*Christmas Presents

Intro: I wanted to write a story that fit with the season.

"Ding, dong, merrily on high," Kirsten sand, screeching out the words as she danced around the living room.

Pauline glanced at her daughter with a smile and turned back to her sewing. A new baby was a difficult time, but around Christmas was heard enough. Baby Vincent had come five weeks early and there was only eight days left before the big day. The current sewing project was for her third child who was currently in school but would be coming home in half an hour. It was a new dress made from the fabric of one of Pauline's. Ever since Pauline came home from the hospital the day before, she spent every moment working on the projects. Even the hours she spent at the hospital was used as best as she could. She treasured the moments with Vincent but she was determined that none of the others should feel forgotten.

Kirsten started another Christmas song using the same melody, the only melody she knew which was more of a monotone chant. The doorbell rang and Pauline climbed out of the chair to answer the door. The woman at the door raised an eyebrow as Kirsten raised her voice for a rousing rendition of Jingle Bells.

"Can I help you?" Pauline knew the woman; she lived down the street and kept to herself.

"I was hoping I could help you," the woman replied. "I have some spare presents and understand that you might find a use for them." The woman lifted a bag and Pauline could see the boxes all neatly wrapped through the translucent plastic.

"Thank you." Pauline stepped out of the way and motioned for the woman to follow her. The artificial tree was decorated with stringed popcorn that the children had made with a babysitter while she and her husband were at the hospital the night Vincent came. Five presents rested under the tree one for each child, excluding Vincent and the current project, and her and her husband. The woman made a motion to set the presents down but Pauline waved her on to another room. There was stacked another pile of presents.

"I didn't know what to do. I didn't have enough for my brother's family. You see, his wife just passed away and we wanted to make sure they had a Christmas this year."

The woman set down the bag and clutched her hands. Pauline escorted her back to the door and waved goodbye. With Kirsten singing another set of lyrics she picked up the fabric and got back to the sewing machine to clean things up. When her husband got home after dinner, she would head to the hospital and spend the night watching over her son. The best present had been that her son had arrived in the world a little small, but alive.