A Holiday Wish

By Paula Chapman

This is a short short story I wrote for my son's first grade class that I will read to them at their holiday party.

“Grandma! Grandpa!” shouted Lenny as his grandparents came into the living room. “I didn’t think you could come! It’s snowing really hard out!”

“We wouldn’t miss it for the world!” said Grandma as she took off her wool cap. “Besides, I wanted to see what Santa brought you!” she said.

Grandma noticed that Lenny looked sat. He put his head down and walked away.

“We told him,” said Lenny’s dad, Joseph. “This year, because I lost my job, Santa didn’t come.”

Grandma could hear Lenny crying in the kitchen as his mother, Lucille, said, “Shhh, it’s all right, Lenny. It’s all right.”

Grandpa slid out the side door.

“Where are you going?” asked his wife, always observant.

“Just out to bring in your pie. I left … it … in the car.”

Grandma stared at the pie her son Joseph held. “Oh. Okay,” she said.

“Dear,” Grandma whispered to Joseph. “You could have asked us for help …”

“We did. We used the money you sent us to pay bills and get food for this feast.” He pointed to the kitchen where his wife was heating up the gravy for the huge turkey he had purchased at Wegman’s. “I’m making your favorite, Mom. Fried zucchini.” Joseph looked sad as he heard his little son continue to cry in the kitchen, his mother offering him a cookie.

Grandpa returned and Lucille emerged from the kitchen. Everyone sat around the fire.

“We use the fireplace more now,” Lucille said.

“And that’s a good thing, isn’t it?” said Grandpa.

Grandma nodded.

Lenny blew his nose. He ran over to sit on Grandpa’s lap.

“What do you do after school, Lenny?” he asked his grandson.

“We … I had to sell my video game system. And they stopped our cable, so we can’t watch TV.” He sat thoughtfully for a moment, finger on his chin. “Grandma! I didn’t know you played piano!”

“Yes, I actually taught piano!” she said proudly.

“And mom won first place in the science fair at her school four years in a row!” he added.

“Wow!” said Grandpa as Joseph nodded and smiled.

“And Grandpa, did you know Dad played football and sang in the glee club at school, and that he was given four awards at his job before he left?”

“Yes, I know!” Grandpa said, laughing. “I remember all too well!”

Lenny thought for a while. “I didn’t know any of that until we talked.”

The adults all looked at each other.

Lenny looked at the tiny tree he had helped his mother decorate. “I like it without lights,” he said, smiling from ear to ear.

“I didn’t know any of that fun stuff until we started talking more after school!” Lenny said. “And we talk before bed, when I read my books. And at breakfast.” He looked at Grandma.

“Is that what Mom meant by the Holidays being about love?”

“I think so,” said Grandma, smiling at Lucille. She walked over to Lenny and gave him a huge hug.

“But I don’t think Santa forgot you,” said Grandpa, getting up to open the back door. “Whoa! I think you’d better come see!”

Lenny burst out of the room and out the door, feasting his eyes on a brand new Wii system, equipped with games.

There was a note attached to the Wii box.

“Grandpa! Look!” Lenny brought the system and games into the house.

He began reading the note. “Dear Lenny, I hope you keep reading, doing well in school, and that you continue listening to your parents and teachers. They are the most important in your life. I give you this game because I know everyone needs to have some fun after working so hard. But you must include your parents and grandparents when you play. That is why I got you games you can share with them. And you must continue to talk to each other. Because that is what the holidays and love are all about. Love, Santa. Ho-ho-ho!”

“Wow!” Lenny was shocked. He put the game aside.

“Aren’t you going to hook it up?” asked his Dad.

“Later, Dad.” Lenny sat back on Grandpa’s lap. “First I want to hear something interesting about Grandpa! What did you look like when you were a kid, Grandpa?”

“Well,” began Grandpa with a chuckle. “For one thing, I wasn’t as good-looking or smart as you!”

“Thanks, Dad,” whispered Joseph.

“I love you all,” said Grandpa. “Things will get better. Love makes things happen.”

Happy Holidays to all!