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Welfare Christmas
Posted by Hannah, Feb 21. 106 views. ID = 633
This post was written in 3 minutes.
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 | Yes, I know it's not Christmas, or even close, but I had an idea and had to write it down. |  | This post has been awarded 7 stars by 2 readers. |
She stared at the store opening, trying to imagine what it would be like. She couldn't believe that it was already Christmas again. A year had gone by so quickly. In fact, all sixteen years had gone by quickly. She hurriedly ducked into the small store and bought the items with the money she had earned earlier that day from her job.
Christmas Eve seemed to bring back more painful memories than good. The Everclear song played in her head as she whispered, "story of ma life." Then, with a pause, she said, "cept' thare's no rich boyfriend an' no poor, adorable guy." She smiled and left the store.
When she got home, her mother was holding Baby Stu while Janaya and Patriqua played on the floor. Her father must not have come home from work yet, if he was even at work.
The girl's mother smiled as she stepped through the door. "Good, you're home. Now, take Stu, I have to go." Her mother threw three-month-old Stu at her and ran out the door. Little Janaya looked up at her with her big, watery eyes. The girl sighed and wondered for the millionth time where her mother went at night.
"All right, guys, what d'ya wan' eat. I got Mac and Cheese at the store." The sixteen-year-old asked happily as she strode into the kitchen. Two groans followed her in.
"I'm sorry guys, I couldn't git nothin' mo'." She said back to the groans.
"But you pwamised that we would get yummy food tonight. Mac and Chweese isn't yummy Whyan." Janaya pouted with her adorable lips, looking up at her sister.
Rhyan looked down at her sister and laughed.
Later that night, when all of her brothers and sisters were asleep, Rhyan slipped out of their shared room and picked the presents quietly out of the closet in the living room. Three little presents were wrapped in cheap wrapping paper with little Santa's that said "HO HO HO" in a small bubble above his head.
Rhyan stuck the presents on the coffee table and went back into her room. The soft breathing of the three little children reached her ears as she fell into her bed, pulling Janaya over so she could lay down. That night, like many nights, Rhyan cried herself to sleep.
The next morning, Rhyan woke to small screeches of joy. She smiled in her sleep and slipped slowly out of bed, ripping herself away from Stu, who was still asleep.
As she entered the living room, Rhyan could see Janaya and Patriqua staring quietly at the three presents sitting small on the table.
"Can we open our presents, Rhyan?" Patriqua asked silently.
Rhyan smiled and walked back into their room, gestering for Patriqua and Janaya to wait. She picked the sleepy Stu up and went back into the living room. When she entered, Janaya and Patriqua were holding their presents firmly, looking almost afraid that they would jump out of their hands and run out the door.
"Okay, gohead an' opin yur presents." Rhyan said as she sat on the couch with a small bottle of milk. Screams of glee echoed through the room as presents were torn open and wrapping paper flew through the air. Rhyan knew that the little toys would be cherished. She also knew that these children deserved more.
The Everclear song ran through her head again. "They have never had the joy
of a welfare Christmas."
Story of my life.
Copyright 2008 Hannah. All rights reserved. FifteenMinutesOfFiction.com has been granted non-exclusive rights to display this work. For permission to reprint this item, please contact the author.
Comments
Hannah
Feb 21 | Oh, don't try to read the original version of this story. I had to get off really quickly and thus had to save it right at the beginning. ;)
~Posted by Hannah, Feb 21 | 
Mathax
Feb 22 | Ok, I usually don't.
~Posted by Mathax, Feb 22 |
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