THE CHRISTMAS GIFT                     

                                                  John Gajdos

 

It was getting near Christmas

And on 30th street

I just left the house

Walking through snow and sleet

 

To the fast food place

Where I had a job

Prepping food to serve up

To the daily lunch mob

 

Cutting lettuce and tomatoes

To just the right size

And filling up baskets

With frozen French fries

 

But I also had talent

The boss lady knew

So she used to give me

Other jobs I could do

 

Like painting the windows

Just last Halloween

So, since Christmas was coming

I did the same thing

 

With reindeer and Santa

And snowmen and ice

Bells, snowflakes and ribbons

It really looked nice

 

But today would be different

From my work I would pause

To go out in public

And play Santa Claus

 

So the time came for me

To go in the back

And put on the suit

And the boots and the hat

 

And I picked up the bag

Full of candy and toys

And I went out to see

All the girls and boys

 

There was even a

Radio station out there

And they interviewed me

As I sat in a chair

 

And kids all came by

And they told me their wishes

And I knew this was better than

Doing the dishes

 

I could see the cars driving

Past the front door

And I knew kids would be

Coming in by the score

 

One car stopped for a moment

I could just make it out

A young boy standing up

In the seat jumped about

 

I saw he could see me

And I saw him too

I thought they’d be in

In a minute or two

 

“I want to see Santa”

And it seemed like a crime

As I saw his dad’s lips say

“We haven’t got time”

 

I thought “That’s not right”

And “How could this be?”

And since I was Santa

He came to see me

 

I got to my feet

My boots squeaked on the floor

I grabbed candy canes

And shot out the back door

 

I stopped in the drive way

And I felt like a cop

As I put up my hand

And I told the man “Stop!”

 

Then I walked around

To the passenger door

To greet the young lad

He was probably four

 

I leaned in and said

With a voice deep and true

“I’ll bet that you thought

I was gonna miss you”

 

With his hands up and trembling

He looked up with glee

As he thought “Santa Clause

Just came out to see me!”

 

His smile was amazing

His eyes, how they twinkled

His eyebrows were raised

And his forehead was wrinkled

 

 

His father looked up at me

Just a little bit shy

And said “Thank you Santa”

I said “No problem guy”

 

Then I looked at his son

Overwhelmed with such joy

And I gave him a candy cane

And a small toy

 

I exclaimed “Merry Christmas”

And “Have a nice day”

And I waved as the man

And his son drove away

 

And I felt very warm

In the pit of my chest

And I felt that somehow

I had just done my best

 

And I wish that all people

Could feel the joy

How it felt to bring happiness

To that one little boy

 

I went back inside

With a new kind of sight

As I looked at the people

And I saw the plight

 

Of the hustle and bustle

Distraction and bills

That stifled these people

Robbing them of their thrills

 

And I wanted to give them

The feeling in me

Something everyone had

They could give away free

 

Something they needed too

And the rest of the day

I played Santa Claus

In a new kind of way

 

And the kids came to see me

And I gave out the toys

And I told them to be

Good girls and boys

 

And I said their folks love them

And I said that it’s true

That it’s good to do what

Your folks tell you to do

 

And I laughed and I jiggled

And said “HO HO HO”

Till the clock said it’s time

For Santa to go

 

And even when I

Put the costume away

I had a great feeling that

Warmed me all day
 

And I’ll never forget it

And now, neither will you

Of just how much

One little action can do

 

So I give you this message

And I’m willing to bet

That you’ll share this feeling

With more people yet

 

So Merry Christmas to everyone

And from my heart to you

May love, overflowing

Be yours to give too