally.
"I have an idea!" And in a minute Billy returned with a big, soft teddy bear with big brown eyes and a little bow tie. "Let's give him this!"
"But, Billy, that's Alfred, your favorite bear!" said Mom.
"Oh, I know, but I'm getting sorta old for this kind of thing, and I have lots of other toys. Please, Mom... can't I do this! Please?"
Mom smiled and gave Billy a big hug. He also thought he heard a little sniff. "I'm so proud of my great big, grown-up boy!" she said, holding him tight.
"Just one more thing, Mom," said Billy, "Can we go to the store today? I've decided what I want to get with the $10.00."
At the store Billy got a nice, warm, knitted blue hat with a red stripe, and gloves to match. "But, you already have a nice hat and gloves! " said Mom. Billy just smiled.
That night, Billy carefullly wrapped his gifts and wrote To Ben on one package, and To Joey on the other. With Love, from Santa.
On Christmas Eve, Billy's dad drove him to Joey's house. He tiptoed up to the porch, knocked on the door, and hid around the corner. A tired, but kind-looking lady came to the door and said with surprise, "What's this?" She looked around and took the packages inside.
On the way home Billy could not stop smiling. He thought of seeing Joey after Christmas vacation was over. Joey would be wearing his brand new hat and gloves, and when it was cold, he would be nice and warm like the other kids. And Billy decided that from now on he would talk more to Joey, and walk with him after achool, and be his friend.
"What are you smiling about, Buddy?" asked Billly's dad.
Billy leaned against his dad's arm. "I'm smiling becasue... this is the best Christmas I've ever had!"
I know my mom said you won't be able to come this year because you have so much to do, and Dad just lost his job, and there isn't enough food for everyone. And, really, I don't mind. I don't need anything. Honest. But my little brother Ben - well, he's had his heart set on a teddy bear. And that's all he's talked about. And he's been extra good this year. And me, too. You don't need to bring anything for me. But, if you could take just a minute to stop by my house for Ben - I promise to be extra tood forever. How about it?
Your best friend,
Joey Ryder
505 Hill Street
Pleasantville, Missouri
Billy was shocked. Santa not coming? He felt sad as he thought of how little Ben would feel, and Joey, too, if Santa didn't show up. But now, Billy was really worried. Even if he got a stamp and mailed the letter, what if Santa didn't get it in time? Better talk to his mom! He ran into the kitchen with the letter in his hand and held it up, quickly explaining how he got it in the first place.
Oh, okay! I guess I can stop a few minutes and look at it if it's so imporotant," smiled Mom, wiping the flour off her hands with a towel. As she read the letter, she stopped smiling. In fact, she put the towel up to her eye like maybe she had some flour in it.
"Well, Billy, what do you think we should do about this?" she asked, finally.
"I have an idea!" And in a minute Billy returned with a big, soft teddy bear with big brown eyes and a little bow tie. "Let's give him this!"
"But, Billy, that's Alfred, your favorite bear!" said Mom.
"Oh, I know, but I'm getting sorta old for this kind of thing, and I have lots of other toys. Please, Mom... can't I do this! Please?"
Mom smiled and gave Billy a big hug. He also thought he heard a little sniff. "I'm so proud of my great big, grown-up boy!" she said, holding him tight.
"Just one more thing, Mom," said Billy, "Can we go to the store today? I've decided what I want to get with the $10.00."
At the store Billy got a nice, warm, knitted blue hat with a red stripe, and gloves to match. "But, you already have a nice hat and gloves! " said Mom. Billy just smiled.
That night, Billy carefullly wrapped his gifts and wrote To Ben on one package, and To Joey on the other. With Love, from Santa.
On Christmas Eve, Billy's dad drove him to Joey's house. He tiptoed up to the porch, knocked on the door, and hid around the corner. A tired, but kind-looking lady came to the door and said with surprise, "What's this?" She looked around and took the packages inside.
On the way home Billy could not stop smiling. He thought of seeing Joey after Christmas vacation was over. Joey would be wearing his brand new hat and gloves, and when it was cold, he would be nice and warm like the other kids. And Billy decided that from now on he would talk more to Joey, and walk with him after achool, and be his friend.
"What are you smiling about, Buddy?" asked Billly's dad.
Billy leaned against his dad's arm. "I'm smiling becasue... this is the best Christmas I've ever had!"
No comments:
Post a Comment