My apologies for part two coming so late. I somehow lost part two but didn't realize it until after I'd posted part one. I had written the story in December and had to try and remember what my train of thought was three months ago. Thus, part two has taken a week or more to rewrite. If you haven't read part one then part two will make no sense at all. Sorry, hope it was worth the wait.
Ready For Love
part two
The rest of my drive home was a blur, I would pass things and not realize I'd done so until later when I'd think about it. It would be another Christmas alone, Karen's parents retired and moved to a warmer place the year before she died, my folks were both gone and my siblings lived to dang far way to even consider traveling for one day.
One of the diners in town stayed open on Christmas day for loners like me and the elderly who were alone and didn't want to cook a big meal, I would go there as I had the year before. It was the only time of year Mrs. Simmons made her apple pecan Kringle, I would have a piece there and take one to go. I was going to decorate the yard as I had in the past but something was missing, Karen, I had always done it for her. I put up lights along the soffit and the shrubs by the front door but that was it.
The hardware store had been an implement dealer from the thirties until the sixties along with selling hardware and lumber. During that time they always had farm toys during the holidays, the previously seasonal toy section became a year-round toy section in the seventies. The main difference from the large department store toy sections and ours was that all of our toys were still mostly farm implement toys, or cars and trucks made of metal and not all plastic.
Most of the toys were made by Ertl, they had been making farm and industry related toys since the 1940's. It was seldom that we didn't sell nearly every toy during the Christmas holidays, this year would be no different. A few days before Christmas I noticed a lad looking at the toys, one in particular, a pickup truck with a horse trailer behind and two plastic horses inside, I'd seen him looking at it a few times previously. He never took it off the shelf, but he was inspecting it thoroughly.
His complexion seemed a bit darker than most of the Scandinavian heritage kids in the area. It was more a deep olive color with dark black hair. I hadn't seen anyone come get him in the past so had no idea who he belonged to, that is until today. Walking toward the area I noticed a strikingly beautiful lady standing next to him, hair coal black like the boys, the same olive colored complexion, slender with gracious facial features. Her beauty took my breath away, walking closer I could hear her talking to the boy.
"Yes, I know you want it Ravi, but it's quite expensive and mommy doesn't have that kind of money this year."
The hurt in both their eyes was on display as she hugged him to her body. I felt badly, I knew what that was like, more than once I didn't get something I really wanted because my folks never had enough money. We were poor but we were never without dignity, a warm home, food on the table and clean clothes. The mom was obviously a professional of some sort, she simply had that look.
I was next to them when I took the box off the shelf and handed it to him, his eyes were the size of half dollars, if he hadn't had ears the smile would have gone all the way around his head. I knelt, took the box, opened it, and put the toy on the floor, he was on hands and knees next to me in a flash. I grabbed a tractor and began playing with him, he made truck sounds, I made tractor sounds, neither of us aware that a crowd had gathered. When I realized there was foot traffic around us I stopped and looked up, smiling down at me was Terry, my boss.
"You look like you're having fun Joel. Is this a new sales pitch?"
He and I were laughing as I stood putting the tractor back, the lady put the truck and trailer in the box and put it on the shelf thanking me for playing with her son. I watched her walk to the check-out area with the few items she had, something inside clicked, I grabbed the box and hurried to the front of the store. Just before they reached the exit door I caught them, with a smile on my face and joy in my heart I handed the toy to her son.
"My Christmas gift to your son."
She held up her hand in protest, "I can't take this sir, it's too much."
"Sure you can, it will make me feel good inside. Do you really want to take that away from me?"
Moving to the side so others could exit she shook my hand, "You're the man who has all the decorations each year aren't you?"
I nodded, "Yes, I'm Joel, how did you know that? I don't recognize you from the neighborhood."
"I'm Eleyna, Ravi and I moved into one of the townhouses at the end of the street two years ago, he loves to walk down at night and see all the lights. He especially likes the way they shine through the snow on the bushes by your front door."
I couldn't stop the tears in time, three or four rolled down my face dripping onto the floor. When she saw that she stepped back.
"I'm so sorry sir. I didn't mean to cause any harm. What did I do?"
I regained my composure, "You did nothing wrong, those lights were my late wife's favorites as well, it caught me off guard, sorry if I made you feel uncomfortable. Please let the boy keep the gift, it will mean the world to me."
"I understand your feelings, it's been three years since I lost my husband in Afghanistan. The holidays are the worst. Can I repay you by inviting you to Christmas dinner, unless you have other plans?"
