Just For Christmas

Melissa’s heart raced so loudly that it pitter-pattered in her eardrums. She felt the softness of her slippers caress her toes as she tiptoed downstairs. She wasn’t supposed to be down at this time; her mother would give her a good lecture if she were caught in her soft nightclothes at the time that the stars brimmed the sky. The floorboards liked to creak at her worst moments as she stepped down. She hunched her shoulders, quickly checking around her as if she had guiltily stolen a sparkly present under the Christmas tree.

As she reached the tree, nearly skipping in excitement, she saw her flushed, round face in the golden baubles. Then she dropped her round eyes to what glimmered in the corner of her eye. Underneath the bristly tree, there were presents, wrapped in green, red and white. Some had silky bows attached to the top and others had silvery ferns that reminded her of expensive jewelry.

She gasped, placing her hands to her mouth to stifle the noise. Before she crouched down to inspect what would be inside the presents, a golden, warm light filled the room. Bashfully, Melissa turned around.

Her mother stood by the door frame with an anticipatory grin and a plate filled with mince pies.

“I knew you’d be down here,” her mother said, flashing a dimple. “Come sit, I suppose you can stay up later for tonight.”

However, Melissa’s tongue swished around her mouth at the alluring scent of the festive puddings sitting on the plate. Before she could voice her desires, her mother handed her a mince pie.

“Just for Christmas,” her mother had whispered, adjusting herself to the cushions of the sofa. At that moment, while Melissa gobbled her mince pie, she realized how blessed she was to have a mother like hers.