Because I messed up and he’s had to quit his job, we can’t go home for Christmas and it’s breaking my heart. We always go home. Can’t afford it now. What will we do for Christmas?
When I ask him that he says to do like his mother does. Go to the Sally Ann, the churches and get them to give you stuff. I’m speechless. So now I’m to beg for Christmas. After a few days it becomes apparent that’s exactly what I have to do.
It’s a sunny day as I board the bus downtown. He gave me money for bus. He made me take the babies with me. “They give more when they see kids,” he says. My face is still battered. I put some old makeup on the bruises and black eyes but it really doesn’t help. My ribs are still painful and carrying the babies is difficult. I have to carry them because they have no boots and there’s snow everywhere. I have no boots. I’m just in my shoes and I’m afraid to fall. Then I think if they will give me a few presents for these babies then that would be really good.
At the Salvation Army, I’m so nervous waiting in this stuffy little room with all these people. When my turn comes I can barely speak I’m so afraid. The lady thinks my babies are so adorable. We go through the list of questions and then she asks what we need. Everything…I tell her pajamas and warm clothes would be wonderful…maybe a few toys. She sees the babies have no boots. She leaves the room. It feels like she’s gone forever and I think I’ve done something wrong. Maybe you asked for too much…When she comes back she has brand new boots for all of us. And they fit. She helps me put the new boots on the babies who are excited. They walk around the office all proud while I put on my own. They are so warm on my freezing feet. I start to cry as I thank her with all my heart. She puts our shoes in a bag and tells me they will come by a few days before Christmas with some things for us. She never mentions anything about my injuries…I will visit three agencies and seven churches and no one will mention anything about my battered face, the bruises or black eyes. But they do tell me not to worry, they will help out for Christmas.
Today, they came. They brought so much canned and dry goods, we will eat well all through this winter. We have three turkeys. There are so many presents, and I had the nice people put them in the basement for me, so the babies don’t see them. And they brought warm jackets for me and him, snow suits for the babies and, the absolutely must have, new Christmas pajamas for them to wear on Christmas Eve. There are cookies and milk for Santa and carrots for the reindeer. There are stockings choked with candy and goodies that I hide in the top drawer of my dresser.
I’m overwhelmed. He’s happy he didn’t have to pay for anything. As I lay in bed, I think of all the things I’ve seen and all the surprises yet to come and I cry like a baby. I ask God to bless all these people I’ll never know for what they do for people like me. To all of you, my heartfelt thank you for giving us a Christmas…
Next -> Ghost of Christmas Past
Tags: battered face, bruises and black eyes, new boots, salvation army