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A Sad Christmas

“We wish you a Merry Christmas, we wish you a Merry Christmas, and a happy New Year!” sang out a group of 5 carolers. A girl named Lena watched from her darkened bedroom window. She watched the snow fall and the carolers moving on to a different house. Lena moved some of her dark blonde hair out of her crystal blue eyes. She wore her nightgown of white; it made her look like an angel ready to take flight. The girl closed her eyes and turned from the scene letting the Curtin fall as it pleased. She walked to her bedside and grabbed a piece of blank paper and a pen. She wrote on the paper a note to Santa.
Dear Santa,
I know it’s late in the year, but my mommy has been gone for a while now. My daddy’s sick like she was. The doctor says they have the same thing. Do you think that maybe if I be really, really good next year and I let you take away all my presents that you could maybe help my daddy. Make him better so he doesn’t leave too. Mr. Santa sir this is all I really want for Christmas, my daddy to be better. If you do this for me then I will be really, really good. I promise! Cross my heart and hope to die, stick a hot needle in my eye. So please Mr. Santa help him, please, please help him!

From, Little Lena Spout
Age 10
She places the letter in a cream colored envelope and put on her jacket and slippers of blue. She walked out the door and to the mail box and placed it inside. Keep warm little letter and get to Santa before his sleigh ride. She walked back to the house and looked at the snow. How it reminded her of her mother. She walked in the house and closed the door, making sure it was locked and no one could enter. Then she walked to her father’s room and to his bed side.
“Hi daddy,” She said with her small little voice. She looked him over his now pale skin of sickly white. She looked at his brown hair that used to shine in the light now lies to long at his shoulders and limply and dry. He was still beautiful to little Lena’s eyes. She swayed and her nightgown swished on the floor.
“Hey angel,” He said in a whisper to her, “Come lay with me. I do love you so.” She climbed in to bed with him pulling the warm covers up to her chin. She snuggled up to him letting him place his sickly white arm around her tight. They slept well for the first time that night.

For a week little Lena would write Santa at night. She never asked for anything more then her father’s old life, his sparkling smile and his health to be good. All she wanted was her father to be happy again. Is that too much to ask? So every morning the letter was mailed out and never did she get a response. Two nights before Christmas her father and her all snug in their beds, the thoughts of the past ringing in their heads. Just like the sound of silence through the house the empty silence. The next morning neighbors awoke to the sound of sirens and the flash of lights. For that long, long night had taken her father to a better place she hoped. Lena sat and watched as he was taken away. The mother of some child came out and took her away. She looked over her shoulder at her home.
“Bye Daddy,” she said looking at her father once more, “Tell mommy I love her.” She followed the woman in to her home.
“He is in a better place now, Lena Honey. He is with your mother in heaven now,” the woman said in a soft voice.
“Yes I understand,” spoke Lena, “But Miss can you tell me what took mommy and daddy away?”
“It was a disease that someone your age shouldn’t know. I’ll tell you anyway because someone will tell you eventually. It was a disease called A.I.D.S. It is a horrible disease.”
“Okay thank you,” she said not really understanding. How much do you expect a girl of that age to understand? She then said in a whisper, “May I have a piece of paper and a pen?” The woman was about to ask why but then saw the tears coming out of Lena’s eyes. She now held the pen firmly in her hand and wrote once again to a man in a far away land.

Dear Santa,
I do not know if you had gotten my other letters. If you did they don’t matter any more. My daddy’s with my mommy now in a better place. In heaven I hope and pray. I don’t want anything for Christmas this year please give it to a kid in need. I’m sorry for taking up your time.

From little Lena Spout
Age 10
P.S. Merry Christmas, Mr. Santa sir

Santa received this letter along with the others. He stood by the fire with his wife at his side with clear tears streaming from his eyes. His wife stood beside him reading along out load to the Elves who all stood around. They all had tears stinging their eyes. Never again would they receive a letter from little Lena Spout, but they never forgot her, I doubt they ever will, for what rang in their ears for years to come, Merry Christmas.