THE MAGIC OF CHRISTMAS

Fifteen.

19th of December 2013.
01:01am.

Mathew Keegan senior and his wife,Judith stood by their son's bed with happy looks on their faces. While the nurse,whose name was Adele according to her name plate, gave him pre-op medication to relax him.

One of Matthew junior's arm was hooked to an IV,but he held Judith tightly with his free arm when she bent over his bed.

"The doctor said they found a donor for you." Judith said. "Dr. Oliveira is a nice man. He had the hospital searching for a donor after he examined you."

Matthew's chocolate brown eyes was filled with hope. "Really?"

"Yes. "Adele smiled at him too. "You're a lucky young man Mister Keegan. After your operation I expect a Christmas gift from you."

Matthew nodded.

"Excuse me." Adele picked her tray up and walked out of the room.

"Son," Senior Matthew said, as he perched on the edge of his son's bed. "After the operation,I want you to know that you would be getting the car you asked for. And not only that, we would all go to Hawaii to relax on the beach for a week. Then another place of your choice for a week too."

Matthew Jnr. Smiled. "I have always wanted to visit Europe."

"Me too son." Judith sat on the other side of the bed and reached out a hand to caress his hair. "I missed you. I missed shouting at you when you would stay out late with your friends or didn't do any of your home works when you came back from school,or when the..." A sob burst out of her.

"Mama,it's okay." Matthew Jnr. Held his mother's hand; looking into her eyes. "I would be obedient after my operation,I promise. No more late nights, no more giving Mrs Johnson difficulty about what I want to eat,no more skipping schools and no more skipping home works."

Judith nodded through her tears. "I love you so much, Matt. You're the best thing that ever happened to me."

"I love you too,Mama." He stared at his father,who was trying hard not to cry. "I love you too,Papa."

"I love you,Son."

"It's time." Belinda said, as she and Adele walked into the ward.

Judith and Snr. Matthew got up from the bed to make space for the nurses.

"Mama." Matthew Jnr. held out a folded piece of paper to her. "Please give this to Dr. Oliveira for me,after my operation."

Judith took the paper with a nod. After one last look at Matthew, they both walked out of the ward to stand outside in the hall. Later,he was wheeled out of his room for the elevator ride down to the surgical floor.

As he went,Matthew Jnr. gave his parents a thumbs-up sign.

"Let's go down to the surgical waiting room." Matthew Snr. Told Judith, who nodded.

They trooped down to the area where family and friends waited for news from various operating rooms. A telephone linking the surgical floor with the waiting room would occasionally ring and tell people that their loved ones had been taken to recovery room and the surgeon would come down to talk to them soon.