Short Story: Best Christmas Ever

 Best Christmas Ever

   

Michael was a little boy whose parents seemed to be always fighting. Nevertheless they were one of those special couples, who could always get back together after every tiff. Every time, there was a clash at home, little Michael would feel wretched. But today, on Christmas Eve, matters seemed a bit different to Michael. 

    In the morning, his parents had given him many gifts. They were wonderful gifts. His happiness had known no bounds. Michael knew that he had no reason to complain. But now, it was evening time. Michael could hear his parents’ voices get louder and louder. His old fears returned to haunt him. Soon, Michael heard the sound of his father’s footsteps on the staircase near his room. As soon as his father entered his room, he began to speak to him. “Michael, I am going away. I am not able to get along with your mother. I don’t plan to return home, ever again.”  

       Michael helped his father to pack his box of belongings. Then his father left home. His mother went into the kitchen and began preparing the third meal of the day. She did not deem it necessary to speak to either her husband or son. There was a stoic expression on her face. Michael’s mother was never the first person to say ‘sorry' to anybody. 

      Michael hung a pair of stockings near his cot before he went to sleep. He was nearly ten, now and old enough to know that it was not Santa Claus, who gave him gifts year after year. It was only his parents who were giving him gifts, every year. Michael had no siblings and so was dependent on his parents for everything; especially love.

Earlier that day, when his father had left him, Michael had been left feeling shattered but he had not demonstrated his pain. That night at dinner time, his mother noticed the waves of sorrow in little Michaels’s eyes. She kept quiet. After dinner, Michael went to his room to sleep. As he lay down on his bed, he heard his mother speaking, very softly on her mobile phone to someone.

 The next morning, the doorbell rang a wee bit early. Michael thought, “It must be the milk-man. He must have come early." With sleepy eyes, Michael opened the front door of his house and lo! Who stood before him? He could not believe it!

               His father was standing outside! It was Michael’s best Christmas ever.

    By Dr.S.Padmapriya