Kerry and Muffy had spotted a small boy wandering aimlessly through the lot.
"May I help you?" Muffy asked instinctively.
"No thank you," the boy responded softly, "unless you know where I can get a Christmas tree for ten cents."
"Well," said Muffy as she slyly elbowed Kerry, "I think this beautiful tree over here is the last one left for ten cents. And it has your name on it!"
"Gee wiz," said the boy, "you mean it really says 'Bobby' on it? Tonight I feel like the luckiest boy in the whole wide world!"
As Bobby gave Muffy the dime, Kerry slipped the attendant $30. A light snow began to fall as the strains of White Christmas echoed throughout the lot.
"If my mom were still alive she'd a baked ya gingerbread cookies," said Bobby. "They were my dad's favorite before he got paralyzed when a drunk driver hit him."
"Bobby, do you live around here?" Muffy felt compelled to ask.
"I only live a few streets away," replied Bobby. "Before I got blisters on my feet on account of my shoes got holes I used to be able to run home in only five minutes. Before my aunt Betty lost most of her eyesight she used to tell me I was the fastest boy she'd ever seen!"
"Don't worry," Kerry assured Bobby, "there's plenty of room in my station wagon to bring you and your new tree home."
"Golly gee," exclaimed Bobby, "I can't wait to show everyone the tree. Last year we didn't have one and Santa had no place to put any toys so me and my brothers and sisters just played pretend."
"Don't you worry," said Muffy elbowing Kerry once again, "I have good feeling Santa's going to bring you lots of presents this year!"
Kerry and Muffy tied the tree to the roof of Kerry's station wagon, secured Bobby in the back seat, and took off in the direction of downtown.
"Hey, my house is the other direction", Bobby said with a note of concern in his voice. "Where are you talking me?"
"Why, to see Santa, of course!" said Muffy, "I'm sure you've lots to tell him."
"No no no. Stop the car. Stop it right now. I wanna get out!" Bobby demanded... |
