I smiled. “No problem. This is actually my favorite time of year too.”
A genuine smile grew on her face, and I was glad for it. “Merry Christmas…” She paused, and I realized I hadn’t told her my name.
“Harper,” I said.
“Oh, what a beautiful name,” she said. “I’m Elizabeth. Well, Merry Christmas to you and your family, Harper. And thank you.”
“Merry Christmas, Ms. Elizabeth,” I said with a final smile.
I went to put the afghan back with the rest of them a few feet away. The feeling of wishing we could do more for Melissa’s family came back, and I sighed.
“Not the right gift?” I heard behind me.
I spun around.
It was Ms. Elizabeth. Her cart was in front of her, but she had turned back to me.
I glanced at the afghan and then at her, wondering how to explain. “It’s the perfect gift, actually. It’s just…I can’t take it after all.”
Her brow knit together. “Oh? You must tell me more.”
She walked right over, and my face turned hot.
“My friends and I—there’s this family, and they can’t afford Christmas this year. So I thought maybe we could—”
She nodded. “I see,” she said. “You really are a wonderfully kind young woman. From what I’ve seen, that’s exceptionally rare these days, Harper. Your family must be very proud of you.”
Her words had me feeling like she’d just given me the Presidential Medal of Honor or something. “Thank you,” I breathed. “I really just wanted to do something nice for them, you know?”
She smiled and didn’t say anything for a second, like she was thinking.
I got ready to excuse myself and find Ella.
“Harper,” she said. “Do you believe in fate?”
I thought about that. “Um, I’m not sure,” I confessed. I had never really thought about it before.
“My daughter, Beatrice? She had this tradition of doing one anonymous good deed every year at Christmas. She wasn’t rich by any means. But she would come here every year and pay off at least one family’s layaway gifts.”
“Wow,” I said, thinking about how Beatrice must have felt doing that.
“Now, having met you, I feel I must continue this tradition in her honor. It won’t exactly be anonymous, but I think she would love it all the same. Would you allow me to help you in your endeavor?” she asked, her eyes sparkling.
My hands came to my mouth in disbelief. “Really?” I said.
“Really,” she said quietly and with a wide smile.
I was speechless.
She reached into her purse, grabbed something, and then put it in my hands. Her hands covered mine, and her eyes welled up with fresh tears. “Thank you, Harper. I’m very glad we met today. You’ve reminded me how to honor my daughter’s memory.”
And with that, she walked away.
I stared down at the money in my hand in complete disbelief.
When I looked up and realized I hadn’t even thought to thank her for being incredibly generous to a family she didn’t even know, she was gone.
I tried to go after her and find her, but it was impossible with the crowds.
So I picked up the afghan again, carefully balancing Melissa’s gifts too, still in shock at what had just happened.
I wasn’t sure if I believed in fate, but one thing I did believe in?
Christmas miracles.
Twelve
Lena
A couple hours into tamale wrapping, two of my aunts arrived, threw on some aprons, and came to our rescue.
I could have cried because of the extra pairs of hands. This meant we would get done twice as fast, and I could maybe make it to Tori’s party before it was over.
I’d be back in time for opening presents at midnight. That was when the real fun began anyway. But I still had to do my hair and makeup before I could go, not to mention scrub the masa out of my fingernails.
And hair.
How had it gotten in my hair?
Another full two hours later, the first batch of the freshly wrapped tamales went into the aforementioned gigantic metal pot. The tamales would cook in it for a while before they cooled down and were then devoured by all of my relatives.
I took off my apron. My mom and both of my aunts, one older and one younger than her, cleaned the kitchen together. They looked like busy bees in a hive with so much work to do they couldn’t stop for one second.
My mom grabbed my apron as she whizzed by and put it away.
“I’m gonna go get ready so I can go to that party I told you about, okay?” I asked.
She nodded, hardly listening, and then laughed out loud with her sisters at something Tía Rosita had said.
I hung back, trying to figure out what was so funny.
“When I broke every single one of those dishes, I really thought Mamá was going to kill me,” Tía Rosita said in Spanish.
My mom wiped at her eyes. “The look on her face when she saw them. I thought she was going to explode.”
Tía Paula clutched at her abdomen in laughter.
Tía Rosita went on. “I just remember I must have been around eight or nine years old. The basket of dishes was so heavy and having to walk all the way to the river and then back. The basket slipped, just like that, and when they did, I ran. Not a single dish had been left intact.”
My mom leaned back on the counter. “I remember Papá looked for you for hours.”
Tía Rosita nodded. “I was afraid of Mamá, but he finally convinced me to climb down from the tree I was hiding in and come home. He assured me that he wouldn’t let Mamá punish me.”
Tía Paula smiled. “He always did have a soft spot for us girls, didn’t he?”
All three of them grew silent then, and I wondered if remembering also made them sad.
My grandfather, their father, had only died last year. I’d known him but not that well. He’d been really old and quiet the last time we’d visited him a couple years ago.
But he seemed like a caring dad, definitely the much-needed balance to my grandmother’s strict nature.
A question popped up into my mind, and I blurted it out. “But why were you coming back from the river?” I asked my aunt. “Why didn’t you just wash the dishes at home?”
She could have avoided a lot of trouble that way, I thought.
My mom answered. “Mija, that’s what was normal back then. We used the running water from the river to clean the dishes and then we’d take them back home. This was before we had running water at your grandparents’ house. Before you were born, we didn’t even have toilets that flushed. Just outhouses. It was a while before your aunts and uncles and I were able to make some fixes around the place.”
“Oh,” I said, wondering what it must have been like to grow up like that.
My Tía Rosita spoke up. “Things were a lot different back then, mija. Christmas was nothing like this, with all this food and all these presents. Sometimes we went hungry. There were so many of us and not enough work.”
“We made our own dolls, too, when we were little,” Tía Paula said. “Out of potatoes and sticks and rocks.”
“Having a couple pieces of candy around the holidays was a real treat,” my mom added. “But you know what? We still had a great time.”
I took a few steps closer. “I didn’t know your childhood had been like that,” I said. I glanced around at the large, pristine kitchen. We didn’t live in the nicest house in the neighborhood, but it was many times better than what my grandparents used to have in Mexico.
She nodded. “Why do you think we work so hard?” She pinched my cheek. “So all of you, the next generation, can have more than we did. More opportunities. A better life.”
My Tía Rosita went back to wiping the kitchen counter. “As long as you’re smart and you don’t waste it.”
I nodded then gave my mom a hug before finally setting off for my room.
I passed the living room, wher
e a half dozen or so of my younger cousins hung out watching TV and trying to guess what their presents were.
When I reached my room, I closed the door and sat on my bed for a minute. I looked around at my closet full of clothes and shoes, my bed full of pillows, and the sheer amount of stuff that surrounded me.
I had to admit, I kind of felt like a jerk. My Scrooge-like attitude lately had been wrong.
Here I’d been whining and complaining endlessly about the chores I had to help out with when my own mom had grown up with none of the stuff I took for granted today.
All my mom had known throughout her childhood was cooking and cleaning, and I couldn’t handle helping out around the house for a few days around Christmastime.
As I changed for the party, I made a promise to myself.
No more Grinch-like behavior. This Christmas, I would appreciate my family, my friends, and everything we were lucky enough to have.
Thirteen
Ella
Harper came back with a weird look on her face, her arms still full of what she was supposed to put back.
“Are you okay?” I asked.
She walked up to me without a word, dropped the afghan and other items in the car, and handed me something.
I looked down at the crisp bills in my hand. “Where’d you get that?” I asked. “Did you find it or something?”
She shook her head. “Someone gave it to me.”
“Gave it to you?” I repeated. I glanced around.
She closed her fist again, her eyes all sparkly and a smile erupting on her face. “This really nice old lady. You should have been there, Ella. It’s really hard to explain, but it’s like a Christmas miracle or something. I was just trying to make sure she was okay, and then we started talking, and I told her what we were doing here, trying to help out Melissa’s family with some gifts. And she gave me this.”
We stared down at the two one-hundred-dollar bills in her hand.
“She said her daughter would have wanted her to help,” she said quietly amidst the buzz of shoppers and blare of the intercom announcing deals around us.
I blinked, not sure what she meant by that at first. Then it dawned on me. “Oh,” I said. “Wow, well, that was really nice of her. I mean, what are the odds?”
She smiled again, like someone had just told her she’d won the lottery. “I can’t believe it either. She was gone before I could say thank you, but this is great. Now we can buy these gifts and get some groceries.”
I smiled too. Crazy how fast things could change, especially for the better.
We moved ahead in line, the tired-looking cashier finally in view. The guy, who didn’t look much older than us, wore a Santa hat but looked like he was so over Christmas.
My phone buzzed in my back pocket, and I pulled it out. Harper took control of the cart while I read the message.
Jesse: Hey, we made it through the first leg of our flight back, but the airport just announced delays until further notice. Big snowstorm just started a few minutes ago :/ Looks like we may be spending Christmas Eve here. Which really stinks because I miss you.
“Oh no,” I said out loud.
Ella: :( Let me know if something changes?
Harper looked over my shoulder. “What is it?”
I met her gaze. “It’s Jesse. His flight back to Atlanta is delayed. He doesn’t think he’ll make it back in time.”
Harper frowned.
Jesse: I’ll let you know. But my parents said we’re gonna head to a hotel. Hopefully the weather will clear up tomorrow.
I bit my lip, tears welling up in my eyes. Harper put her arm around me.
“I’m really sorry,” she said.
“Me too,” I replied. “I just really wanted to see him before I left tomorrow. I can’t believe it’s going to be two more weeks before I see him.”
I tried to think positive but couldn’t come up with anything. Usually, I was good at seeing the bright side of things, and so was Harper, but right now, there was nothing.
“I feel like I just rained on your parade,” I said with a small smile.
She squeezed my hand. “Don’t worry about it. Getting to deliver these presents, not to mention wrapping them, and Tori’s party will get your mind off of not seeing Jesse.”
I nodded. She was right. I couldn’t let this ruin the rest of our night, no matter how disappointed I felt right now.
“Besides,” Harper went on. “Maybe you guys can Skype later? Or maybe he’ll get here in time to meet you at the airport tomorrow? That’s better than not seeing him at all.”
“Yeah,” I said. “Maybe we can hang out at the airport for a few minutes or something. If his flight gets here before mine leaves.”
It was only a small ray of hope, but I clung on to it.
All I wanted for Christmas was Jesse.
Fourteen
Harper
After the five of us met up at Tori’s house for a rapid present-wrapping session, we loaded up her car.
Tori’s Christmas Eve party would start in less than an hour, but first we had to make a very important delivery. The sound of Christmas music in the car had me pumped for what we were about to do.
Tori pulled into my street, but instead of turning into my driveway, she parked in front of the house before mine.
We opened our doors, and the music stopped, but it didn’t matter because “Jingle Bell Rock” kept playing in my head.
Grabbing bags of groceries and wrapped Christmas gifts with giant bows, the four of us made our way to Melissa’s front door.
I shivered even though I was wearing a thick jacket. “Is it me or is it really cold all of a sudden?” I asked.
Lena’s teeth chattered, and she nodded. “Definitely cold.”
Ella rang the doorbell, and we waited.
The sound of footsteps and voices reached us. It sounded like Melissa’s brothers were at the door. One of them peeked through the curtains, and I smiled.
His eyes widened at the sight of the presents in my hand, and all we could hear after that was the sound of excited screams.
I glanced back at my friends, and they all had on big smiles too.
Finally, the front door opened. Melissa stood there with her two brothers.
She was dressed in pajamas with little reindeer all over them. Just like her brothers, her eyes widened in surprise at the sight of me and my friends. “Harper, hi…”
One of her younger brothers, who looked like he was in third grade jumped up and down. “Are those for us?” he asked.
His brother and Melissa clearly wanted to know the same thing.
I bit my lip, wondering just how to say what I was going to say next. “Hi, there,” I began, smiling at Melissa’s brothers. “I’m Harper. These are my friends. Ella, Lena, Rey, and Tori.” My friends waved in turn. “What are your names?”
“I’m Josh,” the younger one said.
“I’m Tommy,” the other one said. Both of them couldn’t get their eyes off the presents in our hands.
“Hi, Josh. Hi, Tommy,” I said, wondering if they still believed in Santa. “We’re here to make a special delivery on behalf of…uh…”
“Santa?” Josh finished for me. He looked like he was about to pass out from disbelief. “I knew he would come to our house after all! I knew it!”
Tommy’s mouth fell open.
I turned to Melissa. “Is it okay if we come in and set these inside?”
She nodded, eyes bright. “Of course,” she said. “I can’t believe you and your friends did this for us.”
She closed the door behind us, and her parents walked into the living room.
Melissa glanced back at us. “Mom, dad, this is my friend Harper from next door.”
I set down my gifts and walked over, hand out. “Nice to see you again, Mr. Douglas. Nice to finally meet you, Mrs. Douglas.”
They shook my hand then stared curiously at the gifts and bags of groceries in our hands. “What’s this?” Melissa’s d
ad asked.
I glanced at the #BFFs. “My friends and I have a special delivery for you all.” They smiled and waved.
Glancing at the boys who looked like they couldn’t wait a minute longer to find out which gifts were theirs, I said, “Just a little something from Santa…and a few other people who wanted to make sure you guys had a great Christmas.”
Melissa’s mom immediately teared up, and I got busy handing out gifts.
Lena and Ella asked where they could put the groceries, and Melissa’s dad guided them to the kitchen, looking pretty astounded with everything himself.
Melissa came over and gave me a big hug. “I can’t believe you guys did this,” she said.
Her brothers asked if they could open their presents since Santa had delivered them early, and all their mom could do was nod.
My friends rejoined me.
Melissa’s mom stared at the scene in front of us, her husband taking her hand. “I don’t know what to say,” she finally said.
“You don’t know how much this helps,” Melissa’s dad said quietly.
I glanced at my friends, and they looked about how I felt inside. Incredibly grateful to have been able to help.
Ella said, “It was all Harper, really. It was her idea, and while most of us were worried about other things, she reminded us about the real meaning of Christmas.”
Now I wanted to cry. I took Ella’s hand and squeezed it.
Lena came over and gave me a hug. Then Tori and Rey were there too, and we were happy to just take in the scene.
“Mom, dad!” Tommy said. “There’s presents for you too!”
They joined their kids on the couch, and Melissa came over again. “Thank you so much,” she said. “My parents knew I would understand if we didn’t have much of a Christmas this year, but it was hard on my brothers.”
“I know it’s not much,” I said.
“But it is,” Melissa replied. “How can we ever thank you?”
I remembered Ms. Elizabeth and her selfless contribution to a family she’d never met. “We wouldn’t have been able to do this if it wasn’t for two special people, Ms. Elizabeth and her daughter, Beatrice. They’re the ones who were really able to make this possible.”
#AllIWantForChristmas Page 4