A Christmas Story for the start of the holiday season....
Abbey’s Dream Gift
By Sarah Ward
Jane stood by the front door and added layer after layer of sweater, ending with a torn, dirty extra large blue fleece pullover. It was a long walk to the bus stop and the temperatures plummeted last night. She stuffed the chewed up felt liners into her boots and shoved her foot into one, and then the other. She glanced around the quiet living room. Abbey was sleeping in their bedroom. It was still early and if she was lucky she could get to the mall and back before she woke up. She’d written a note for Abbey in case she did wake up; telling her to keep the door locked and to only go over to Mrs. C.’s if there was an emergency. The last time Jane left Abbey alone for any length of time Mrs. C. had threatened to call social services. But Abbey was a very responsible 6 years old, and Jane knew that she could manage for an hour or two on her own. It would be nice if Mrs. C. would offer to help care for Abbey instead of threatening them, but she could see her point. Mrs. C. had her hands full with taking care of her own grandchildren, burdened by her son’s need to spread his seed, with out a nickel to his name. Well, Jane thought, I’m not doing much better, but at least I can take care of my own child. The last thing she would ever do is drop a child off at her mother’s house. One tortured soul in this world at the hands of that woman was enough.
She patted the pockets of her pants and felt the bills bulging in the front pocket. She finished paying the months bills, and there was just enough left over for the Polly Pocket set that Abbey begged to have for Christmas. There wouldn’t be a lot under their paper tree, but she was determined to get the Polly Pockets. Every six year old deserves a real Christmas she thought.
Jane made her way down the icy steps of her apartment building onto the sidewalk. The wind whipped her face and stung her eyes. Cars whizzed past her on the route 15 detour. Ever since they started the construction in downtown Winooski her neighborhood had become the short-cut. People were smiling and drinking their cappuccinos in the warmth of their sedans and Jane daydreamed for a moment about the possibility of owning her own car. What a luxury to be able to go where ever she wanted whenever she wanted to. She looked at her watch. She only had five minutes to make it up the hill to the bus stop. Back to the real world Jane, she told her self, shoving her hands into her pockets and bowing her head against the wind.
On the bus she took in the familiar scene, the scent of diesel exhaust, the elderly women near the front, clad in wool coats with scarves and hats clutching their purses, while trying to balance their frail bodies with each stop and start. Behind her sat a couple of young black men who were rough housing a bit and the driver threatened them with expulsion. Jane sat close to the window and watched the houses and streets pass by. There weren’t too many people out at 7 a.m. on a Saturday morning, but she knew the mall was still going to be packed. This was the holiday rush, the stampede to spend every last cent. Jane hated it. She hated the commercials that pushed extravagant gifts and she hated the guilt that came when you just don’t have the money to spend. She tried to teach Abbey about the spirit of Christmas, the richness of spending time together, the special gifts that could be made and came from the heart, but what Abbey really wanted was that Polly Pocket set, the one where even the little dogs had matching outfits. How did Jesus expect to compete with Santa? Jane and Abbey only had each other, so it wasn’t as if they were going to get together with a whole lot of family. Abbey’s father was gone the day he learned Jane was pregnant, and Jane’s family lived out in Buffalo, too far to visit, and not worth the bus fare even if she could scrape it together.
Twenty five minutes later Jane stepped off from the University Mall Bus and reached for the door. Christmas lights were wrapped around every inanimate object. Reindeer and elves mechanically greeted the shoppers. The crowd before Jane and after her formed a river flowing north and south, breaking off into streams pooling in a store here and there. Jane was overwhelmed. She never shopped here. These were the credit shoppers, the buy now, pay later crowd. Jane had never applied for a credit card in her life. Marge, from the diner had told her it was easy, but Jane was barely scraping by. She couldn’t imagine where the money would come from to pay yet another bill.
When she reached KB Toys she stood in awe at the stacks of games, dolls and super heroes, floor to ceiling. Three women pushed past her, lists at the ready. The shop was having a 20% off sale and everyone wanted first dibs. Jane looked up at a teenager behind the register.
“Pardon me?” Jane cleared her throat a little. In a Gap sweatshirt with a set of keys around her neck, the girl looked up and gave Jane a once over. “Yeah?”
“I was wondering where you keep the Polly Pockets?” The girl glanced down the first isle as if trying to remember. “Down there, towards the back on the left, just past the Barbie’s.” “Okay, thanks.” Following the instructions she made her way to the section and stood behind the three women with their Christmas lists.
“Oh, would you look at these Polly Pocket Pet sets? Aren’t they the cutest? You know the last set of Polly Pockets I bought for Madison several of the outfits ripped before she had even played with them for a week. I think I’ll get her two sets and then she can have replacement parts for the ones that tear.” The other two women were nodding in approval; it was such a practical idea. Jane’s heart sank as the woman grabbed the last two Polly Pocket Pet sets. She searched the shelves hoping to find another box hidden or wedge behind a different toy. Maybe the manager could check the back and see if there were more. She wondered if the manager was old enough to even read.
Making her way up the isle to the register she watched as the woman with the two Polly Pocket Pet sets dug into her purse for a credit card.
“Excuse me Miss? I was just wondering if you have any more of those Polly Pocket Pet sets out back?” The girl in the Gap sweatshirt gave her a look of ‘I’m busy here, can’t you see that?’ and Jane fell silent. A friend of the woman paying looked at Jane for a moment. Was she sizing her up? Wondering why she was wearing three sweaters under an over sized fleece pullover. Jane shifted her weight several times and tried to look as if she didn’t notice this examination.
“I think they have some more at Toys R Us, in Williston.” The woman was offering information that might have been helpful if Jane had the bus fare, time or energy, but she didn’t. She just smiled. “Thanks.” Jane walked out of the store and sat on the bench in front of the food court. Her eyes filled with tears. She had made the effort, she worked hard. She was so tired. Every muscle in her body began to ache. Why did life have to be this difficult? She just wanted a little toy for her daughter, something special under the tree to make it feel special. Christmas carols sang of chestnuts and Jack Frost, while she sat and contemplated life. Sure there were other things she could buy with the $20 she had saved, but would Abbey care? Couldn’t she just this once get Abbey what she asked for? If she used more of the cash for the bus fare to Williston she wouldn’t have enough for the Polly Pocket Pet set once she got there, if they even had them. She held her head in her hands and stared at the floor.
A bag was placed by her left boot and she scooted over to give the person room to sit down. When she looked up there was no one there. She looked around for the owner of the bag, but a band of teens with their elbows linked were mocking the carols and laughing at them as they rushed past her. Maybe there was a receipt inside the bag that would tell her whose it was. Reaching into the bag she pulled up the Polly Pocket Pet set. There was no receipt inside. Again she looked around trying to figure out how it had appeared at her feet. To her right sat an old woman with a shawl wrapped around her black checkered wool coat.
“Excuse me, Mam? Did you see anyone drop this bag?” The woman looked over at Jane, but her eyes were clouded with cataracts. “What dear? I can’t see much. I was just waiting for my boy Billy, he’s gone to the music shop.” “Oh, alright, thanks.”
Jane wasn’t sure what to do. Should she take the bag to the lost and found? But how could it be an accident when this was the exact item she wanted to buy. Miraculous as it was she had to assume that this was meant for her. It was Abbey’s dream gift. Her eyes filled again with tears, but these were joyful, sweet tears, touched by the goodness of a stranger. She looked at her watch; if she hurried she could make the next bus and be home before Abbey woke up. Leaving the mall she heard the familiar bell of the Salvation Army volunteer. She reached into her pocket and took out the cash that she was saving for Abbey’s gift and placed it into the red kettle. Pass it on, she thought, and she stepped onto the Winooski bound bus and headed for home.
