Christmas Shopping

CHRISTMAS SHOPPING

          "Well, Santa uses the latest technology nowadays, it helps him with his magic, now go to sleep."

          I had the list, now I had to find the stuff. There was no snow, only a rainy dark day that didn't remind me of any Christmas. I passed a homeless guy on the street, not looking, not daring to look, then popped into a coffee shop to take the edge off. 

          I was groggy from shift-work. I unfolded the list and saw the first item: My Little Pony - London Drugs.

          Of course, I couldn't find a My Little Pony in London Drugs so I wandered around looking for an employee. Then I saw a young dark skinned fellow with an interesting beard, the kind of beard that enveloped a kind face. He was wearing an employee's uniform.

          He greeted me by bowing gently and said, "How can I help you, sir."

          He smiled.

          "An Arabian knight," I labelled him.

          "My Little Pony," I said.

          "On sale," he said, "this way."

          On the way to get the toy, we passed two young Chinese girls happily chatting to one another with their push cart full of items. They were close friends, walking arm in arm.

          I walked out of the store and crossed off  'My Little Pony'. The homeless guy had moved locations and was now on this side of the street.

          I walked over to him and looked him in the eye, gave him a ten dollar bill, and said, "Merry Christmas, sir."

          Somehow, this Christmas, like all Christmases, brought a sense of goodness home. This year, it wasn't a big snowfall, or singing carols, or hot chocolate with family and friends, instead, this year, it was three people who I didn't know, an Arab, and two Chinese girls.  Merry Christmas to all.

By Frank Wayne Mottl

www.frankwayne.net  

Published in Nov./Dec. Issue, 2020, “The Writers and Readers’ Magazine.”