Fiction- Short Story- Very Short Story
The lost letter under the Christmas Tree
Was it luck, chance, or destiny?
There were just six days left for Maggie and her two teenage children, her daughter Roberta and son, Chris to leave their home. It was Christmas day and Mags had decorated the Christmas tree on the first of December. She had neatly placed a few gifts for her two children. They had each in turn carefully wrapped their gifts for their mother. There was also a gift for Sparky their cocker spaniel.
Christmas was definitely different this year. Mags had lost her husband in an accident at the beginning of the year. It was hard for her to go through life with two teenage children and without the love of her life. Robert was the rock of her life and although he was busy as a salesman, he always took care of the needs of his family.
Since his death, Mags had to pay the mortgage and take care of the children. Her small job as a nurse at the local hospital was not enough to pay all the bills. The bank was going to reclaim the property, as she could not keep up with the mortgage payments. The family was going to leave the property on the 31st of December. Mags had found a smaller home which she had taken on rent for herself and her two children.
Mags, Roberta, and Chris were now sitting around the Christmas tree on Christmas day. Morty, the cocker spaniel was also waiting for his Christmas gift. He was well trained and Robert had taught Morty to fetch the daily newspapers from the front door, as well as the letters when they were delivered by the postman. Morty was also very good at fetching shoes and slippers for family members.
Roberta opened her gift wrapped in silver paper and she was happy to see that her mother had given her a new drawing book with a pack of coloring pens and pencils. It was when Chris went to pick up his gift from under the tree that he noticed a large official-looking letter addressed to his mother. He passed the letter to her.
They all knew that the letter was placed under the tree by Morty. He must have noticed everyone placing gifts under the tree and so decided to leave the letter when it was delivered. Mags opened the large official-looking letter. As she read its contents, tears welled up in her eyes. “Mum, what is in the letter?”, asked Roberta eagerly. “It is your Uncle Harry, he has left his home, all his property, and all his money to us.”
They were overjoyed, their lives had changed for the better that fateful Christmas. “We are rich, rich, Mum, Happy Christmas, Uncle Harry,” shouted Chris excitedly. Harry was their father’s eldest brother who had passed away three months ago, after an illness, just after his younger brother, Robert. That was a special Christmas for that family who had found a life-changing gift under their Christmas tree. So, was this luck, chance, or destiny?
