An American Christmas

The parking lot, despite being the size of three football fields, is filled to capacity. Sarah decides to swing around one last time in hopes to secure a space. She finally spots one and puts her blinker on. She is almost entirely in the space when she hears a lady screaming. Not a lady, a female with a car full of kids and a cigarette dangling from her lips. Although her window is up and the speakers thumping, she can still hear the muffled obscenities coming from the driver. Sarah was first and after the day she was having there was no way she was going to be bullied out of the space.

After parking, she gathers her two kids and heads inside. The other driver finds another space to steal, offers Sarah one last nasty glare, then makes her way towards it. Sarah continues towards the store. Merry Christmas to you too! she thinks. It is Saturday December 17, and shoppers are out in full force. Sarah Mcalister is 27 and a mother of two. She has been married for 5 years, although as the wife of a deployed soldier, she feels like a single mother at times. Especially right now as Danny, her 3 year old, is pestering his sister Sidney, who is not yet 2.

The decision to join was a tough one for the family. Sarah and Evan had met in college and married immediately after. It had only been a year when Evan felt the urge to join the reserves. In today's world, they both knew this would probably mean deployment. Nonetheless, Evan felt it was something he had to do.

Walking inside the store, she can’t help but overhear a couple standing outside of the store. Cursing and loud, it is impossible to tell if they are arguing or laughing. Is that even English? she asks herself as she hurries past.

The familiar beeps and clicks of the registers are heard in the background as the hustle and bustle of a late December Saturday are at full swing. Herds of people pushing huge carts, oblivious to anything not directly involving them, stampede through. Sarah allows a few people to pass, and is never acknowledged in the process.

With the kids secured in her own cart, Sarah begins. “Dog food, toilet paper, and milk. Then we are out of here!” The last stop of a day full of fighting traffic, running errands, and avoiding one disaster after another. She is second guessing bringing the kids as she makes her way to the milk. A group of teens ahead are standing in the aisle. They are dancing and laughing and it’s hard to tell if they are rude or oblivious. She makes her way around the impromptu dance contest and grabs the milk. She makes sure Danny is close by. She gets the dog food and other items and is more than ready to end this last trip.

Checking out is always fun, keeping the kids entertained while waiting involves patience, skill, and luck. Watching the people around her, Sarah quietly watches a family check out. She can't help but notice a doting father with his son.

She completes her purchase, and begins to maneuver towards the exit. She hands her receipt to the older man at the door. Passing his quick inspection, she is allowed to leave.

After loading the car and securing the kids, Sarah turns the key to the trusty Pathfinder, nothing. This cannot be happening! She gets out of the car and pops the hood. She asks people walking by if they can give her a jumpstart. She is ignored at first, hit on by some college kids, and finally helped out by a family with jumper cables.

Feeling defeated, she tries to stay positive for the kids. Christmas is near, and she doesn't want her children to worry. With Evan in Afghanistan for almost a year now, she had avoided thinking about the holidays, now they are here, and she feels alone. She is composing herself as she nears the house. It is almost dark, and very cold. Snow is in the forecast.

Arriving home she sees it. The lights on the trees in her front yard. There are more lights, some moving around on the roof. As she gets closer she notices people on the roof, in the yard and in the street. She recognizes neighbors, as well as family and friends. Getting out of the car, she is amazed to see everyone working to decorate the house.

“Figured we’d help get some lights on the house, so it looks like Christmas around here” says William, Sarah's father. “Dad, this is…” tears are welling up as she thinks about her day. “We’ve got to get these on the roof before it’s dark.” Never big on emotion, he focuses on the task at hand.

As she’s getting the kids out of the car, she sees the children’s eyes glowing as they look at the house. With her faith in humanity fully restored, she feels her spirits lifting. “Wow, look at the lights!” an excited Danny exclaims. With the kids out of the car, she begins to thank neighbors and friends that have come to help out. The kids are running around the yard enthralled by the twinkling lights.

Sarah looks up and notices a truck slowly approaching. The truck stops in front of the house, and a man in a Santa suit hops out of the passenger side with a large bag full of presents. Work stops as glances are exchanged and smiles suppressed. Never one to be shy, Danny drops what he is doing and comes running across the yard. "Santa!"

She immediately notices something familiar about this Santa. The walk, she definitely knows that walk. She steadies herself by leaning against the nearest tree. Tears begin to stream down her face. She watches as Danny is swept up into Santa’s arms. His face is beaming as he takes a closer look.“Daddy! Mommy, it’s Daddy!” As Santa approaches Sarah, Danny in one arm and now Sidney in the other, all eyes are on them. The diligent yard has help abandoned their jobs. Even William decided to take a break.

No words are exchanged as they embrace. Words will come later, for now a family has been reunited. A soldier has come home to his wife and kids. Tonight, all is well.