Why Won't Santa Visit Poor Children?

A Christmas story from the Philippines by Roy Thomsitt

 

 

 

Christmas Day Arrives - The Gifts Are Put Out

As soon as Di's parents, Aunt Paula, Uncle James and Maricel were sure that Di, and the other children, were asleep, they came out from their bedroom. Each had their own little task now, to go to two neighbours' houses, and collect a gift from each for Di. The gifts had been wrapped in advance, and then hidden at the homes of neighbours who had a little bit of secret space, away from the prying eyes of young children.

One by one, they collected two gifts each, and then returned to Di's house. Ten gifts in all, different shapes and sizes, and all beautifully wrapped, were then placed under the tiny Christmas tree at the side of the fireplace.

The five adults were then happy to go to sleep, knowing that Di, for sure, would get her gifts from Santa Claus. The house became silent, apart from the loud shriek of a ghecko on the roof, which soon fell silent too. Everything was ready for a special Christmas Day for Di; for the first time in her life she was to receive a Christmas gift; not just one, but ten. The whole family slept contentedly.

For more than four hours, everyone in the house slept; all were in a deeper sleep than usual, except for Di. Hers was a half sleep, her eyes closed and still her mind alert and aware, in her own world of entrancement. But she heard nothing, and saw nothing.

A second before dawn, Di woke sharply, instantly aware that much had happened and she had much to do, bursting with happiness at the start of yet another wonderful day.

She slipped quietly from the room, trying hard not to disturb Tina at her side and the other children in their deep Christmas Day slumber. As she stepped into the main little room of the house, she could not believe what was before her eyes; yet at the same time, she knew this was why she had awoken so suddenly; she knew this was what she had been aware of all night in her non-sleep sleep.

In what little light there was, she could see piled high to the ceiling and to each side of the room, hundreds of gifts. There were so many, the only space left was a narrow gap to allow people to get around the edge of the room.

Tina had been aware of Di leaving the bedroom, and now stood at her side, aghast once again at the magic her little cousin seemed now to attract.

"Wow, Di. Just look at them all. How will we get out of here?" Tina laughed.

Soon they were both laughing and clambering around the edge of the room, stepping over gifts that had fallen right to the wall.

"I can't believe it", said Tina. "I just can't believe it."

Di, though, was far less surprised. Now the dawn sparkler, Di just looked at Tina with an enormous smile.

"I can, Tina," she told her big cousin. "I can."

Next: Santa Claus Story (cont)