A Christmas Story
A Believer Returns To The Fold
Amos Writes A Letter To Santa
Amos sat in his recliner across from the fireplace, waiting. A chill infiltrated the room, but he couldn’t risk starting a fire, lest it prevent his wish from coming true.
It was Christmas Eve, and despite his efforts to locate the plush-lined burgundy silk robe his wife asked for, he had no present to give her. Every department store in town was out of stock. He scoured the internet, hoping to find a retailer that could deliver one in time. They were backordered until after Christmas.
Amos’ last hope was the man he had ignored for over thirty years.
He stared straight ahead at the fireplace, watching and waiting for a miracle.
His two children, Kalee and Caleb, were upstairs snuggled safely in their beds, dreaming of tomorrow and their bounty of gifts and sweet treats that would help them celebrate the day. Sarah, his wife, had retired to bed early, anticipating a busy day.
It had been a rough year for Sarah. Two surgeries and months of physical therapy were sapping her energy and draining their bank accounts. All she wanted was peace of mind. She wanted their bills paid and the comfort that a new robe could offer her in the evenings after her trips to the doctor and workouts at the rehabilitation center.
Amos folded his hands and prayed for his last hope. To his left, he set out a plate of Christmas cookies and a still-cool glass of milk. It was something he learned as a boy, and he hoped it would help his cause.
As the hours ticked by, Amos’ eyes grew heavy. He stirred in his chair, trying to stay awake. Try as he may, he couldn’t help himself. His head bobbed as sleep overcame him.
Before long, he was startled by the sound of chomping and gurgling only a few feet away. Amos opened his eyes to find the big man in a red suit seated only a few feet away. His white hair was tucked under a red hat, and his bushy white beard had cookie crumbs trapped below his lips. His bright blue eyes and smooth skin suggested a much younger man than his ample waistline and white hair portrayed.
“You made it,” declared Amos. “I hoped you would come.”
“You wrote me a letter, didn’t you?”
“Yes, but you get so many I didn’t know if you would answer.”
“I don’t get nearly as many letters as I used to, especially from older believers. I haven’t heard from you since you were a boy. People just don’t write anymore. It seems people only want to text. If you can’t text, you are forgotten about. And don’t get me started on the problems we have with the postal service ever since that idiot took over and cut back on service. I probably won’t see half my letters until February.”
“I really need your help,” begged Amos.
“Don’t worry, I got you.”
The jolly old Santa Claus held out his hand, and as Amos watched, a shiny object appeared in his palm. It began to spin and grow in size until it morphed into a puff of gold. The dust settled in his hand, and like magic, a coin of gold emerged. He handed the coin to Amos.
“Put this in your pocket; it’s a new cryptocurrency the elves came up with. You can use it on Monday to help pay your doctor bills.”
As Amos examined the coin, Santa’s image started to fade. In a few seconds, the big man transformed into a vapor, and then, with a soft swooshing sound, he disappeared up the chimney. All that happened right before Amos’ eyes.
“Wait,” cried Amos. “The presents!”
When he looked across the room, he saw the empty plate that was once filled with colorful cookies. Beyond that, he could see his Christmas tree. Underneath the tree, he saw three brightly wrapped boxes.
The smallest box, the one with Kalee’s name on it, contained a pink Apple iWatch. The contents of another box with Caleb’s name on it looked to be an X-Box. A third box covered in red and gold foil with a bright gold ribbon had the name Sarah written in bold letters.
His letter to Santa saved Christmas.
Before he could rise from his chair, Sarah crept up behind him. “Honey, come to bed. It will be Christmas in a few hours, and the kids will be clamoring to open their presents.”
As Amos rose from his chair, the coin that Santa brought him fell onto the cushion.
“What’s this?” Sarah asked.
“Oh, a present from a friend. Remind me tomorrow to mail him a thank you note.”
More Christmas… (and NO, this is not the Hallmark Channel)
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