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40 6 Christmas Stories of Wonder & Love

6 Christmas Stories of

Wonder and Love

’Tis Better to Give

I knew I was not supposed to be quite so excited.
I was too old for that. At age eleven, the oldest
and my mom’s “grown up” girl, I had to keep
my cool. I was in middle school after all. But
every chance I got, when I was alone, I checked
each present under the tree. I read every tag and
felt every package, guessing at the contents
within. I had examined each gift so often that I
could tell which present went to which person
without even looking at the tags.
It had been a tough year for my family.
Whenever my mom looked over at the tree and
scattered presents, she would sigh and warn us,
“There won’t be as much for Christmas this on TV, or laugh about late at night with friends? paused. Wouldn’t it be so much more fantastic if
year. Try not to be disappointed.” Christmas had
Well, thanks to a little determination, some luck, I could surprise her? I pictured myself just
traditionally been a time for my parents to spoil
and a generous helping of Christmas Spirit, my showing up, knocking at her door. What a state
us. In years past, the presents would pile up and
dream became a reality. of shock she would be in! I laughed gleefully to
spill out from under the tree, taking over the
My family is Canadian, although my myself as I pictured her face when she opened
living room. I had heard the phrase “giving is
sister moved down to Australia a few years ago the door and saw me. She loves pranks and
better than receiving,” but thought that whoever
to study speech pathology. She was graduating practical jokes of all sorts. Pulling off a prank
had said that must have been out of their mind.
just before Christmas, but due to my own like this would certainly be the ultimate gift, and
Getting presents was the whole point! It was the
scholarly schedule back home, I would not be if I were successful, she’d probably be more
reason I couldn’t get to sleep on Christmas Eve. unable to make it down in time for her excited about my unconventional arrival than
On Christmas morning, we eagerly
graduation. She was understandably even my attendance at her graduation.
waited in the hallway until Dad told us
disappointed, and I felt guilty that I wasn’t able Slowly the idea evolved in my mind. For
everything was ready. We rushed into the living
to be there for her on this most special of a surprise of this grand a scale, I needed a much
room and let the wrapping paper fly. We made
occasions. more dramatic arrival than just a ring of the
weak attempts to wait and watch while other
While I was talking to my supervisor the doorbell. For me, Christmas surprises are
family members opened their presents, but as
week before my sister’s graduation, the epitomized by presents. Or at least boxes. What
the time passed we lost our self-control.
conversation drifted toward Christmas plans. if I could arrive in a box? I started to plot. Then,
“Here’s another one for you,” said Mom
When I mentioned that I would be missing my brilliance struck. Getting delivered in a box to
as she handed me a package. I looked at it, sister’s graduation by less than forty-eight my sister’s house by couriers! I knew if I pulled
confused. Having spent so much time examining
hours, she commented, “Well, if you want to go, this off, my presence at her graduation and my
the presents before Christmas, I recognized this
I have no problem with it, so go ahead!” I grand arrival would be the best Christmas
one. But it had not been mine. It was my mom’s.
couldn’t believe my luck! I nearly jumped for present I could ever give my sister. No one
A new label had been put on it, with my name
joy. “Just make sure you get permission from appreciates a prank like a prankster!
written in my mother’s handwriting.
admin,” she added. My heart sank. The Although I was leaving in less than
“Mom, I can’t…”
administration at my school was notorious for seventy-two hours, I frantically jumped on my
I was stopped by my mother’s eager,
denying any sort of time-off requests, and last- computer in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, and
joyful look—a look I could not really
minute pleas would undoubtedly draw nothing started Googling courier companies. One of the
understand. “Let’s see what it is, honey. Hurry but ire. I almost didn’t bother asking, because I first I came across, and the only one willing to
and open it.”
knew it would be a waste of time and I didn’t go along with my Christmas surprise, was
It was a blow dryer. Though this may
feel like a thorough chastisement. Plus, I knew CouriersPlease. At first the branch manager said
seem but a simple gift, to me it was so much
the answer already: no. But something in me no, pointing out that Christmas was their busiest
more. Being an eleven-year-old girl, I was
decided to try, just in case. Maybe it was the season and he couldn’t spare a courier for this
stunned. In my world, where receiving
hope that the Christmas Spirit would somehow rather unorthodox request. But he suddenly and
outweighed giving by light years, my mom’s act
permeate the administrative office at this time of inexplicably warmed up to the idea and actually
of selflessness was incomprehensible. It was a
year. volunteered to dress up and deliver me himself.
huge act. Tears filled my eyes and I thought in
When I returned home to find the The Christmas Spirit strikes again!
disbelief about how much my mom must love Associate Dean’s reply in my inbox, I steeled Upon arrival in Australia, the manager
me to give up her Christmas so I could have a
myself for disappointment. I gritted my teeth, met me in full uniform, but that wasn’t all. He’d
few more presents.
opened the e-mail, and started to read. And re- brought one of his couriers, plus a
I have always remembered that
read. And re-read, just to make sure I’d CouriersPlease van along for the ride as well!
Christmas fondly. It had such an impact on me.
understood. Approval? I could actually go? I They even had a reinforced box prepared for me
As an adult with children in my life whom I
rubbed my eyes—there must be a mistake. But that they’d already tested at the office. I’d
adore, I can now understand my mom’s actions.
no. I was flabbergasted. There was no logical thought it would be easiest to walk up to the
I see how she was not “giving up her Christmas”
explanation. I couldn’t believe my luck! The doorway, and then jump in the box while they
as I had thought, but was finding an even greater
only explanation I could possibly come up with rang the doorbell. But no, they insisted; my
joy in her Christmas because giving truly is was that the Christmas Spirit had been lurking in sister might see me through the window and
better than receiving. My mom’s simple act
the heart of my Associate Dean when she’d read they certainly didn’t want to jeopardize my
meant the world to me.
my request. Christmas surprise. Instead, they parked a few
- Jennifer Yardley Barney
Immediately, I called the airline. hundred meters up the street, where they loaded
Miraculously, even during the busy Christmas me in the box and carried me all the way up to
The Christmas Spirit Strikes Again
season, I was able to change my ticket to arrive my sister’s, where they rang the doorbell and
the day before my sister’s graduation. announced they had a delivery for her.
I always dreamed of pulling off the surprise With news this fantastic, I was bursting
prank of a lifetime. You know, the kind you see to tell my sister. But, fingers on the dial, I (Continued on Page 41)