Epilogue

During the days that followed Christmas Eve, Helen walked the streets of the town center, looking for Samuel. She didn't see a trace of him, which made her happy and worried at the same time. She was glad that Sam didn't have to walk around the cold winter streets, but she was worried because she was half expecting to see the quiet student of hers admiring the miracle of Christmas as presented in the colorful shop windows.

Helen's concern was certainly not reduced by the fact that dire coldness that had arrived at Christmas Eve refused to wane. Breath misted in the cold winter air and even the birds, the ones who stayed in the north every winter, shivered on the branches of trees. Under one tree, Helen Helen even found a sparrow that had frozen to death. That night she slept cried herself to sleep, thinking of all the children in the world who needed help.

Next morning, when she arrived to breakfast, her eye were swollen and red-rimmed, making Laura Jones call her an old sentimental fool.

In time holy days ended. It was time to resume the routine, even when school children's and Helen's Christmas break continued a little longer. During that free time Helen took the Christmas tree out, packed the decorations neatly in their boxes and put in the freezer what was left of the turkey.

One day, when Helen was buying a packet of minced meat for Iodine from a small corner shop, she saw her quiet student for the last time. Sam was with his brother, almost hiding behind his back when he carelessly tossed in the cart snack bars, potato chips and energy drinks - everything that, in Helen's opinion, shouldn't be fed to the growing children. Neither of the boys had not noticed her,

which was why she, perhaps childishly, hid behind a box of cereal and pretended to be reading the product description very carefully.

From behind the cereal box, Helen watched how the boys joked and laughed, slowly proceeding towards the checkout. Dean almost emptied the candy shelf crate, and Helen didn't remember ever having heard Sam laughing so much. Sam still sounded like he was about to choke his laughter when Dean started to empty the cart to the shopping belt. Suddenly he seemed to remember something.

"Sammy," he said, eyes still twinkling, "grab a sixpack, for the evening. It will be a long drive and I'll need it when we get there."

Sam nodded and became more serious, but only slightly. Nimble steps carried him to fetch the desired item and when he returned, he practically walked into Helen. She took her eyes away from the cereal box to meet Sam's gaze and she was convinced that the boy was about to say something. He didn't have the time, though, because his brother's amused voice from the checkout called him.

"Sammy, are you trying to kill your brother to old age?"

Sam nodded to Helen, smiling a bit apologetic smile. Without saying a word the boy rushed to the checkout, where the shop assistant was already taking the prices.

Helen, who had completely forgotten Iodine's minced meat, grabbed the cereals and moved to checkout. She saw the boys putting the purchased items into Sam's backpack, then move out, where it was snowing again. After a while she heard the roar of an old car starting, then the roar turned into low purring under older Winchester's touch. Soon the black monster disappeared into the blizzard.

Later, a few weeks after the headmaster had let Helen know that Samuel Winchester was changing schools after Christmas, she got a small mail order package. She was a tad surprised – she was not expecting a package from anyone – but she opened it anyway. When she saw her hat, scarf and mittens, her astonishment deepened even further. Wrapped in a scarf was a plate of chocolate, as well as a short message written in Sam's handwriting.

Thank you for the loan, the Christmas that we shared, and the fact that you care. I am okay but our new history teacher isn't nearly as not as good as you are. Happy New Year!

-Sam W.

Helen folded the paper and placed it carefully in her wallet. In the next few weeks, months and years Helen Jones forgot Samuel Winchester, piece by piece. As a result, the voice of her conscience grew more and more quiet. For years after she buried Laura Jones and merry little Iodine, she continued as a history teacher in the small town, but ended up doing nothing special for children in need.