theshipper101's Random One Shots and Short Stories

Christmas Spirit (Original Story)

I drew my curtain shut. Carolers. I hated the lot of them

Don't ask me why I hate Christmas, because I couldn't tell you. I just have a deep loathing for the holiday. Or I did.

I was just out of collage and none of my family lived in the area. I hadn't seen them for years, but they never went out of their way to see me, so why bother? I was building my own life for myself.

I went into the kitchen to get something to eat, but with a groan, I realized today was the day I needed to go grocery shopping. I grumbled under my breath as I slipped on a pair of boots, put on my coat and went out to my car. Every house around my was lit up, leaving mine like a living shadow. I ignored it. My bill was not going to go up just so I would be like everyone else. That I was sire of.

I climbed into my car and turned up the heat. I started to back out of my driveway, but my car got stuck in the snow. I swore and climbed out of my car, grabbing the shovel from the back. This was going to be a long night.

~

It was eight o' clock before I was drivinng home. Everyone was trying to get their last minute Christmas shopping done and Walmart was packed.

"Merry Christmas!" The cashier said in a joy-filled voice. I ignored her and kept walking. The bell ringer that was asking for donations said the same thing. I ignored him too. What did they have that I didn't? December twenty fifth is just another box on the calender, right?

When I was driving home, my car was playing Christmas music. There was no escaping it! I turned off the radio and kept driving.

When I was about six miles away from my house, my car broke down. I'd made it to the side of the road before it happened, but I was still stranded in the bitter cold. I screamed through my teeth and got out of the car. I was downtown still. I opened the hood, but I had no idea what was wrong with the vehical. I was no mechanic. I slammed the hood down and reached into my pocket for my phone. It wasn't there.

I was aware of someone behind me. I turned to see a kid who looked about 15 or 16. "What do you want?" I asked, annoyed.

"Need help with that?" He asked, pointing to my car.

"No," I said.

"Are you sure?" The boy asked. "It looks like you can't get it."

I looked closer at the kid. He looked homeless. And I just noticed a girl who couldn't have been older then 7 clinging to his coat. Her hat was pulled over most of her face and what I could see was a ruby color. The same with the boy's. They were both small and thin, like they haven't had a proper meal in ages. I sighed. "Fine," I said. "But if you break it, you're paying for it."

The boy walked over, the girl still clinging to him. He opened the hood and started to mess with a few wires. He seemed to know what he was doing. I got back in my car and turned the key. The engine sputtered to life. I got back out. "How did you..."

He shrugged. "A talent I suppose," he said. He took the girl's hand and started to walk away.

I wouldn't let him. "Hey wait!" I called. The boy stopped and turned to look at me. I wondered if this was a good idea. "You two can't spend Christmas out in the cold."

"I was always taught not to speak to strangers," the boy said.

"And yet you fix their cars," I said. "Look, I don't bite. You're little friend their looked exausted."

The kid looked down at who I presumed was his sister. "She's had a bad cold for a few weeks," he admited. "But it's nothing I can't handle."

"At least let me give you something." I dug into my pocket and brought out a twenty dollar bill. "This will help you." The boy didn't move to take it, so I handed it to the girl, who took it eagerly. "Annabell!" The boy said. He took the money and tried to hand it back to me.

"Nope," I said. "It's a gift with no return policy." I opened the trunk of my car. "You two looked starved. Let me give you a little soemthing..."

This time, the boy didn't argue as I handed him a block of cheese, a loaf of bread, some fruit and a box of cookies. The girl, Annabell, beamed t me. "Thank you, sir!" She said.

"Call me Rhett," I said. I closed my trunk and went to get into the car.

"Thank you," the boy said. He took Annabell's hand and they walked out into the night.

Something changed me after that experience. I started to enjoy Christmas more. I discovered the joy of giving, and if that doesn't sound cheesy, I don't know what does. But it's true. Every time I think of Christmas, I think of that kid who helped me and expected nothing. I never caught his name and I never saw him again, but I hoped my gift to him helped. I kmew it helped me.