The Christmas Season - A short story

The Christmas season - A short story

"Dad," Alex said, "Can you buy it for me?"

His dad looked at him, and smiled. Alex had been wanting to buy the video game, "Bob's Adventure: The Escape of the Ring." It was a recent Role-playing game that was selling like hot cakes, and he had wanted it badly for this Christmas season. However, he knew that his father was in financial straights even if his nine-year old mind couldn't even comprehend why. He continued to look at his father if there was some way that he could buy it for him. His father look at him again, and noticing his son's eyes were still on him. Neatly folding the newspaper, he patted his lap gesturing his son to sit on his lap. Gleefully, Alex ran up towards his father as if he were Santa ready to ask him what he wanted for Christmas.

Dad looked into Alex's eyes as he tried to give his son words of comfort and advice. "Alex, I know that you understand that since I have lost my job that we can't seem to afford anything this Christmas. I know that you want this game badly, but I since I know that you have been a good boy this year," Dad said as he sighed still looking at his son's tearful face. Smiling warmly he then said,"Tell you what since you have been a good boy this year, I am going to hand you sixty dollars this year. I know that you will spend it wisely."

Alex eyes lit up knowing that he was given the chance to buy the game that he wanted. His dad handed him the sixty dollars. Alex's hand shook, he now had the money to buy the game. Some part of him felt like he should give it back, but he knew that he wouldn't have another chance to buy the game. Still feeling guilty, he looked back at his father.

"Are you sure daddy?" Alex asked still feeling guilty that he had nagged his father for the money.

His father looked at his son still smiling warmly before responding. "As long as you spend it wisely."

Alex bundled up in his clothes as he rushed out the door. The freezing wind blew past his cheeks instantly stinging them. As he walked, his footsteps crunched under the snow. Though it was slippery to walk under the ice that lay under the snow, he tried to keep a steady-fast pace as he walked to the closest electronic store that was ten blocks from his house. He was excited that he was going to finally own this game. However, he halted to a stop when he noticed a woman slipping and sliding from the car. Alex ran up towards catching her before she slipped. The woman turned around to notice Alex staring up at her.

"Oh, thank you young man," the woman said. "Who knows what could have happened if I fell on this ice, especially on the eve of Christmas!"

"You're welcome," Alex said. He shivered under the cold as the woman turned towards the steps that led towards two - story building. He was ready to head towards the store, knowing that it was going to close soon, but a part of him wanted to stay. He called after her.

"Ma'am, would you like any help with that box?" Alex asked. The woman stared dumbfounded by Alex's gesture. Alex felt like he had just asked something wrong. Somehow it felt colder inside his jacket; however, the woman's expression changed to a smile of warmth.

"I'm sorry if I stared. Not very many people would be willing to help this Christmas holiday. Of course, you can help me," the woman said gesturing for Alex to come in. Alex slowly walked up the slippery steps towards the door. The door closed behind him. He followed the woman towards the kitchen where she laid the box down. She looked at him as she headed towards the coffee machine. Pouring herself a cup, she asked Alex if he wanted something warm to drink. Alex nodded that if there was some hot chocolate that she could prepare. Happily, the woman poured the hot water into a drink before handing a packet of Swiss Miss Chocolate towards Alex. Alex thanked the woman. Alex then looked at the box on the table.

"So, what's in the box?" Alex asked. The woman took a sip of coffee then slowly raised her eyes to meet with Alex who was still looking at her. A few seconds flew by, then a tear drew up in her eye as small sobs chocked up in her throat. Alex felt like he asked something that he shouldn't have asked.

"I'm sorry for that," the woman said. "The items in the box are medical supplies for my daughter who is lying upstairs very sick. I have been picking up supplies from the hospital for home care, but the funds are slowly running out. I don't think I won't have any more funds to bring home the medical supplies; let alone pay the medical bills to keep her alive."

Tearfully, her eyes sweltered as joyful thoughts of her daughter came rushing through her mind. She wondered what it would be like to lose her only family, especially when her husband left them when her daughter was at such a young age. The years to make ends meet have been difficult. As she recollected the memories, she tried courageously to face the boy. She hoped that her eyes didn't signal that she was thinking something deeper; something much darker.

As Alex heard her state her daughter's position, Alex pulled out the money from that of his coat pocket looking at the sixty dollars which his father had given him. He looked up the woman her eyes were slowly rolling with tears. Alex knew that the money wouldn't be enough, but he knew that it would help. His thoughts flip-flopped between keeping the money, or spending the money. As his eyes continued to stare into the woman's eyes, he knew that there was something else that she didn't tell him. He knew that she needed it more than he did. Taking a heavy sigh, he took her palm and handed her the money.

"I know this isn't much, but I think you need it more than I do," Alex said. The woman look dumbfounded by what the boy had just given her. Without another word, Alex hurriedly walked out of the home all the way back towards his house. He felt tears fall from his eyes knowing that he had done the right thing, but a part of him wished that he had bought the game.

Once home, Alex closed the door behind him where his father greeted him with a smile.

"So, did you buy it son?" his Dad asked. Alex shook his head no as he sat beside his father. He then told what happened to the money while on his way towards store.

"Dad, I know that I did the right thing but why do I feel guilty?" Alex asked. "Did I do the right thing?"

His father smiled seeing that his boy was still confused with his decision. He beckoned his son to sit on his lap, which Alex walked over slowly towards his father. Hugging his son, the father replied. "You spent it wisely. Always remember the purpose of the Christmas season."

With those words, Alex weakly smiled at his father. His father then kissed his son on the forehead, and approvingly told his son that he did the right thing.

My words

The Christmas season shouldn't have to last until the Christmas starts, it should always last throughout the year. Remember that reason why we celebrate Christmas is too celebrate Christ's birth. Christ died, and gave freely towards everybody that he came into contact. He spent his life wisely and sacrificed for us freely knowing that he would save us all.

As I was watching, "Mickey's Once Upon a Christmas" there is a quote Donald Duck gives to his nephews Huey, Duey and Louie. Donald says: "Christmas isn't about candy canes, or lights all aglow. It's about the hearts we touch, and the care we show. Wishing you lots of love, Donald and Daisy Duck."

May we show care and love this Christmas season, and let it remain within our hearts forever.

Tee-J Valdez (c) 2011

Thoughts about the movie “In Time”. Makes me wonder how we can spend our days more wisely.

I had the chance too watch the movie “In Time,” which is a movie based on the future where the new currency is time. Every person has until 25 to live with one more given year. They must spend that currency based on the time on their watches.

The character that had me thinking throughout the movie was Henry Hamilton who quoted that we weren’t meant to live immortally, because we wouldn’t know where to place them. However, throughout the movie I kept thinking about how Will Salas (Justin Timberlake) answer Amanda Seyfriend’s question how can you live like this?

Salas: I don’t sleep in.

I kept thinking that over and over again. How many times have I literally slept in, or metaphorically slept in? We aren’t given a lot of time to do everything. With what precious time we have we must use it wisely only towards constructive purposes. Though we don’t think about it, there is truly a lot that we can do in a day. If we think every day as our last than I think that all the procrastination in the world would end, because we would want to accomplish as much as we can. After all, we want to finish in time for finishing in time is never out of style!

My brother had left....

For those that are reading this blog site, please note that on my dashboard blog site I have at least four different blogs that I keep track. Please check those other blogs as well! Thank you.

Well, my brother had left for my mission. For the first time, I felt that I had actually lost a friend because I felt that my brother now pursued me to tell him a much deeper story about myself. I applaud him for trying to go after the stories that I don't tell a lot of people. My brother, I can now say, is now one of my good - friends. I applaud him that he tried to understand me better. I appreciate people who try to listen instead of being judgmental. My brother has grown so much.

I will miss him while he is on his mission. He will be serving in the Curitiba, Brazil Mission. But, before he heads out to Brazil he headed out towards the Provo MTC because he didn't have his visa. Until his visa isn't sent here, he will have to wait at the MTC or they will relocate him somewhere else. He left on November 2nd at the time 6am using Delta Airlines! Please note that I will be managing his facebook account, and any of this other accounts. For those interested in contacting him please contact me first. God Bless my brother! Though we argue a lot, and we may not get along. For the first time I feel closer to him even though my brother had left.

The new blog category!

I have added a new blog category that will track the progress of my goals!

As for my general thoughts, it feels weird that I am finally back in Oregon! I can't believe that after all these years that I will never have to be back in Rexburg, Idaho. It felt weird moving back into my parents especially the "parenting" that usually takes place when moving back with parents. My goal is too move out somewhere within the next year. I am going to have too focus over these next months in order to make it happen. I know that I can do it.

I would hope to make sure that I can focus to gain the jobs needed in order to make the dreams possible. I can say that it feels surreal to be out of shool. Once getting home, it took me the last two days to unpack. I have more cleaning out to do over these couple of days, but I am concentrating over these days to make it things happen. I am concentrating to make sure that I am dedicating the time that I have towards what it important. Though daunting, and unpredictable I know that I can do it. I believe over all obstacles that anything is possible. Compassion and perseverance are the key ingredients to be able to make it happen.

Since coming home, I have had the opportunity to drive my new car, see my college diploma and wear my college ring. I had a dental appointment last Tuesday. My dentist, who has cleaned my teeth since I was 9 years old, was asking me about my book. I shared my experiences about college students, and he believes that I am going to be one of those students that is going to be doing something with his life. I am glad that he believes in me. I am blessed for all the love and support that everyone has given me! I will definitely try to not let anybody down!

Please be patient with me, and I promise that I will do whatever I can to make these dreams come true. For those that know me, I am a fighter and I won't stop until something is done! First, I need some type of job to pay off the finances that I have over these coming years!

The Parable of Puss in Boots

Okay, I think we have all heard the Parable of Puss in Boots. When not exactly a parable, but rather the story of the Puss in Boots. For those that don't know the fairy tale here is the paraphrased version:

There was once a cat who asked his master for a pair of boots. The master had inherited the cat from his brothers after their father's death. The eldest was able to inherit the house, the second eldest was able to inherit the donkey and the youngest received the cat.

Though the youngest was only able to receive the cat, the cat promised that he would be the most blessed out of his father's children. Through guile, the cat was able to win over the people of the land gaining him his kingdom. And, by winning over the kingdom he was able to convince the king's daughter that he was the Duke of Carrabas and the Duke over those lands. The cat had kept his promise that he would the most blessed amongst his brothers.

The parable that I had attained from this story was this fact. I want you, the reader, to think of the many times you were promised by God (If you believe in Him) things that are promised to you. How many times did you decide to give up thinking you would never recieve it? Since you believed that you would never received it, how many times did you take the easy way out?

I am sure there are many of us out there that are saying yes to these few questions. I am reminded by this story that if the Lord has promised something that it will happen, because He wants us to be happy. Of course, it will take hard work; but that's what faith takes is work.

Like the master, we have to be willing to give over "our boots", or our faith that the "cat" or God will do whatever it will take to make us happy. I know that when we do that we will be happy, and see a fruition of our blessings.

Remember, blessings take time. However, as a generation we have forgotten that concept; and have become a generation of self-gratifyers. We want things now for what is most important now.

Please remember to dare to dream for it is in dreams where we can create a better world. If no one dreamed, the party will end; problems will never be solved; and we will have a world that ceases to exist. It is in dreams that ideas are created; ideas that are turned into actions; and actions that can create a better place to live in.

Dare to dream, and live the dream by not self-gratifying ourselves. And, when we have given puss our boots will we see our promises fulfilled.