Kristy's Christmas

 Snowflakes twirled like feathers over the Blue Ridge Mountains.  Christmas was coming in two days and I had a bushel of clothes to wash.  I lugged my baskets into the laundry mat.  A little blonde-headed girl held the door.  Her blue eyes sparkled when she smiled.

She watched me put my laundry into the washing machines and asked my name.

"Brenda.  What's your name?"

"Kristy, and I'm five," she said and held up her hand.

Ornaments glittered on the tiny Christmas tree that the attendant put on a table.  I hummed, "Jingle Bells."

Kristy gazed at the tree with sad eyes.  "I won't have Christmas."

An elderly lady limped to Kristy and hugged her.  "It's okay.  Don't cry, baby."

I gave the woman a sympathetic look.  "Are you her grandmother?"

"Yes, she lives with me.  Her parents died in a car crash.  We won't have much of a Christmas.  Can't afford it."

When the little girl and her grandma left the laundry mat, the attendant told me they lived in a modest house on Shooting Creek.  She whispered that at one time they parked a car in the woods and lived in it.

Our church filled a box with canned goods, gift cards, and wrapped presents for Kristy.  We delivered the box on Christmas Eve.

Little Kristy clapped her hands and ripped the paper off her presents.  She danced across the porch with her doll and teddy bear.  She had a joyful Christmas!

by:  Brenda Kay Ledford

This story appeared in "Joy to All," a poetry and prose anthology, printed by:  Old Mountain Press

I wish all my blogger friends a very Merry Christmas and Joyful New Year!

Brenda