AN: I hope you guys have enjoyed these stories so far! I've had so much fun writing them. So, I'm planning on having Day 11 up today as well, between cooking Christmas Eve dinner and wrapping last-minute gifts! Haha! Well, we've got all the Glee kiddos in this one, with Matt as a sort-of focal point. Enjoy! Please R&R! :o)
Ten Special Stockings
"You want to do what exactly?" Mr. Schuester asked, confused.
Matt shuffled his feet nervously. He was not one for many words.
"My cousin is at Mercy Children's Hospital with nine other kids. He can't come home for Christmas," he explained. "So, I asked Principal Figgins if we could take a field trip tomorrow since none of us has finals after lunch."
"A field trip?" Mr. Schue pressed.
"Yeah, to visit the kids. You know, maybe sing for them and play with them? Since it's Christmas and all," Matt said.
A big smile crossed Mr. Schue's face. He could tell Matt had a big heart, but he rarely had a chance to see it firsthand.
"I think that's a fantastic idea, Matt," Mr. Schue confirmed. "We'll talk at Glee today."
Matt smiled, nodded, and turned to go back to his desk. He had already called his aunt to make sure they could come. The hospital nurses thought it was a sweet idea. Everything was set in motion. Now to get the Glee kids on board.
"That sounds like a wonderful idea," Rachel stated. "These young children need to be reminded of the joy of the holiday season, and if our being there can keep that joy alive and intact, then I think we should take on this venture and go."
Matt granted her a thankful smile even though he was still processing most of the words in his brain.
"What does your cousin have?" Artie asked carefully.
"Leukemia," Matt replied soberly.
The rest of the Glee kids nodded solemnly. Leukemia was a hard thing to deal with, especially at such a young age.
"We could have someone dress up like Santa!" Brittany cried excitedly.
"And some of the girls can be elves," Mike added.
They all looked around, searching for their Santa. All eyes landed on Mr. Schue.
"Me?" he squeaked. "Okay, okay, I'll do it" Mr. Schue relented.
The Glee kids cheered and decided that the Cheerios would be Santa's elves. They could just wear red sweaters over their cheerleading skirts which were already red and white. Brittany had some red and green elf type hats from a Christmas ballet recital she was in years ago.
"I can paint the little girls' nails, if that's allowed," Kurt offered.
"We have a mini Christmas tree in our basement," Finn said. "We can bring that with us."
"We could fill some stockings with gifts for them," Tina suggested.
Matt sat back and let the other Glee kids plan and organize. He was grateful to have friends like this who were so generous and willing to help give his cousin a great Christmas. He knew the other children would be excited as well.
"The stockings sound great, guys," Matt said. "There are ten kids on Ricky's floor. I want to fill one for him."
"I'll make one," Brittany said.
"Me too," Santana agreed, smiling at her boyfriend.
Matt grinned back. He knew Santana had a generous side to her, though anyone rarely saw it. He was pretty sure that whoever got her stocking would be pretty spoiled this Christmas.
The rest of the Glee kids offered to make stockings as well. Finn and Quinn would make one together as well as Artie and Tina. The rest were on their own.
The next day, the Glee kids, Mr. Schuester, and Miss Pillsbury all piled in the school bus prepared to make the one and a half-hour trip to Toledo. Each kid had their stocking, the Cheerios were dressed to the nines, and Mr. Schue even had his Santa suit on, minus the itchy beard. He promised to wear it when they arrived of course.
"This is just the sweetest thing any group of students has ever done for the children here," a nurse named Mary said.
She led the students down the children's oncology wing. Matt's aunt met them in the waiting area.
"Ricky has no idea you're here," Aunt Sheila said.
"Good! Surprises are so much better anyway," Matt grinned.
"All the children are in one of the family visiting rooms. They have no idea who is coming, but they heard a special visitor was in town," Nurse Mary said, nodding at Mr. Schue who was now clad in his beard.
"You first, Mr. Schuester," Rachel prodded. "Then, the elves, and then Puck and Finn will bring in the tree, and the rest of us will follow with the stockings," she instructed.
Everyone nodded at the plan. All of the Glee kids were grinning from ear to ear. Kurt and Brittany were bouncing with excitement even.
"Here we go," Mr. Schue whispered.
He turned around the corner with the Cheerios close behind. As soon as he entered the room, the kids began screaming with joy.
"Ho! Ho! Ho! MERRY CHRISTMAS!" Mr. Schue said in his best Santa voice.
"It's Santa, kids!" Nurse Mary said 'in surprise.'
"SANTA!" the children chorused.
"Ho! Ho! Ho! Hi, kids! I've come to spread some Christmas spirit," Mr. Schue said. "I've even brought some elves from the North Pole!"
Quinn, Santana, and Brittany took their cue, twirled in place, and then began hugging the children.
"I think this place needs to have some Christmas cheer, don't you?" Mr. Schue asked.
"YES!" the children yelled.
Mr. Schue snapped his fingers three times, and the Cheerios did a little jig. Then, Puck and Finn came in with the Christmas tree followed by the rest of the Glee kids and Miss Pillsbury with the stockings. All the kids laughed and cheered at the sight. The parents who were there were speechless.
"Matt!" Ricky shouted once he saw his cousin. He ran to him, and Matt swung him up in his arms for a big bear hug.
"Hey, little guy! How are you feeling?" Matt asked.
"Better now that you and Santa are here!" Ricky cried, squeezing Matt's neck. "I've missed you!"
"I know, Buddy. I've missed you too!" Matt said, stroking the child's back.
Santana came over and kissed Matt on the cheek. She winked at him as she walked back to the other kids.
"Kids, we brought some ornaments to decorate the tree," Miss Pillsbury spoke up. "Would you like to be Santa's special helpers?"
"YES!" the children cried.
They all scrambled up to the bags Miss Pillsbury, Rachel, and Mercedes were holding. While they decorated, the Glee kids sang "Rockin' around the Christmas Tree." The parents clapped and sang along. Nurse Mary and Aunt Sheila wiped tears from their eyes at the sight of the happy children.
When they had finished the tree, the children huddled on the floor so the Glee kids could sing a few more songs. They sang "Jingle Bell Rock," "Here Comes Santa Claus," "Silent Night," and the children joined in on "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer."
Everyone was in high spirits when Mr. Schuester made his announcement.
"Ho! Ho! Ho! Who's ready for presents!?" he bellowed.
"ME!" each child called out.
"Okay, everyone needs to sit down so my other helpers can pass out your special gifts," Mr. Schue said.
The children scrambled to the floor to find a seat. The Glee kids grabbed the stockings and found a child.
Kurt found a little girl with pretty blonde curls just beginning to grow back. She had her nails painted but they were chipped. When he offered to paint them for her, she threw her arms around his neck which choked him up a little.
Rachel found a little boy with glasses. He took the stocking and thanked her politely. One of the cars she had put in fell out and rolled under the Christmas tree.
"Don't worry, I'll get it," Rachel said, crawling under the tree.
However, when she came out from under it, her necklace snagged on one of branches and broke the chain. She gasped but put on a big smile when she handed the car back to the child.
Puck heard her gasp from across the room. He had given his stocking to a little boy who reminded him of himself at that age. He patted the child on the back and went to Rachel's side.
"You okay?" he whispered.
"Yes," she nodded.
"Don't lie to me," he pressed.
She looked up at him with tears threatening to spill over.
"My Star of David necklace broke," she whimpered, holding up the broken chain in one hand and the pendant in the other.
"Oh, Rach, I'm sorry," he said, pulling her into a quick hug.
Rachel wished she could stay in his arms, but they both knew it wasn't the time or the place. She pulled away, whispered her thanks, and went back to the children after tucking the jewelry in her pocket.
Kurt and Quinn saw the exchange though they could not hear the words. They didn't like that their friend was upset, but they were very pleased at Puck's reaction. They glanced at each other, and Kurt nodded knowingly.
Quinn smiled and turned back to the little girl she and Finn gave their stocking to. She had striking green eyes, and Finn and Quinn pictured she looked like Olivia would in a few years. The girl thanked them sweetly for the Barbie doll, coloring book, and markers, which made Quinn smile even wider.
The others gave their stockings away, while Matt nestled on the ground with Ricky.
"Thanks for coming today, Matt," Ricky said quietly.
He sat on Matt's lap with his back against Matt's chest. They were messing with the handheld video game Matt brought him.
"I'm glad I'm here, Buddy," Matt said.
That day, after Santa and his elves and special helpers left the children's hospital, the ten children played with the toys from their stockings. They laughed and sang and frolicked. Their parents knew that, for one day at least, the sadness of the cancer was gone and the joy of being a kid at Christmas was back. They knew the kids would always remember this Christmas as a very special one.
AN2: So, I have never visited Mercy's Children Hospital, so I am just assuming about the oncology wing and the family room. Sorry if it's incorrect! I tried to research the best I could! Remember, R&R= Love! :o)