A Christmas Tree for Santa

An Original

Christmas Story

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"A Christmas tree?" "Yes, a Christmas tree, but not a very big one." Charlie paused a moment, rubbing his beard thoughtfully. "Didn't your Mommy and Daddy get a tree this year?" Wendy looked Charlie straight in the eye. "I don't have a Daddy, and Mommy is in Hollywood so she can be an actress, and can't come home for Christmas. I live with my Grandma and Grandpa." She pointed across the lobby.

Charlie followed her finger and picked out an old couple sitting at a desk opposite of one of the loan officers. The old man was dressed in a faded old flannel shirt, patched blue jeans, and a beat up straw hat. His face was creased and withered from many years of sun, wind, and rain. His wife was a plump friendly looking woman wearing a simple housedress and a worn knit shawl. The old man twiddled his thumbs nervously between his knees as the loan officer spoke on the phone.

Charlie turned his attention back to the little girl. "Your grandparents look like they are very nice people, Wendy, and I'm sure that your Mommy misses you dearly. Just think, someday when she's a famous movie star you'll both live in a big mansion in Beverly Hills...right next door to Harrison Ford!" Wendy's eyes lit up. "Yes, won't it be cool?" Then she looked at Charlie with a quizzical expression. "But I don't think I'd want to live next door to a car lot!" She rolled her eyes at Charlie as they exchanged a look, then a hug.

"Never mind darlin'," he grinned. "OK now, what about this tree business? Won't your Grandma and Grandpa get you one this year?" Wendy sighed. "We never get a tree, Grandpa says we ain 't got room for one. That's why I want just a little tree, one I could fit in my bedroom." She paused a moment, then whispered, "Can you keep a secret?" Charlie looked serious and crossed his heart with his finger. "Santa's no snitch darlin'. Your secret is safe with me."

Wendy looked at him for a moment, then a look of satisfaction came over her face as she continued to whisper. "Well Grandma and Grandpa don't have much money. They don't know I was listening, but I heard them talking. They came down here to the bank to get money so they could buy me a Christmas present. I don't need anything, but I don't want to hurt their feelings either. Christmas isn't about presents anyway, it's about the baby Jesus... isnt it Santa?" Charlie looked into Wendy's big brown eyes for a moment. He just wanted to take that wonderful little girl into his arms and hug her. After hearing so many children asking for expensive toys all day, it warmed his heart to hear this little angel speak of the true meaning of Christmas.

"Yes Wendy, you're one hundred percent right. You sure are smart for such a little girl. So you've never had a Christmas tree?""Nope." Charlie rubbed his beard again, seriously deep in thought. "Here I go again. I'm gonna get myself involved in things that ain 't my business. What the heck, it's Christmas. What can they do, shave my head and send me to Bosnia?" A tug on his fake beard brought Charlie's attention back to Wendy.

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