Christmas Short Stories

Angela tucked Jason into bed and kissed his forehead before walking out of the room. Her seven-year-old son was the only thing that kept her going every day. At the age of twenty-three, she was a single mother working three jobs just to keep a roof over their heads. Her husband, Tony, died of brain cancer three years earlier, and since that time, things have been hard for Angela and Jason.

Angela was raised by her grandparents from the age of three. Both passed away in the past five years. Tony's family won't acknowledge Angela and Jason because they blame them for his death. According to Tony's mother, if he didn't have the stress of a wife and child at such a young age, he would have never gotten cancer and died. Angela knew that wasn't true, but it didn't stop the guilt from hitting her when she cried herself to sleep at night.

She and Tony loved each other, and when she got pregnant at sixteen, it was never a question of whether she would keep the baby or not. It was a surprise as they had used protection, but they loved Jason before he was born. When she turned eighteen, a year after Jason was born, they went to the clerk's office and got their marriage license. She didn't need a wedding; all she needed was Tony and Jason.

They didn't have much money when Tony was there, but at least they were a family and happy. Now that he was gone, Angela couldn't bring herself to give even a little smile to her son. Her heart and spirit were so broken some days she didn't know how she could go on.

Christmas was a month away, and this time of year was the hardest for her. She never had enough money to get Jason anything besides a few toys that barely lasted through Christmas day. He didn't get upset or sad, but that didn't make Angela feel any better. She wanted to see him have excitement in his eyes and the smile that lights up a room. However, since losing his dad, he hasn't had the same spark he once had. If nothing else, this Christmas, she wanted to see him smile.

Angela went to her bedroom and looked in the mirror. Her long black hair had lost its shine, and her green eyes were dull. With the dark circles under her eyes and stress on her face, she felt she was closer to fifty than twenty-three. Life was taking a toll on her in all forms. She turned the water on in the shower with a sigh.

She worked as a nursing assistant at a skilled nursing facility from seven until three thirty. From there, she would go to one of her two part-time jobs, either at the local diner or the convenience store. Angela worked four hours in the evenings at one of those jobs six days a week. There was only one day a week that she didn't work any of her three jobs. On those days, she did the grocery shopping, cleaned the apartment, and did laundry. She was exhausted and felt like there wasn't anything that could get them out of this cycle.

An older woman named Debbie, who lived in their building, watched Jason from the time he got off the bus until Angela got home during the week. On the weekends, when she worked at the store or the diner, she would take him with her.

After her shower, she crawled into bed and began crying like she did every night. Angela was still grieving for Tony and wept for the life she couldn't give her son. All she wanted was for him to have a happy, carefree childhood. She was scared it wasn't possible with their current life. She knew her depression was weighing on Jason, but she couldn't seem to pull herself out from under the weight holding her down.

As Angela lay there crying, she didn't realize Jason was sitting outside her door listening. It made him sad that she cried every night, and sometimes, he thought it was because of him. He tried so hard to do things to make her smile, but nothing ever worked. He wondered if it was because he looked like his daddy with sandy brown hair and dark brown eyes. Was that why she wouldn't smile? Maybe she missed his daddy so much that it made her sad to see any reminders of him.

Jason pulled his knees up and laid his head down. He knew his mommy worried about him not having a good Christmas, but he didn't care if he didn't get any toys or presents. He already knew what he would ask Santa for this year, and it would be the best thing ever. He couldn't wait.

Typically, he didn't want to see Santa because he was afraid it would make his mom sad. He knew Santa didn't get all the toys for the kids, and he never asked for anything because his mommy didn't have money. This year was different. This year, he didn't want toys, clothes, or anything that could be found in a store. He got up and walked back to his room to look at the last family picture they had taken when he was four. He studied his mom's smiling face. He hadn't seen her look like that in a long time. Jason felt excited because he couldn't wait to see it again. He was going to ask Santa to give his mom her smile back.

The following day was a Saturday, and Angela had to work in the diner. She got Jason dressed and had him take his backpack with paper and crayons so he could draw while she worked. Jason was going to write a letter to Santa. He also wanted to see Santa in the store, even if it was Santa's helper. Just in case they forgot to tell the real Santa what he wanted for Christmas, he would send the letter, too.

They walked to the diner just down the street. It was cold, and the snow was blowing. They lived in a small town outside of Chicago, and the diner was only a block away. All three of Angela's jobs were within walking distance of the apartment because she couldn't afford a car or public transit. When they walked inside, Mark, the owner of the diner, was standing at the counter. Angela internally groaned. He didn't like her bringing Jason to work, but she told him she didn't have a choice on the weekends.

"Angela, I need to see you in my office," Mark said before walking toward the back without giving her time to respond. He was a large, round man in his early sixties with thinning grey hair and a gruff attitude. Angela looked toward Carly, the other waitress on duty, who smiled at her.

"I'll keep an eye on Jason." She said and brought the little boy a donut with milk.

"I'll be right back," Angela said to Jason before walking to the back. She didn't like Mark. Even though he was married, he had tried to get her to sleep with him when she first started. When she refused, he looked for any reason he could find to write her up or complain. When she reached his office, he was sitting behind the desk.

"Shut the door," he said in his stern voice. Angela did as he said and then sat down across from him.

"Angela, you have worked here for almost two years, and I've been patient with you. I know you lost your husband and needed time to grieve. I let you bring Jason here on the weekends without complaining. I would think by now you would have found a way to repay my kindness, but you haven't done anything to say thank you. Now, what are we going to do to rectify that?" Mark narrowed his eyes at her.

"I appreciate you letting me bring Jason here, so thank you." Angela wasn't stupid. She knew what he was implying, but she wasn't giving in like the others. That's why no one lasted in this diner unless they were older than fifty, like Carly. Anyone younger than that Mark harassed until they gave in to him or quit. She cringed as he got up and walked around his desk to stand in front of her.

"That's not what I mean, and you know it. Do you need me to spell it out for you? We have time right now. Carly will watch Jason while you take care of your duties here." Mark returned to his chair and unzipped his pants before sitting back down. Angela looked at him in disgust.

"You bastard, this shitty job isn't worth that. I quit. You're lucky I don't report you for sexual harassment." Angela stood up to leave, and Mark yelled at her.

"You bitch, I should have never let you work here. I knew you were too uptight to do what's right. Get the hell out of here." Angela turned around with fire in her eyes.

"I expect a full day's pay for today. If I don't get it, I will call the police and file a report. Let's see what they have to say about this. I know the other women you did this to, so don't think it will be only my word against yours." She walked out of his office and slammed the door behind her. Carly looked at Angela in concern when she stepped out, shaking in anger.

"Are you all right?" She asked while putting her hand on Angela's shoulder. She liked the young waitress and knew the struggles she had.

"No. He tried the same thing with me that he did with the others, so I quit. Now I'll have to find another job, or Jason and I will be in trouble. I guess we'll go to the library so I can get on the computer while he looks at books. Thanks for watching him, Carly." Angela walked over to the booth where Jason was sitting.

"Hey, buddy, I don't have to work today after all. Why don't we go to the library so you can look at some books while I get on a computer?" She put her hand on his head, and he looked at her with a small smile.

"Okay, mommy." Angela loved her little boy with her whole heart, but when he looked at her with the same eyes as Tony, it made her throat tighten up. She helped him get his coat, hat, and gloves on, and they waved to Carly before they left. Jason didn't tell his mommy, but he was excited to go to the library because they had a special mailbox just for letters to Santa. He was going to write his letter while they were there. He couldn't wait.