Home Improvement

Chapter 1: Christmas I: 1994

Secret Santa

On the twelfth day of Christmas, my true love sent to me…

Twelve drummers drumming

Eleven pipers piping

Ten lord's a-leaping

Nine ladies dancing

Eight maid's a-milking

Seven swan's a-swimming

Six geese a-laying

FIVE GOLDEN RINGS

Four calling birds

Three French hens

Two turtle doves

And a Partridge in a pair tree.

"And move out," the music teacher ordered the choir. Mark put his candle down. The parents clapped.

The teacher then came and gathered the class. Alright, anyone who wants to participate in Secret Santa, come forward. Mark watches his mom, dad, and brothers move out. He blew out a sigh. He went forward, and the teacher, Miss Hage put his name in.

Miss Hage took her hat off and put all the names in. She shook the hat and scrambled the names. All the students in fourth Grade drew a name.

Mark looked at his. Sarah

"The day before the vacation, you all should get your name a gift. This gift should be true and come from the soul. This is the season to be jolly, and I will tolerate no jokes from students who believe it's funny to send nothing or hurtful items.

Mark looked down. Henry wasn't his friend. He didn't know what to give him. That was his problem. He walked out of the house to the backyard. Wilson was barbecuing outside.

"Hi Wilson," Mark said.

"Hi-de-ho Taylor boy," Wilson said calmly.

"Barbecue? Can I have some if it's not too much trouble to ask?"

"No problamo Mark," Wilson said, flipping him a meat patty over the fence. Mark caught it and took a bite.

"I am sorry to not have seen your performance," Wilson said. "Jill told me it was really good."

Mark nodded, "Afterwards, we did Secret Santa."

"Ah, the traditional act of Santa Claus secretly leaving a gift for persons."

Mark nodded, "I don't know what to get her. Sarah is a nice girl."

"Give her anything, Mark," Wilson answered.

"What if she doesn't like it?"

"Mark, the whole point of Secret Santa, I believe, is to get someone something to show them you care. It's youth, getting into the spirit of Christmas, and spreads to even adults this time of year. A common gift is some Santa doll, a Santa hat, maybe a Christmas scarf."

So, Tim took Mark to a Christmas shop. Mark looked around breathlessly. He was beginning to like the girl a bit. He picked a Santa hat from a shelf.

"No, she won't take anything other than Tools, knowing her," Tim said, putting it back

"Dad, you don't know her," Mark said.

"You do, and since I know you who know her, I definitely know her," Tim excused.

"Alright, I'll get her this," he said, picking up a scarf.

"Mark, for Sarah, you should get something big, something as small as that," Tim said. "You call yourself a Taylor."

"Wilson said…"

"Never mind what he said," Tim said. "If you got him a hat, scarf, a Santa ornament, and a small miniature Christmas tree."

"I don't have that money," Mark said.

"Oh yeah, I forgot, your allowance for this week," Tim said, pulling a five dollar bill out of his pocket.

"Now I do," Mark said happily.

So, Mark gave Sarah the present on the day before the vacation. She looked at it happily.

"Oh my God, Mark, my family needed something like this," she said happily. "Thanks so much."

Mark didn't know what to say, so he nodded.

"Thanks a lot, Mark," Sarah said.

Mark received a kiss from her before he went back to his desk, to find a Christmas book of Carols and stories, including the First Christmas with the birth of the Lord. Mark picked it up. He looked up.

"Like it?" Henry asked.

Mark nodded, "Thanks."