Something To Think About When You Get Dressed In The Morning

He sat there in the drafty room staring at nothing. Another holiday season passes and he doesn't even notice. There are no twinkling lights on the roof. Glittering bulbs and handmade decorations sit in dust covered boxes. The fireplace is cold and unadorned with pine boughs and holly. No child will awake Christmas morning to see overstuffed stockings and a gaily decorated tree. Those years are long gone.

His wife passed away so long ago he had almost forgotten what she looked like. Their children moved across the country and only called when guilt pressured them to. There wasn't anyone around to care if he stayed up all night and slept all day. No longer did he have to eat full meals or dust if he didn't want to. After all it was only him in the house.

Ashley looked up the sidewalk to the imposing house. Multi gabled and long overdue for a fresh coat of paint, the other kids in the neighborhood called it the spooky house and the man inside a Scrooge. Never once in all her 8 years did she him plant any flowers. Flowers would make the porch so inviting. He never cleaned his windows. Sparkling windows would make the house look happy and Ashley liked happy things. Without any pretty red bows or candles, the house looked sad and forlorn.

Taking a deep breath she headed up the walk, leaving little footprints in the un-shoveled snow. Heart pounding loudly in her undeveloped chest, she reaches up and rings the bell. She begins to wonder if he is at home when the door creaks slowly open. With dim light at his back she looks way up to see his scraggly unshaven face looking down at her with a frown.

"What do you want!"

"Um I came to wish you a Merry Christmas and give you a present Mr. Brown."

"A Christmas present? Bah, I don't want any Christmas present, especially from the likes of you. You kids have been told before to stay away from here, now scat!"

Undaunted, Ashley hands him the box. Her mother wanted to help her wrap it, but she was a big girl now and could do it herself. The smiling reindeer paper wasn't quite even and the silver ribbon sat askew. But the big red bow sat smartly in the middle just where it should be.

"You don't have to take it if don't want to, but I really want you to. I thought a lot about what you could use. I couldn't get you a sweater to replace the one you wear cuz I don't know your size. So I thought and thought and thought. Then I remembered something my mama gave to me when I was a little girl. The best part is that it won't ever be too small and won't ever be too big. Mama says it's one size fits all."

He looked down at the little girl shaking the box in front of him. Why couldn't she see he did not want her silly gift? He only wanted to be left alone. Grabbing the thing from her mitten covered hand he grumbled and mumbled and told her to go home.

Inside he threw the box on the table next to the chair. Ignoring it like he ignores everything else in life he headed to the kitchen to open a can of something for his dinner. Flicking on the tv for noise, he methodically eats spoonful after spoonful, slyly glancing at the table top. It had been too many years since he had received a present. With a sneer and a snarl he put the bowl down and grabbed the box.

Dang little chit. Who does she think she is anyway? What kind of one size fits all gift could fit in this little box?

Popping off the bow, untying the ribbon and ripping open the love wrapped paper, he lifts the lid. Digging through mounds of shredded paper he finds this:



He sits there staring. Such a little thing she was, but she has a huge heart. He couldn't remember the last time he had an honest to God hug. Suddenly a flurry of memories assaulted him. The times he walked up behind his wife as she cooked the family meal, holding her close. The times they danced in the living room after the kids were in bed, swaying to music only they could hear. The sight of his babies, rushing out the door to greet him after a long day at work. Giving his daughter away at her wedding to the man who would take her away from him to another land. Congratulating his son on his promotion to Sergeant.

Standing he heads up the stairs. He had work to do.

The next day the house in the middle of the street no longer looked so forlorn. Every window sparkled. The walks were clear. Pine boughs and twinkle lights were wrapped around the porch. On the door was a big, big wreath topped with a big red bow.

As people opened their doors they found a present, gaily wrapped and glittering in the sunlight. Inside was a pile of shredded paper. And if they looked at the bottom, each one received a note from Mr. Brown saying

Open House Today

No need to call

Presents to be given

One size fits all

It may be a little early in the year to talk about Christmas, but it is never a wrong time to give away hugs. To all of you who stop by to read: BIG HUGS.

Have you given a hug yet today?