Well, my christmas gift came a few days early this year, on Saturday. A lady I had never met before gave me a big wet kiss on the cheek while I was shopping at a department store. Here's the story of how that came about...
I went shopping Saturday to buy the gifts I needed. I was in the childrens section of a department store when I witnessed a touching moment between a young mother and her pre-school aged daughter.
I entered the aisle where they were standing, the little girl was tightly hugging a stuffed unicorn doll, it was about 1/2 as big as her, all fluffy and white.
I overheard mom telling her daughter that she couldn't afford to buy the unicorn now, that she needed to buy gifts for others, that Santa already had a sack full of gifts for her anyway. She told her daughter she'd have to put the doll back on the shelf, and they would come back after christmas and buy it then if it was still there.
As she spoke I could see in the mother's eyes a sadness, a disappointment. I could hear it in her voice too. She wasn't scolding her daughter as so many parents do, she was doing an excellent job of lovin' on her little girl. I noticed there was no ring on mom's finger, she was a single parent, I assumed that means money is tight. I was a single parent too, I understand money being tight.
Then the little girl did something that touched my heart. She gave that unicorn one last big hug and placed it back on the shelf, then said "OK mommy". She sounded disappointed too, but the little trooper didn't make one protest or wimper. A big tear was welling up in my eye.
I spoke up and asked if unicorns were the daughters favorite, the mom replied yes, she really wished she could afford it, but its not in the budget. I told her my daughter liked unicorns too when she was that age, I complimented her for having such a well mannered little girl, and after a moment of chit chat we wished each other a merry christmas and went about our business.
After I saw them leave the aisle I went back and grabbed that unicorn and quickly headed for the cahsier's counter. Mom and daughter were still shopping in the children's section so I had time to pull this off. I waited my turn behind one other customer, and bought the unicorn. While at the check out I asked the cashier, a colleged aged lady, if I could borrow her Santa hat. She looked at me funny, until I explained what I was up to, and then she took it off her head and handed it to me. Off I went to find the lady and her daughter wearing the clerk's Santa hat.
I walked up behind the lady and tapped her on the shoulder, she turned around and said "oh hi", I explained I bought the unicorn for her daughter and asked if it would be OK if I gave it to her. She said sure, in a tone of amazement. She called her daughters name to get her attention, told her "this man has a gift for you". I knelt down with the unicorn held in my out stretched arms, the little girl grabbed it quicker than you can blink an eye and gave it another big hug, just as she had done when she put it back on the shelf. She also had the manners to say thank you.
I told her I was one of Santa's helpers and Santa told me to give her this gift early. I explained to the little girl this was her reward for being so well behaved, minding her mother, having manners and not acting spoiled.
I stood up to find mom crying. I gave her a hug, she dried her eyes, and we chatted for another moment. When there was nothing more to say, I was about to say good bye when mom grabbed my face and planted a big kiss on my cheek, and then told me again, "thank you so much".
So you see, my Christmas came a few days early this year, that kiss was my christmas present. Everyday is Chistmas.
Cowboy From Hell
