Christmas Wish

Lucy pressed her nose on the shop window and fixed her eyes on the shoes.

The glittery patterns on the pink trainers sparkled under the blinking Christmas lights.

She had seen the trainers for the first time last Saturday whilst shopping with Mother. And for nearly a week now she had stopped after school and lovingly gazed at them. She wished so much Mother would buy them for her.

Her mother’s words came to her as she stood by the shop daydreaming.

“Too expensive,” she’d said when Lucy had pointed to the trainers in the window.

Lucy snorted but Mother didn’t seem to notice.

And when Lucy had asked for a new jacket, she had answered, “You’ll have to wait for your twelfth birthday.”

“There’s another four months till my birthday,” Lucy protested.

Then Mother sat her down and explained she had bills to pay. Said she worried about daddy – maybe he’ll return home for Christmas. But right now they must economise. Lucy must be patient.

“I wish he would come back,” Lucy moaned.

It wasn’t anyone’s fault he had to go away but all the same Lucy resented not seeing him.

Yesterday, she’d even counted her savings hoping to contribute towards the shoes – only to be disappointed when the few coins amounted to nine pounds.

The sound of a steel band distracted Lucy’s thoughts.

Starry eyed, she turned her attention to the musicians and to the opulence of the dazzling decorations.

“Only two weeks to Christmas,” a voice announced. “Delight your loved ones on Christmas morning. Do your entire Christmas shopping under one roof.”

Screaming toddlers, scolding mothers and excited school children packed the corridors of the shopping centre.

Lucy glanced at her watch. Mother would be back from her part-time job soon.

Reluctantly, she dragged herself away from the bustling mall and headed for home.

Thoughts of last Christmas floated through Lucy’s mind as she poured herself a glass of milk.

She saw her parents and grandparents as they sat down for dinner – their smiling faces lit by the glowing light of the candles at the centre of the table.

The Christmas tree by the window and the gifts beneath it all flashed through her mind.

Swallowing hard at the lump in her throat, Lucy settled to watch the telly.

Dishevelled and hungry children – flies swarming on their faces – stared at her from the television screen.

The audio was louder than usual and the presenter pleaded, “Give these children warm clothing and food this Christmas. With just a pound a child can survive for a day. Please be generous.”

“One pound,” Lucy repeated aloud.

As she gazed at the wide-eyed children begging for food, something clicked inside her.

Lucy thought of her savings. She’ll ask Mother how she could send the money to the children.

Excited, she ran upstairs to fetch her savings.

Compared to the plight of these children, the shoes now seemed frivolous and unnecessary. And anyway, she could still get months of wear out of her old trainers.

When she descended, the evening news was on.

Rows of soldiers filled the television screen and the voiceover was saying, “The conflict has ended…”

Lucy put down the money box and grabbed the remote control.

The reporter’s voice blasted out, “Our boys are coming home for Christmas as the Prime Minister had promised.”

The words echoed in Lucy’s ears as she stood staring at the screen.

She felt so happy, she wanted to hug the television.

“Black Watch will be home within a week,” the newscaster continued.

“Darling, why is the volume so high?”

She hadn’t heard her mother come in.

“Mummy, Mummy, Daddy’s coming home and I’m sending my savings to the poor children,” Lucy yelled in one breath.