The Meaning Of Christmas

This is a story I wrote last week, inspired by the Boondocks Christmas episode. I was really nervous about it, since it would be the first thing my family had read since 5th grade and because it has no violence what so ever, but so far everyone had liked it.

It is dedicated to my family, and is posted here as my way of wishing my Non-Exsistant Readers a Merry Christmas.



The Meaning Of Christmas

Dedicated to my parents Mike and Brenda, and my siblings Karo, Jeremy, and Haley

Ashley Tompkins ran with tears in her eyes. The cold December wind whipped the falling snowflakes into her face and froze her tears, leaving icy trails on her face. She ignored the tears, ignored the wind as she ran, the clean, white canvas of snow that covered the street marred only by her footprints.

She ran until she reached the church and knocked on the door of the parsonage. Father Rodriguez had been a friend of the family for a long time, and with her parents gone, he was the only one she could think of who could help her. There was no answer so she knocked again. Again no answer. She sat down on the front step to wait. Wherever he was, Ashley was sure that he would be back soon.

She had stopped crying about a block from the church, too tired from running in the deep snow. Now the tears began to once again flow as she pulled her legs close to her body. She wished that she had grabbed her jacket and boots, instead of running out barefoot and wearing only jeans and the sweater Grandma had given her last year. She hugged her legs to her body and curled up her toes as the cold wind hit her.

Ashley didn’t know how long she had been sitting there; she didn’t own a watch and even if she did, she didn’t really know how to tell time yet. She had stopped crying and just sat there, shivering and hoping that Father Rodriguez would arrive soon. Suddenly she heard the sound of a bell jingling as a shadow fell over her.

Ashley turned around and saw a tall, overweight man wearing a red suit. His long white beard, covering half his chest, made him easily recognizable, as did his red hat with a Jingle Bell on the end.

“Santa?”

“Hello Ashley. What are you doing out here in this weather?”

“I ran away because Billy was being mean.”

“”What happened?”

“ I was writing a letter to you to tell you what I wanted for Christmas. I didn’t know how to spell a word, so I asked him, and he said that I was stupid and that you weren’t real!”

“It’s true.” Santa said with a chuckle. “To him I’m not real. He’s too grown up to believe in me. Someday the same thing will happen to you. You’ll become more concerned about how your make up looks or wearing the latest fashion or if some boy likes you, and you’ll stop believing in me.”

“Boys are icky.”

“I’m sure your father loves to hear that,” Santa said, his belly shaking as he laughed, “and hopes you keep saying that until you’re thirty. But just saying that I’m not real or that you’re stupid shouldn’t be enough of a reason to run away. What else happened?”

“He said that you couldn’t give me what I wanted, because you weren’t real.”

“What did you ask for?”

“That you would make mommy and daddy stop yelling at each other and not get a divorce. And then he said that it was my fault that mommy and daddy were getting a divorce. He said that they didn’t start fighting until after I was born and it was my fault that they didn’t like each other anymore.”

Tears began to flow once again from Ashley’s eyes, and Santa held the child, trying to comfort her. She continued to talk, but her sobbing made it impossible to understand what she was saying. After a few minutes, Santa brushed away her tears and looked her in the eyes.

“Ashley, I have some bad news. He’s right. I can’t make your parents like each other again, but I do have a question. Do you know the meaning of Christmas?”
“My Sunday School teacher said that it is Jesus’ birthday.”

“That is why we celebrate it, but that isn’t the meaning of Christmas. Even people who don’t believe in Jesus celebrate Christmas. Jesus’ birth is important, but the real meaning of Christmas is love.”

“Love?”

“Yes, love. You see, God loved all of us so much that he sent us Jesus. That’s why people who don’t believe in Jesus celebrate Christmas. Because the meaning of Christmas is love. Do you understand?’

“No.”

Santa smiled. “I thought you might say that. How about I show you.”

Santa picked up Ashley and placed her in his sleigh. She hadn’t heard it arrive, but there it was; all nine reindeer were there with Rudolph in the lead. At Santa’s command they flew into the air and over the city until the got to the street Ashley lived on. Beneath them, she could see her brother walking around with a flashlight.

“What do you see Ashley?”

“Billy.”

“Right. After you ran out the door, he put on his boots and jacket, he grabbed your jacket, and he started looking for you. When he lost your footprints at the intersection, he went home to call your parents. Father Rodriguez had stopped to visit and called them because Billy was crying too hard.”

“Why was he crying?”

“He was worried about you. He wasn’t sure if you had been hurt or kidnapped or something.”

They flew down the street, towards two other points of light. As they got closer, Ashley recognized her parents and called out to them, but they didn’t answer.

“They can’t see or hear us, because they don’t believe in me anymore. When they got home, Father Rodriguez said that he would help your father look for you, while your mother stayed at home in case you or the police called, but she refused to stay home while you were in danger. So he stayed at the house to answer the phone, and your parents are out looking for you. Do you know why?”

“Because they love me?”

“Right. Your parents might not like each other very much sometimes, but they will always love you, no matter what you do. And on Christmas, we celebrate with the people we love. We might not always get along, but on Christmas, it doesn’t matter. That is why even people who don’t believe in Jesus celebrate Christmas. Do you understand what I meant now?”

“I think so.”

“Good. Now, I can’t help your parents like each other again, but they love you so much that they stopped fighting to look for you. And maybe after this, they’ll realize that they still love each other and not get a divorce after all. But if they do, I want you to know that it is not your fault, ok? They’re down there looking for you because they love you and they don’t want anything bad to happen to you. If their fighting was your fault, do you think they would be out there searching for you together?”

“No.”

“Right. So if anyone tries to tell you that it’s your fault that your parents are fighting, just ignore them, ok?”

“Ok.”

“Good. Now I think it is time they found you so that your family can go inside where it’s warm.”

Santa landed the sleigh near where Ashley’s family was looking and she hopped out into the snow. Before he left, Santa leaned out of the sleigh.

“Merry Christmas Ashley, and don’t worry about Billy.” He said, with a twinkle in his eyes. “I think I might have some coal laying around the workshop for him.”

“You don’t have to punish him by giving him coal. I think he has been through enough.”

“That’s what I wanted to hear. Now be a good girl, and have a Merry Christmas.”
Ashley waved as Santa flew off. When she couldn’t see him anymore, she ran towards her family. Her mother yelled her name as she wrapped her arms around Ashley. He father joined the group hug and her mother cried, tears of joy streaming down her face. Billy stood nearby, looking at the ground. After a few minutes Ashley walked up to her big brother.

“I’m sorry I called you stupid and said it was your fault mom and dad are getting a divorce.”

“That’s ok.” Ashley said as she took Billy’s hand and smiled. “I still love you.”

Father Rodreguize, hearing Ashley’s mother yell, stood in the doorway of their house as the family walked home, hand in hand.