Toying with Christmas

2 | THE SHOP

I took my bag out of the car. I had stuffed it to the brim with things that I thought that I may need. Who knew how long I would have to stay to get this business back on its feet?

I looked at the small shop in front of me. It was decked with hundreds of lights in different colours and the door was adorned with a wreath. I heard a faint train noise and I looked to the window. The display was covered in fake snow and a train set had been assembled. Action figures that had been painted like elves were dotted around it, along with other toys which wore Christmas related outfits. Above the display was a delicately painted sign with the name 'Margaret's Toy Wonderland'.

I cautiously opened the door to find a familiar scene. I had not seen the shop in years but somehow everything seemed to be in its place. The distinct smell of peppermint blasted my senses and the memories rushed back. When I was younger, my sister and I celebrated Christmas in my Grandma's shop. Samantha was always so eager to know that Santa had visited so my Grandma created a tradition. Every Christmas Eve we set out some whisky, a carrot and a mince pie next to a peppermint candle and some matches. It was always lit on Christmas morning. This meant that as soon as the scent drifted upstairs my sister would rush down the staircase into the shop, giggling with excitement as she dragged me along with her. Samantha was always desperate to see what Santa had left her under the tree.

I glanced at the poorly decorated Christmas tree which was leaning to the side slightly. It may have had the same decorations from when I was little however the way that they had been put together now was unsightly. It looked as if the person who had been decorating it had just thrown them at the tree, hoping for the best.

"W-welcome to Margaret's Toy W-wonderland!" The man at the counter said. His facial expression didn't seem to match with his cheery tone of voice as it became more dejected each time he stuttered. He was wearing a tacky elf outfit complete with bells on both his hat and shoes. His dark curly hair peeked out from underneath his hat as he tried to tuck it back in. "Feel free to roam around and grab anything you want! I-if you need a hand, just shout!" I nodded, turning my attention to my Grandma's pin board that was hung behind the counter.

It was full of pictures that exhibited my Grandma's achievements. In every single photo, there was her beaming face. In the centre was a picture that was larger than the rest, my Grandma's favourite. It was a photo from back when my family was still whole. Grandma sat in the centre with Samantha and I either side of her along with my parents and her friends and customers. I remembered that day clearly. It was Christmas Day and she had invited everyone she could to celebrate with her. She struggled to accommodate for everyone, and we ended up having to convince the owners of the furniture store to lend her a few chairs so that we could all eat at the dinner table. That was the last Christmas before my parents divorced; my father being awarded custody over my sister while I stayed with my Mother. Even though I made sure that I called her at least every month, after that day I never saw her again.

It was also the last time that I felt the 'Christmas cheer'. I had never been as enthusiastic about the holiday as my sister, but I still noticed its absence. I was aware that Santa never bothered to leave me presents so my belief for him dwindled. At school, while everyone talked about how they were hoping to get the latest toys, I just wished to see a smile on my Mother's face. Every year I made her a present, using the little money that I had to get the supplies. She would always give me a small smile as she continued to talk to people on the phone. She never said thank you and over the years that chipped away at my childish hope, diminishing it to nothing.

We would always get a small card from Samantha and my father and on it would be a photo of them celebrating Christmas together with their new family. I would beg my Mother to let me see them and join them on their adventures but she always forbade me as he was the one who cheated on her.