A Christmas Gift for Fred

“You’ve been a very good boy this year, Fred. You’ve helped your mother and taken care of your sister. Tonight, I'm sure, Santa will drop by our house and leave you presents for being so nice,” Martha told her little boy, smiling. ”And for you too, Amy,” she added when she saw the frowning face of her younger child.

“He will?” asked Fred

"Yes, sweetheart. I'm sure.” You could do with a little something for once this year, Martha thought sadly. She had worked day and night to buy some Christmas gifts for her two children.

Fred seemed to tether on the edge of saying something. But changing his mind mid-way, he nodded and went back to his schoolwork.

It had been four hard years for the Gellars. Ever since Fred’s father had died, the family had gone through a terrible period of emotional and financial strain. Martha worked at the local mall and tried her best to make the ends meet. Often she tried to work overtime and then she would be so tired that she would have no time left to spend with her kids.

Fred and Amy went to the local Catholic School. Fred would accompany his sister to school everyday and on their way back he would often spot other kids, with their expensive mufflers and coats playing out on the snow. He always longed to do the same but he would diligently shake his head and come back home to help out his mother.

“All right, kids. It’s time for Christmas dinner. I’ve made pudding for you Amy. Won’t you love it?”

“Yay Mommy!” squeaked little Amy and clapped her hands.

Wish I could do more my sweetheart. Oh! I want to give both of you so much more.

“Mommy, won’t you toast?” asked Fred

“Ah yes” said Martha. She raised her glass and said, “To the wonderful season of Christmas and to your father, whom we miss a lot.”

That night after dinner, when everyone had gone to bed, Fred slowly climbed out of his own bed, took out a page from a notebook, switched on the table lamp and sat down near it.

“Dear Santa-“ he whispered as he began to write.

Mommy says that you’ll drop by tonight so I'm writing this to you. I'm not sure that you can locate our house from above. Our house is just three blocks away from the church

Mommy also tells me that I can ask anything from you. Will you send a few smiles and laughs for my mother? She doesn’t laugh much. She is always tired you see. And will you send a few dolls for Amy as well? She loves dolls but Mommy cannot buy them for her.

She also says that you know everything about all kids in this world and their mommies and daddies. Do you know why Daddy has left us all and where is he now? If you do will you tell him that we love him and that we miss him?

Thank you dear Santa Claus

He folded the letter twice and sealed it within an envelope with all his hope and faith. He put the envelope outside the door in the hope that Santa would visit and read his letter and went back to sleep.

The next morning Fred came running up to his mother, ecstatic.

“Mommy, Santa did really come last night!”

“Yes?” Martha chuckled, thinking of the candies and sweets Fred must have found in his socks. “Did you like his gifts?”

“Yes, they are wonderful. Amy loves her dolls too.”

Dolls? Martha thought confused, how on earth did MARS bars become dolls overnight?

“Daddy sent his love too, Mommy. He told Santa.”

“Fred! What are you saying? Daddy-“

“Come here, come”

Fred grabbed his mother’s had and ran to the door.

“Look, Mommy!”

But Martha had already noticed the small red box laced with a blue ribbon kept near the door. It was half open from above. Utterly bewildered, she knelt down and glanced inside to see the contents of the box.

It contained some dollars sealed inside an envelope, some dolls and soft huggables, countless other little toys, sweets and candies kept inside a small pouch and a Christmas card.

“Who gave you this Freddie?”

“Santa,” Fred said simply.

Martha picked up the card. She stared at it with wonder for a few seconds and slowly opened it to reveal bright glittery letters scrawled together in a neat scribble.

Martha was sure she was losing it. Here was a gift from Santa Claus himself. And all her life she had thought Santa Claus did not exist!

“Mommy this is for you” Fred said holding out another envelope towards her.

“What?”

Sure enough it was addressed to ‘Fred’s mother.’
Martha was beyond words when she opened the letter.

Hi, I'm Amelia. I found your child’s letter blowing across the street on my way to the church last night. I was touched and couldn’t help but respond back. You’ve got a very loving child. He asked so much for you and his sister but nothing for himself.

You see I have two little children of my own and I know how excited they get when they receive gifts on Christmas. But I request don’t tell Fred anything about this now. I'm sure he’s much too excited about having received a gift from Santa.

I'm sorry to hear about your husband. May his soul rest in peace.

Please accept the gift as a Christmas greeting. If you ever need to talk to me do not hesitate to contact me.

Lots of love
Amelia


“Mommy, why are you crying?” Fred asked.
Martha felt tears trickle down her cheeks. She slowly wiped them off and looked at Fred.

“You sent a letter to Santa, sweetheart?”

“Yes. Don’t you think this is wonderful?”

Martha nodded and hugged her son. She smiled as she thought of Fred’s extraordinary faith in hope, she thought of her husband who had found a way to let her know that he was there and listening to her, but mostly she thought of Amelia and her kindness and generosity, which confirmed Martha’s belief in the goodness of the human heart

“It is truly wonderful Freddie. Didn't I tell you Santa would come?”