The Best Christmas Present Ever

The snow fell lightly on the tiny, brick house; dusting it with a reassuring, white blanket. Outside looked so cold, desolate compared to the interior where overflowing holiday cheer festooned and took over the small abode.

Laughter rung through the walls from the living room where an abundance of relatives gathered to celebrate the season. A few younger cousins huddled around the intensely decorated Christmas tree, gazing keenly at the presents wrapped in red, green, and blue.

Then there was Julie.

She sat in an armchair across the room, almost swallowed up by the folds of the great chair. She was frowning, an unfamiliar feat for Christmas; the season puzzled. 'Why was this girl so miserable?'

"Julie?.....Juuuulie? Julie!" A voice lulled, ending abruptly in impatience.

"What?" The little girl snapped, her face depicted annoyance and sorrow.

"Don't you want to open your present?" A boy, younger than herself, approached her timidly. In his tiny hands was a large, square box, wrapped in shiny, green paper. On top of the box was a large red bow. The boy's long, black eyelashes fluttered around his round, deep brown eyes as he stared into her mesmerizing blue ones. He also didn't understand her grief.

She didn't answer so the mystified child slowly bent down and placed the present at her feet, not breaking eye contact, and backed away to the Happiness Corner. Julie was the Sadness Corner.

In Julie's mind played a memory, a memory of joy, delight, and happiness. She sat on a rustic, wooden porch in front of the cozy, yellow home. The red shutters were wide open, letting natural light into the home; bright flower boxes hung beneath the windows, bursting with newly bloomed flowers. The yellow paint was faded, like an early sunrise. A bluebird sang from a massive willow tree resting in the front lawn. She wore a bright yellow daisy dress. Her rust colored hair blew in the slight breeze, as wisps of clouds in the sky; in her hands, a Barbie doll. A pleasant smile amused her youthful, supple lips and her eyes gleamed with enthusiasm.

A young man exited the warm home, carrying a little boy.

'Daddy,' Julie yelped animatedly, leaping from the warm boards of the porch and clinging to the leg of her father.

'Julie,' The corners of his eyes wrinkled as his lips broke into a smile, 'How is my little piece of sunshine?'

Julie giggled and wrapped her arms around his neck as he swept her up into his arms.

Then later was the memory of loss, misery, and missing bliss. Father in a khaki uniform. Packed suitcases. A group of khaki clad men coming to take him away. Tear-stained cheeks. Wretched screams. Swollen eyes. Secluded weeks in the solitude haven of her room.

"Julie? Julie!" A sharp voice brought her back to reality. A single tear had escaped her obstinate eye, breaking the barrier she had often built, broken, and rebuilt only to be broken again.

She gazed lazily in the direction of the voice, carelessly flicking the tear from her cheekbone. "Come open your present Julie."

The woman stared at her, waiting for a reply, a peep, from her daughter. She widened her eyes and shook her head swiftly, as if accentuating her impatience.

In response, Julie halfheartedly shoved herself out of the chair and shuffled toward the tree to join the cluster of kinfolk and threw herself on the carpeted floor, glaring into the burning fire.

She tore the paper off of the box and lifted the lid. Her bored expression was instantly replaced with astonishment, tenderness, and finally, heartache. Inside was a faded photograph, the color not as vivacious as when it was first taken. In the picture, was a man with tanned skin and rust colored hair. He was smiling and the corner of his eyes crinkled.

"Dad," Julie whispered.

She gaped up at her mother, wide-eyed. "We have a surprise for you Julie," her mom said soothingly.

The front door opened and in a whirlwind of snow entered a man.

"Dad," Julie repeated again, almost inaudibly. Slowly, as if in a dream, Julie got to her feet and ran into her father's sweet embrace. He pulled her up into an affectionate hug to make up for the 10 years he had been away. It was like everything was frozen in time except for them; the world stopped for the reunion of the father and daughter.

"I love you Julie," Dad said softly in her ear.

"I love you too Dad," Julie whispered back.

The best Christmas present ever.


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