A Christmas Miracle
by:
Willow Cross
Copyright 2011 Willow Cross
Smashwords Edition
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Smashwords Edition, License Notes
This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.
Dedication
This short story is dedicated to each and every person who has struggled in life. It’s easy to say, “Hang in there” and “Keep your chin up,” but there are times when those sayings don’t mean all that much. However, do try to hang in there. Remember this isn’t a situation you’re stuck in, it’s something you’re going through. It will end eventually. Love to you all and have a very Merry Christmas!
Forward
This is a work of fiction loosely based on a true story. Any similarities to people, organizations, or life circumstances are purely coincidental.
A Christmas Miracle
“Mommy, it’s cold in here!” Christina moaned and pulled her pink sleeping bag close around her neck. Her blue eyes squinted as she wrinkled her pixie nose.
Mercedith sighed and continued to pound a nail into the living room wall. “I know, baby. Once I get the blanket hung it will get a lot warmer. I promise. Just keep covered and you’ll stay warm.”
Certain the blanket was secured, she stepped off the chair and surveyed her handiwork with a smile. As much as she’d hated putting nail holes in her grandmother’s handmade quilt, she was certain the old woman would’ve been pleased to know she’d helped to keep them all warm.
Casting her gaze over the four sleeping bags strewn about the living room floor, she checked for movement. Except for Christina, the children were fast asleep. With a little luck they’d stay that way until the candle had warmed the room.
“Chrissie, don’t touch the candle. Just stay in your bag. I need to get the dishes washed and supper ready. Okay?”
Christina’s muffled answer came from deep inside her sleeping bag. “Okay, Mommy.”
***
Mercedith Owens considered herself a hard-working woman. Life hadn’t always been good to her, but it hadn’t been that bad either. Twenty-eight, a single mother with four mouths to feed, and an old farm house to manage, didn’t leave her much time to lament over her struggles. Even if she had a mind to.
Sleep was a luxury she couldn’t afford; along with many other items most would consider necessities. Although she rarely returned home from work before 3am, every morning she’d get up at six and fix breakfast for the four children. Christina, an eight year-old with a stout heart and stronger will. Amanda, who at five was still as shy and quiet as ever. Katie a happy, talkative three year-old. And her two year-old baby boy, Cole.
Mercedith loved her children with a passion. As bad as things got--bills, car troubles, and arguments with her ex-husband--her children were always her first priority.
She paused in her dish washing for a moment and stared out the window. Eight inches of snow blanketed the vast front yard transforming it into a winter wonderland. Even though the fuel oil bill was impossible to pay during the winter months, she loved this old house. As much as she’d complained about growing up on a farm as a teenager, from Christina’s birth on she’d wanted to raise her kids in the country. Away from traffic and city life. Out here in the middle of nowhere she didn’t worry about strangers, neighbors, or bad influences.
Sighing again, she quickly finished the dishes and began making supper. Hot dogs and mac-n-cheese. It’s a good thing they love this. God knows it’s about all I can afford right now, she thought.
As she worked, her mind raced. She knew she had to get heat in the house. And the electric bill would be due in a week. The car payment had to be sent out, and insurance needed paid. Even if she got lucky and made another $300 in tips this week, that still wouldn’t help with the fuel oil. Why does everything have to be so complicated? Why can’t the oil company just sell me the amount of fuel I can afford?
Even if she managed to come up with all that money, there was still Christmas to contend with. Tears pooled in her eyes. Every Christmas was difficult, but this would be the first Christmas the children got nothing at all.
Mercedith closed her eyes and sent up a prayer. “God, I don’t ask for much. And I know we aren’t supposed to ask for money, but I need some help here. I know Christmas isn’t supposed to be about presents, but I don’t know how to get four young children to understand. If you’re listening, please do something. Anything at all would be great.”
She sighed and wiped a tear from her cheek. Maybe he heard her. Maybe she’d finally catch a break and be able to give the kids the Christmas they deserved.
***
Mercedith dropped the phone on the couch beside her, glad the children were upstairs playing and unable to see the tears rolling down her face. As angry as she was, she was thankful her ex had moved to Nevada with his pretty little girlfriend. At least with him so far away, she wouldn’t be going to prison anytime soon. The phone call had ended the same way it always did. “Tell the kids I love them, and I’ll try to send some child support as soon as I can. Hang in there, you can do this!”
Really? Hang in there? Who did he think he was? Yeah I can do it! I do it every day, all the time, all by myself. “Ugh!”
She looked around the living room taking in the ancient orange couch, the wing back chair she’d pulled out of someone else’s trash, the faded denim loveseat, and the small TV she’d purchased from a rent to own place. All of it junk, but all of it was hers. The walls were beautifully adorned with pictures, shelves, and nick-knacks she’d picked up over the years at garage sales and flea markets. In fact, the decor was so pretty it made the crappy furniture look even worse than it was. And it was all hers. Every last, tiny, crappy thing had been bought and paid for by her. Yeah, she could do it herself. She’d spent seven miserable married years doing it herself.
“Mom,” Amanda yelled from the top of the stairs. “Can we put up the Christmas decorations today?”
“Yeah, can we?” Christina chimed in.
The clomp, clomp, thump of 4 sets of feet moved down the stairwell. Wiping her tear-stained face she forced her lips into a smile, and answered, “Sure. Today’s my day off. We should do something fun.”
***
Sighing, Mercedith placed the pen on the table and neatly folded the yellow paper in half. Signing up for Christmas help from the school was the last thing she wanted to do, but at least this way the kids would have something to open. Two presents a piece was better than nothing at all.
She rubbed her hands together to warm them and went to turn on the oven. The house was getting too cold again and Chrissie and Amanda were about to return from school. The candles in the living room seemed to keep it warm enough in there for the babies to play, but the rest of the house felt like a freezer.
Her heart jumped in her chest as the phone rang. All day she’d been dreading a call from her sister. She was fairly certain Chrissie had spilled the beans about the furnace at church the night before, and she really didn’t want to explain to anyone why she didn’t have the money to buy more oil.
“Hello?”
“Hey sis! Just checking on you,” Kelli’s voice answered.
Mercedith tried to put a smile in her voice when she spoke. “Hey. I’m good. What’s up?”
“You don’t sound good, Mercy. You sound upset. So, you tell me what’s up.”
Rolling her eyes, she thought, “And here we go.” Somehow managing to keep the frustration she felt out of her voice, she answered, “Nothing. Just the same old same old. You know bills, and stuff.”
“I know. Same here. Have you heard from Dave? Any news on that front?”
“Yep. Still doesn’t have a job, misses the kids, blah blah blah. It never changes.”
“Well, listen, I just heard about an organization here in town that will help you with your fuel oil for the winter. I was told they’ll pay for one month. If that’s true, it would give you a month to save up to buy more.”
Mercedith ran a hand through her dark hair. More charity? Great. She took a deep breath before answering, “I’ll check into it. What’s the name?”
“St. Michael’s church. They have a poor relief fund. And everything is a case by case decision. With four kids, I’m sure they’d help you.”
“Thanks for the info. I’ll look into it. Look I need to go. The kids’ll be off the bus soon and there’s a few things I need to do before they get here. Thanks though!”
“Mercy, I love you. You know if we had the money we’d help, right?”
“It’s fine. Don’t worry about it, Kel. I love you too,” she said and hung up.
Hang in there. Always the same thing with everyone. Not that she told many people. It was embarrassing enough without fifty-million people knowing about it. And poor relief fund? Really? We’re not poor. We have a great house, and decent things. It’s not the nicest stuff in the world, but it’s better than some have. At least there’s food, warm clothes, blankets, beds, electricity and hot water.
She glanced at the clock. The kids would be home in five minutes. Best get the little ones up from their naps and ready to go. After their snacks, she’d have to rush to get them to the sitters and arrive at work on time.
***
The ticking from the cuckoo clock on the wall of Mr. Hartley’s office was the only sound breaking the deafening silence in the small cluttered room. His desk took up over half of the space adding claustrophobia to the already long list of emotions roiling through Mercedith.
She shifted in her seat, and brought a finger up to her mouth. As her teeth clamped down on an already jagged nail, she thought better of it and shoved the wayward hand under her thigh.
The gruff man silently read through all five sheets of paperwork she’d been required to fill out. Every so often he’d grunt as if he disagreed with something she’d written. Try as she might, she couldn’t keep her eyes busy elsewhere and no matter what she tried to focus on, they’d drift right back to his bowed head. Thick grey hair surrounded a shiny bald spot on the top of his head. Wire rimmed glasses perched on the tip of his narrow pointed nose looked as if at any moment they’d drop to the desk below. Twice now he’d cleared his throat and glanced up at her with an icy stare as if attempting to decipher whether or not she’d been honest with him.
This was one of the many reasons she hated asking for help. The few times she’d had to humble herself and seek assistance had been remarkably similar. They all seemed to act like she was scamming the system. As if the money or help she needed came right out of their own pockets.
He finally looked up from the paperwork and spoke in the same gruff voice he’d greeted her with. “Well, Ms. Owens, it appears your paper work is in order. How long have you been without heat?”
Ashamed, she answered quietly, “Two weeks.”
“Hmmmm. And you are just now coming for help. Why is that?”
“I thought I could make enough to do it myself. I really did try.”
He grew silent again as he shuffled through the paperwork looking for something.
A wave of nausea fluttered through her, and she bit back the urge to say something she’d regret. Oh how she’d love to tell him that when she’d gotten married and had four children she hadn’t planned on being a single parent. She hadn’t planned on much of anything that had happened in the last three years. She most certainly hadn’t expected the man she’d ended up supporting for most of their marriage to take off with a younger woman that made more money than she did. If she’d had the insight to know that was going to happen, she might have made different decisions.
Mr. Hartley glanced up. “What do you do with the younger children while you work?”
“I work nights so they all go to the babysitters.”
“Yes, well, I suppose they’d have to then,” he answered. “Well,” he paused for several excruciating seconds as his eyes focused on something over her shoulder before finally continuing. “I do believe you qualify for assistance. We don’t generally have people show up looking for help that are actually working. But I think in these circumstances we can make an exception.”
Mercedith exhaled and her eyes filled with tears. “Oh thank you so much! I really appreciate it. I can even pay you back if you need me to. It will have to be small payments, but I can do it.”
He never cracked a smile as he answered. “Yes, there is that. I’ll need you to sign a paper stating you are willing to repay the relief fund.”
Mercy blinked and tried to clear the water from her eyes before it ran down her cheeks. “Absolutely. Anything you need.”
He cleared his throat and handed her a sheet of paper.
She didn’t even bother to read it. Taking a pen from the pencil holder on his desk, she quickly scribbled her name and handed it back to him, saying, “Thank you so much. I’m just so relieved.”
He nodded and pushed his glasses further up on his nose. “Yes, well, you’re welcome. I’ll see to it they have someone there right away to fill the tank.”
A broad smile covered her face. Even though he made her terribly uncomfortable, she fought an overwhelming urge to hug him.
He watched her with no response whatsoever before finally nodding to the door. “We’re finished here. You may go.”
“Yes of course. Thanks again.”
His voice stopped her as she headed out the door. “Ms. Owens?”
As she turned to face him, her long hair fanned out behind her. “Yes, Sir?”
“I’m terribly proud of you. I just wanted to tell you that. Keep doing what you’re doing and things will get better.”
She felt her face grow pink as tears from his unexpected kindness once again filled her eyes. “Th-Thank you, Mr. Hartley. I’m trying.”
“Merry Christmas.”
Flashing him a smile, she replied, “Merry Christmas, Mr. Hartley!”
***
Early the next morning the gas company showed up to fill up the tank. They’d come so early Mercedith answered the door in her bathrobe.
“Morning Ma’am,” the smiling truck driver greeted her.
“Wow, you guys start at the crack of dawn. I’m so glad to see you!” she answered.
His smile grew impossibly wider. “Usually we start at 9am, but this is a priority load. You must know some people with pull.”
“Not really,” she answered as she opened the basement door. “The tank is in the room at the back. Holler if you need me.”
He tipped his ball cap and winked. “Will do.”
While he worked, Mercy hurriedly dressed and began making breakfast for the children. Luckily she had both lunch and dinner shift today, so the money should be good. After Chrissie and Amanda got on the bus, she’d have a couple hours with the little ones before work. And it would be warm!
By the time the driver was finished, the children were seated at the kitchen table eating their eggs and toast. He knocked on the door and peaked in. “You’re all set. Go ahead and light her up.”
“Thanks so much! I’ll do that right now.”
“I’ll see you next month then,” he answered.
Mercy let out a chuckle. “I sure hope so.”
“Oh you will. You’re paid up for two months. Have a great day!” He closed the door and was back in his truck before she could recover from her shock.
Two months? That’s sixteen hundred dollars! Really? Smiling, Mercy placed her hands on her face and shook her head. “Thank you, God. Thank you, thank you, thank you.”
“What’s wrong, Mommy?” Christina asked.
She patted the top of her daughter’s head. “Not a blessed thing, darling. Everything is just wonderful!”
***
The days flew by, and before she knew it December 23rd had arrived. Mercedith sat at the kitchen table tapping her fingers against the wood. She had plenty of food, bills for the month were paid, and the house was warm, but the measly fifty dollars in change and one dollar bills that was left over wasn’t much to go shopping with. She sighed and rested her chin on her fist. I’m not going to be ungrateful. And I can’t let myself feel bad about this. We have way more than a lot of people. Get your act together woman.
There really wasn’t much to feel bad about. They’d have a beautiful Christmas dinner with her parents. The kids would get a present from both of their aunts. She shouldn’t feel like a complete failure just because she didn’t have a bunch of money to spend on Christmas presents. Should she?
Sighing heavily, she continued to stare at the small pile of cash and quarters in front of her. If she handled it right she could get two $5 presents a piece for the kids and that would leave close to $10 for stocking candy. That wasn’t so bad.
She smiled and began filling a plastic sandwich bag with her treasure. Kelli and her husband had invited them for dinner and were keeping the kids while she shopped. It wasn’t much, but it was enough. Mercy had learned a long time ago to be thankful for the ‘enoughs’ in life.
***
“I’m really sorry, Mercy.” Kelli said as she clicked Cole’s car seat buckle into place. “I had every intention of keeping them for you. I really did! How could I have known that four people would call in for their shift?”
Mercy peered at her sister over the roof of the beat up Taurus and tried to hide her frustration. “I know, Kel. It’s okay. We all have to work.”
Kelli’s pale blue eyes filled with unspilled tears. “I promise I’ll keep them tomorrow. Bring them over as soon as you get off work.”
Mercedith nodded and forced a smile as she got in the car. “See you tomorrow then. Love you.”
“Love you too!”
The seven minute drive home seemed to last thirty. She fought against the angry, frustration that threatened to turn a wonderful evening into a pity party. As they turned onto their road, Mercy decided to pray. “Dear God, please help me to be more patient when things don’t go my way. I’m very thankful for everything you’ve done so far and I don’t want you to think I’m ungrateful. Help me to be calm and make this Christmas fun for the kids.”
By the time she pulled into her driveway, her heart felt light and a real smile had returned. She’d even started a thunderous round of Jingle Bells with the kids. Although the moon was only half full, its beams shone down with an unusual brilliance causing the open expanse of snow to glitter. The twinkling lights from the small Christmas tree in the living room window added to the magical effect.
“Look, Mommy.” Christina’s voice filled with wonder. “It looks like we live in a snow globe.”
“A Christmas globe,” Amanda chimed in.
Not to be left out, little Katie yelled, “Merry Cwissmas!”
“Merry Christmas, Katie!” Mercy returned.
For a few moments silence filled the car as the family took in the beauty of the evening. Then without warning, Amanda gasped, “Mommy, look! Someone put trash on the front porch!”
Mercy’s eyes darted across wide front porch. The moon cast just enough light under the eaves for her to see several large black garbage bags. “Oh great. What now?” she thought.
“Come on kids. Let’s get you inside and I’ll check it out.”
As soon as the kids were settled in front of the television, and the baby put in bed, Mercy headed to the front door. Strange as it was, it wouldn’t be the first time she’d had to clean up a prank gone wrong. Being so far out in the country, their house had been Tee-pee’d frequently during the fall months. This must be a new kind of poorly conceived joke.
She pulled open the front door and switched on the porch light. A large envelope hung from a piece of tape just below the window. Pulling it off, she gazed at the bags littering her front porch. There had to be at least twenty.
Mercy slid her finger inside the corner of the envelope, tore it open, and pulled out a piece of stationary covered in red and white candy canes. Her eyes filled with tears as she read the note.
Tears rolled down her cheeks as she gently folded the stationary and returned it to the envelope. Tucking it in her coat pocket, she began to open the bags. There were twenty three in all, and each one was filled to the top with beautifully wrapped presents decorated with fancy bows. Unable to speak, she cried and silently thanked God for his generosity, and whoever had bought these wonderful gifts for their kindness.
One by one she brought the bags into the kitchen. Before she’d finished, the children came looking for her. Their little eyes grew wide as they spied the shiny green and red paper peeking out of the tops of the bags. “Is this all for us?” Christina asked.
“Every last bit of it,” Mercy answered with a smile. “Why don’t we get these under the tree where they belong?”
“Can we open one?” Katie questioned.
“Not yet, darling. You have to wait until Christmas morning.”
The children muttered oohs and awe’s as they pulled the presents from the bags. Mercedith’s heart was nearly bursting with joy, and she couldn’t stop smiling. The expressions on their faces were absolutely priceless. When the very last package was beneath the tree, Mercedith pulled out the note and read it to the children.
Dear Children,
Jesus is terribly busy with his birthday celebration this year, but he asked me to stop by and check on you. He was very clear about you having some of what you want, and all of what you need. I hope these few things will do.
Love, Santa
Smiles covered their precious faces and Christina’s clear blue eyes clouded with tears.
“It’s pretty wonderful, huh?” Mercy said. “What do you think we should say to Jesus and Santa?”
While the others silently watched their mother, little Katie’s smile turned into a grin. Her eyes filled with wonder as she whispered, “Merry Cwissmas!”
And a very Merry Christmas it was.
THE END
MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!
Other books by Willow Cross
The Dark Gifts: Birthright (First in the series)
The Dark Gifts: Inheritance (Second in the series)
Oceans of Red volume one
Oceans of Red volume two
Haunted, 100% Totally True Ghost Stories
Coming Soon:
Oceans of Red volume three
The Dark Gifts: Legacy
You can connect with Willow at : http://willowcrossbooks.weebly.com/index.html
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