Why Won't Santa Visit Poor Children?

A Christmas story from the Philippines by Roy Thomsitt

 

 

 

Christmas Gift Joy

Di's Ma had heard Di and Tina talking and laughing, and was the first to emerge from the other bedroom where all the adults had been in a deep sleep. As she opened the door, she was too shocked to say anything, her eyes just wandering up and down and along the great pile of gifts.

What had happened? Where had all these gifts come from? What had happened to the ten gifts they had left out for Di? Were they buried in the pile? Were they still there?

Ma moved along a few feet, as one by one Papa, Aunt Paula, Maricel and finally Uncle James emerged from the room. The adults stood in a mesmerised silence, as the other children emerged from their bleary eyed sleep into instant noise and excitement.

Di, though, was in her own world as she surveyed the pile of gifts. As light gradually seeped into the room from the outside, Di was having a crystal clear view of what was before her. But there was no time for excitement.

Finally, her Ma spoke: "Di, all these gifts for you. Where have they all come from?"

Di smiled and laughed a little.

"Ma," she said, "all these gifts are not for me."

Di had not looked at any labels on the gifts; indeed, there were no labels on the gifts. But she knew that buried deep in there was just one gift for her. Just beside her bedroom, though, was a special package she knew she had to open now, before anything else was done to the great pile of gifts from Santa Claus.

Di grabbed the package and slipped back into the bedroom, closing the door behind her. Everyone else was too amazed and overwhelmed to notice she had gone, except Tina, who waited expectantly for Di to emerge again.

When Di did emerge, she was transformed, wearing a green dress, with white fur trim on the short sleeves and skirt bottom. Her face was sparkling with pride; she knew she was now Santa's little helper in Estrella.

As she had put on the dress Di had felt her awareness grow in an instant, like a flower suddenly bursting into bloom. Everything around her had been brought to life in a way she could not begin to describe to herself, let alone anyone else.

Di surveyed the gifts, and knew exactly what she must do.

"Ma," she called, "can I have a pen and a notebook please."

Ma looked across, gasping at Di's new appearance and covering her mouth with her hand.

By now, though, nobody questioned Di or even tried too hard to understand what was going on. Di sat down at the bedroom door entrance, on the floor, cross-legged, and continued to survey the gifts. She knew what was in every gift wrapped parcel, and who she should give it too. She even knew that the gift for her, right at the very bottom and in the middle of the heap, was a solid gold model of her house and it's special Santa Claus chimney. But there was no time to think of that.

Di was not excited by her own gift, she was too busy enjoying her new role. Her Ma returned with the notepad and pen, and handed it to her, a bemused look stretching her thin face. Di beamed a thank you to her, and set to work.

 

Next: Santa Claus Story (cont)