12 Stories of Christmas: Story #9

Welcome to my 12 Stories of Christmas writing challenge. I decided to throw in a more serious story for today.

Santa Ornament

London, 1944

The soldier looked at the decorations in the shop window and wished he could be home for Christmas. His little girl, Suzy, was two last time he was home for Christmas. Now she would be four. Would she even recognize him?   He stepped in the shop hoping to find a special gift that she would always remember. 

As he browsed the items in the store, he thought of what Christmas would be like if it wasn’t for this abominable war.  Suzy was the perfect age for Christmas magic. If he was home, he would be playing  Santa.  Marion would hold their daughter in her arms and let her peek around the corner to see him putting gifts under the tree.

The soldier was pulled from his fantasy by a glass Santa ornament.  That was it. If he couldn’t be Santa, he would send Santa to her.

Chicago, 1967

“Mommy, tell me the story!”

Sue sat in the chair and pulled her daughter into her lap. “Once upon a time, when I was a little girl,  Grandpa Joe was far away at Christmas. He wanted to be with us, but he knew it was more important to make the world safe for us. So, he had to stay and stop the bad people.  Even though he had to be so far away, he wanted me to know he was thinking about me, so he sent this special Santa ornament.”

“And every year we put it on the tree and you remember how much Grandpa Joe loves you.”

Chicago, 2025

When Becky saw the look on the nurse’s face, she knew this was one of her mother’s bad days. There were more bad days than good now. Becky sent the nurse on a break. 

Becky sighed and put a box on the table.  “Mom, I thought we’d decorate the tree today.”

Suzy looked at her with blank eyes, “Do I know you?”

Becky blinked away tears and patiently introduced herself to her mother. She told stories of their Christmases growing up while she unboxed the decorations. The stories usually triggered Sue’s memories and she would return.  Not today. Becky gave up and focused on getting her to help decorate. Sue sat in her recliner and turned her back away from the tree to watch some birds at the feeder.

Becky took out the last ornament and knelt in front of her mother. Sue took the glass Santa ornament from her hand and held it up. She stared at the ornament andtear ran down her cheek.

“Papa.”