This is Part IV of “A Most Amazing Christmas Story, Another Gift of the Magi.” For background on the series "Another Gift of the Magi," see Part I at http://www.theloganjournal.com/Stories.aspx?Article=guests189, Part II athttp://www.theloganjournal.com/Stories.aspx?Article=guests193 and Part III at http://www.theloganjournal.com/Stories.aspx?Article=guests194.
Naturally, I was curious when I saw the little package with my name on it under the tree. I noticed it right off when I placed my presents to Mom and Dad there. (I had been saving the money I had earned from hulling and selling walnuts to Mr. Jack Schlanger; and I had made another dollar by shoveling snow from Mr. Andrews’ and Mrs. Minnix’s sidewalks in town. I kept the money in an old sock stuffed down in one of my black high top tennis shoes I had put away until next spring.)
I had purchased Mom a bottle of Evening Paris eau de Toilette from Bentley’s Ten Cent Store because I knew it was something she wouldn’t buy for herself. Plus, by buying the least expensive brand, I had a dime left to buy the biggest bag of popcorn in town from Mr. Reed, who clerked in the store.
For Dad, I picked out a pair of woolen gloves from Economy Dry Goods. I figured the gloves would protect his hands when he turned the wheels on his chair. I had a dollar remaining from the sock so I visited Ling’s Bakery and bought a small cake for dessert at our Christmas dinner. It, too, would be a surprise. I would have to struggle not to eat the cake myself.
I still had some change, so I dropped it into a bell ringer’s pot in front of B.F. Parker’s Hardware Store.
Later, I wished I had kept the change because I saw Betty Hollingsworth and Bebe Gorrell. They were ninth graders and probably didn’t know me from Adam, but they smiled and wished me, Merry Christmas. If I had kept the change I would have invited them for Cokes at Robin’s Ice Cream Parlor.
On Christmas Eve morning, while Mom was giving Dad his breakfast, I sneaked into the living room and very quickly, very quietly, unwrapped my present. It was the smallest bike I had ever seen. Tears began to well up in my eyes, and I came to know a parent’s love for her child. I wanted a bike. Mom was making my Christmas wish come true in the only way she could afford.
I taped the wrapping back on the package before returning it to its spot under the tree.
Grandfather sighed. His old eyes sparkled merrily as he continued. “Ill never forget that Christmas. Fresh snow had fallen during the night; and the world outside became a child’s dream. It reminded me of snowy, untracked landscapes of Alaska I had seen in National Geographic Magazines. I was happy to see the snow because I knew I could head into town with my shovel and make a dollar or two for future emergencies.
As I was sitting on the edge of my bed and rubbing the sleep from my eyes, I hear Mom cry out, “WHAT!!!!
Then there was an eerie silence before she yelled again, “HOW????”
I hurried to see what the hubbub was about. It wasn’t like Mom to get that excited unless something unexpected had happened. Dad was still in their bedroom, but I heard his wheelchair bang against a door frame as he, too, hurried to Mom’s cries.
And there she stood, shaking like a weeping willow. She was next to the Christmas tree, her mouth opened wide. With one hand she pointed out a brand new bright red regular-sized bicycle exactly like the little one that had been in my package. With her other hand she directed my eyes to the floor where rested the wrappings off the tiny bicycle. It was gone! It looked as if the package had exploded. The little bike had grown full-sized overnight.
At that very instant, Dad was attempting to get his wheelchair over the door casing. Suddenly, the chair tilted forward so quickly that Dad went sprawling onto the floor. The wheelchair reversed into the bedroom. Dad landed with an HUUUUMMMMPHHHH!
“DAD!” I screamed as I started to him. Mom gasped! The two of us reached Dad at the same time. Dad had managed to roll over onto his back and had pulled his knee up into the air like camel humps.
Mom extended a hand to pull up Dad.
“NO! WAIT! Dad commanded. “My legs! My legs! I can feel my legs for the first time since the accident.
Mom and I were amazed as Dad slowly lifted both his legs into the air. “See if you can help me to sit,” he grunted.
First, we helped him to a sitting position. He offered us his hands. Mom took one; I took the other. “Pull me up,” Dad whispered.
We helped him to stand; and with each of us supporting one of his shoulders, Dad took a shaky baby step…then another…and ANOTHER ONE.
We stopped. Dad tested the floor with one foot, then the other, as if he thought the floor might give away under him. “Let go of me,” he sighed softly.
Reluctantly, Mom looked at me. I shook my head YES. Carefully, we let go of him, keeping our hands close by. Then, like a toddler walking for the first time, he made his way to the Christmas tree. “I thought you said there was no money for a bicycle,” he chided Mom.
Mom shook her head. “There isn’t…wasn’t.”
When the events of the morning has lessened, Mom and Dad had opened their presents. I was about to take MY bike out for a spin down our long hallway. I asked Mom, “How could this have happened?” She had already told me ten times that she had no part in getting the big bicycle. “How…then…Mom...can you explain the bike getting here under our tree?”
She place her arms around Dad hugged him to her. “The only explanation I have is…IT’S CHRISTMAS! WONDERFUL THINGS HAPPEN AT CHRISTMAS.”
I decided not to tell my friends when school started back in January about the mystery. I told them the truth, simply that I had received a new bike for Christmas. “I told you,” Frazier allowed, “that all you had to do is ask for a bike and you would get it. Now, are you trying to get the other paper route or not?”
“Of course I am,” I nodded.
And I did! I went to see the newspaper man the very next day. He told me that he had been saving the last route for me. “But how did you know I wanted it?” I asked.
“Why, I have your application right here.” He fumbled in his desk and brought out a blank sheet of white paper. He looked at the paper and then looked at me….puzzled. “There were words on it; but they seem to have disappeared now. But no matter. You get the route. You can start next week.”
And I DID!
Next: The Conclusion: GRANDFATHER GETS REUNITED WITH THE LITTLE BIKE