A Different, Short Christmas Story

            Ian came home from work late in the week before Christmas, tired and irritated to find his five-year old son waiting for him at the front door,.

            “Daddy, may I ask a question?” said Jack

            “Yep, sure what is it?” replied Ian, rather brusquely

            “Daddy, how much to you earn in an hour?”

            “That’s none of your business.  Why do you ask such a thing?” Ian responded angrily.

            “I just need to know.  Please tell me, how  much do you make an hour?”

            “If you must know, Jack, I make $18.00 an hour,” answered his father.

“Oh,” Jack replied, with his head down.  “Daddy, may I please borrow $9.00?” asked Jack nervously. .

            Ian became furious.  “If the only reason you asked that is so you can borrow some money to buy a silly toy for Christmas or some other nonsense, then you march yourself straight to your room and go to bed.  Think about why you are being so selfish.  I don’t work had every day for such childish frivolities.”  Jack quietly went to his room and shut the door.

            Ian sat down and started to get even angrier about Jack’s question.  How dare he ask such a question only to get some money?  After about an hour or so, Ian had calmed down, and started to think.  Maybe there was something he really needed to buy with that $9.00.  He really didn’t ask for money very often.  The man went to the door of his son’s room and opened the door.   

            “Are you asleep, son?” Ian asked quietly.

            “No, Daddy, I’m awake.” replied Jack.

            “I’ve been thinking.  Maybe I was too hard on you earlier,” Ian said.  “It’s been a long day and I took out my aggravation on you.  Here’s the $9.00 you asked for.”

            Jack sat straight up, smiling.  “Oh, thank you, Daddy,” he cried.  Then, reaching under his pillow, he pulled out some crumpled bills.  Ian saw that the boy already had money and started to get angry again.  The little boy slowly counted out this money, and then he looked up at his father with his large brown eyes.

            “Why do you want more money if you already have some?” Ian grumbled.

            “Because I didn’t have enough, but now I do,” the little boy replied.  “Daddy, I have $18.00 now.  Can I buy an hour of your time?  Please come home early on Christmas Eve so I can have dinner with you.”

            Ian was crushed.  He put his arms around his little son and begged for his forgiveness.

            This is just a short reminder to all of us working so hard in life.  We should not let time slip through our fingers without having spent some time with those who really matter to us, those close to our hearts, especially at Christmas.