ShoesBy Enelya 1 in the Family Series
It was the day before Christmas and Chris ran his hand through his hair and sighed as he stood in the long line, with the last few items he had been conned into getting. He couldn't believe Buck and JD had talked him into this. They had said Chris needed to get into the Christmas spirit more and had him go out and get a few more decorations they needed. He took the opportunity to buy them both a present, even though he knew they'd act like absolute kids till he let them open them. JD he could understand acting that way, he was only seventeen and his sister's kid to boot. Buck though, Buck was his younger brother but still old enough not to act like a kid anymore at twenty-one. Chris shrugged then grinned slightly. Buck had always acted like a big kid though. It's what Chris loved most about his brother.
He happened to see a kid in front of him squirming and moving around in front of him, like an overexcited puppy. Chris shook his head and noticed the pair of woman's shoes the boy had in his hands, and then scowled at how dirty the kid seemed. His clothes looked to small, but just as he was about to say something, the line moved forward and it was the kid's turn to pay.
Chris groaned mentally when he saw the handkerchief, bulging with coins, that the boy pulled from his pocket. Why was it that kids seemed to like to have a big bunch change instead of dollars? He supposed it was because it made them feel like they had a lot of money. He knew Adam always thought that. Chris hurriedly cleared his throat and rubbed at his nose forcing himself not to think about Adam right now.
"Excuse me sir, I-I wanna but these shoes for my Mama please." The little boy said, as he held up the shoes and laid the handkerchief of money on the counter. The child began to dance in place like he had to use the bathroom as the clerk turned to answer a question from another customer. "Could you please hurry sir? My Daddy says there's not much time left before visitin' hours at the hospital's over. Mama's been sick for a long time now and I know they'll make her smile. They're even her size and it's her Christmas present." The little boy paused, and then said, "I want her to look beautiful if she meets Jesus tonight."
The cashier looked at the little boy at those words and saw the child's big blue eyes swimming with tears. He nodded and took the handkerchief of money and began to count the pennies in it.
Chris was fighting the tears that were threatening to fill his own eyes as he had heard what the child had said. He no longer felt impatient and anxious to get out of the store. He heard a whimper in front of him and looked up and listened to what was going on.
"I'm real sorry son, but there's not enough here." The clerk said again as the little boy seemed to be uncomprehending.
Chris watched as the boy searched his pockets frantically, then was surprised as watery blue eyes stared up at him.
"What am I gonna do? My Momma always made Christmas good at our house even though a lot of years she didn't get nothin'. She told me that she told Santa that I deserved presents more than she did. I gotta get my Momma these shoes. They- they may be the last thing I give her." He said his voice breaking.
It was the teary, little, broken voice that had Chris deciding quickly. He looked at the clerk. "How much are the shoes?" Hearing the cost, Chris nodded and dug the money out of his wallet. He scooped the change back into the handkerchief and handed it back to the little boy. "Here ya go Cowboy. You keep this you might need it."
The little boy looked up at Chris and his smile made the man's heart soar. "Thanks. Thanks a lot mister. My Momma's gonna look so great." The child took the bag and ran off before anything else could be said.
Chris had a smile on his face as he paid for the stuff he had. He left out of the store and walked to his black suburban and threw the bag in the passenger seat when he opened the door and slid into the driver's seat.
"Hey Buck! Chris is back. Whoa!" JD yelled, as he happened to glance out the window and saw Chris pull up.
"Whoa? Whoa what kid?" Buck asked. When he looked out the window he did a double take. "Whoa!"
"Hey you two quit gawking and get out here and help me." Chris said into the walkie-talkie.
JD and Buck came out a few minutes later and stared. Buck reached over and closed JD's mouth, which had dropped open at the sight of all the things that Chris was pulling from the suburban. "Well now, what little Christmas spirit cause your heart to grow three sizes today Mr. Grinch?" Buck asked with a grin.
Chris opened his mouth, and then grinned. "There was this kid, he was buying his Mom a pair of shoes. Poor kid didn't have enough, so I helped him out. He was so grateful for that one pair of shoes and I just figured that we should really decorate around this place. Sarah and Adam would've wanted us to." Chris said as he pulled another bag out and handed it to the two overgrown kids standing there.
JD was the first to react and grabbed as many bags as he could and shot off to the house. Buck grabbed what he could and left a couple of bags for Chris. Chris grabbed the bags and headed inside shaking his head. It was just as he was suspected they were big kids. He hoped that everything had worked out for the little boy from the store and that he would be spending many more Christmases with his Mom.