Davy walked through the crowded store. It was Christmas Eve and he wanted to get the guys one more present. He watched the line and the people in it.
People watching always seemed to interest him. One little boy that was toward the front caught his attention. He watched as the boy pulled some money out of his jean pocket and watched as the cashier, an elderly lady, talked to the boy. He couldn't hear what they were talking about, but he saw a smile form on the lady's face and when the boy left he saw her quickly brush a tear away. He wasn't really sure what had happened, but he knew it had something to do with the real Christmas spirit, the spirit of giving. Thinking about this an old memory came to, a memory of when he was a boy.
Years Earlier in England
Davy walked into the house and could suddenly feel the heavy mood. He walked into his parents' room quietly and saw his dad sitting on the bed, holding his mum's hand.
"Lord, we ask you to ease Elizabeth's pain and that if this be her last day on earth that she be able to enjoy. Please, allow her to enjoy our son this Christmas Eve, the day before we celebrate the birth of your son. In your name. Amen." Davy heard his dad pray.
He saw the tears fall down his cheeks. Still remaining quiet he saw him give his mum gentle kiss on the forehead.
"Mum?" Davy asked quietly from the doorway.
"Davy, me son. Come in. You know you always make me happy." his mum said from where she lay on the bed. Davy quietly walked over and climbed onto the bed with his mum. He loved her dearly and hated that she was so sick.
"Did you have fun playing with yer friends?" his dad asked, still holding her hand.
"Yes, Charlie and Sara are makin' you cards, Mummy." Davy said, smiling at her. Charlie and Sara were twins and his best friends.
"They are?" she smiled when she said this. She loved her son dearly, but knew he had the hardest trouble keeping secrets. He nodded with childish enthusiasm. Just then she started coughing, causing him to stop smiling. He looked worriedly at her. He'd heard his dad talking to his mum and the doctors and he knew this was most likely going to be her last Christmas. He wanted it to be special, wanted something just for her.
"Thomas, dear, could you get me some tea?" she asked quietly, once she had stopped coughing, and he reluctantly let go of her hand, gave her a kiss, and walked out of the room. Davy saw this as an opportunity.
"Mum, what do you love?" he asked, hoping to get an idea of what to get her.
"You, my, son." she said smiling, after clearing her throat.
"Other than me, mummy." he asked seriously, but still smiling at what she said.
"Well, Davy, I loved to dance when I was younger and I still do. I remember having a pair of dancing shoes that me mother spent a lot of money on. I loved those shoes." Davy listened intently as she described the shoes and her love for dancing. Every once and awhile she would stop for a breather, but it wasn't until she'd finished her story that she stopped. When she had finished he knew exactly what he wanted to get her.
"I'll be back." he said, giving her a kiss and a hug and then jumping off the bed. Running past his dad as he left the room.
"Where's 'e goin'?" he asked as he helped his wife drink the warm tea.
"Just said he'd be back." she said smiling, she knew her boy was up to something, something she was sure was good.
Davy walked into his room and found his little jar of money. There wasn't a lot in it, but he hoped it would be enough to get his mum a special pair of dancing shoes. Maybe if she did see Jesus tonight she'd be able to dance into Heaven. He grabbed his scarf, hat, gloves, and jacket as he ran out the front door. It was getting late and he hoped he could make it. He thought he knew of one shop that would still be open.
He saw that the store was somewhat crowded when he went in. Looking around he saw exactly what he wanted, the small shoe section. He wasn't positive that they would have the shoes he was looking for, but he prayed that the store would. He looked through the shoes and by a miracle found a pair that was just what he wanted and were his mum's size. Now very happy he entered the line, hopping from one foot to another, anxiously awaiting his turn.
"'Ello, lad, what 'ave we got 'ere?" the clerk said when Davy's turn came up.
"Sir, I want to buy these shoes for my mama. Could you hurry, sir, Daddy says there's not much time. You see she's been sick for quite awhile and I know these shoes will make her smile. I want her to look beautiful if she sees Jesus tonight." he said as he put the shoes on the counter. He took his money out of his pocket and started counting all the coins. The clerk could see that some of the people were starting to get annoyed at the time it was taking for him to count the money, but he just smiled a sad smile at Davy as he finished his counting.
"Son, there's not enough 'ere." the clerk said, his sad smile turning into a frown.
Davy wasn't sure what he was going to do. He had to get these for his mom. Making up his mind he did something he wasn't sure he really wanted to do,he turned to the man behind him and said, "Mum always made Christmas good at our house through most years she just did without tell me, sir, what am I gonna do? Somehow, I've got to buy these Christmas shoes."
The clerk saw something soft come into the man's eyes and as he pulled some money out of his wallet and laid it on the counter.
Davy looked up at the man with wide, brown eyes, shocked that he had done that. Looking back at the clerk, he got a nod that he now had enough. Thanking the clerk he grabbed the shoes and ran out the store door, but not before saying to the man, "Mum's gonna look great."
The man watched the boy run out feeling a feeling of joy spread throughout him. That boy had done something to him; he'd helped him realize the true meaning of Christmas.
Now
Davy now walked to the Monkeemobile knowing what he and the guys should do for Christmas that year. He'd heard the hospital was going to have a party, but needed someone to do music. When he and the guys first heard about the job, they weren't really sure they wanted to because it wasn't a paying job. Davy knew though that it wasn't the money, it was going to be the smiles on those patients' faces. He'd get the fellas to do it. He'd give the hospital a call as soon as he got home. Quickly wiping away a tear that had escaped his eyes, he turned the key in the ignition and drove on home.
THE END-Merry Christmas!