
“Merry Christmas!” Shouted the Santa Claus standing on the corner. “Ho, Ho, Ho,” he exclaimed as he rang his bell. Jake dropped a few coins in his kettle as he walked by.
“Merry Christmas,” Jake mumbled to himself. “I wish you could grant miracles.” Jake walked on. The sidewalk Santa turned his way and smiled. “Miracle granted.” He whispered into the wind.
Jake walked on. The winter wind ripped at his coat. The cold made the tips of his ears tingle. “Bah,” he said to himself. Christmas was one of the two worst times of the year to be alone. The other being Valentine’s Day. It was not like he was truly alone. He could talk to his wife on Zoom or FaceTime. But the truth was he couldn’t feel the warmth of her touch on his skin. Though he could see her he could not truly feel the joy of her smile.
Jake rounded the corner of the street where his house was located. He walked up the block to his house. He looked up at the number 315. He let out a sigh. He took his time climbing each step because he knew inside was only loneliness. He put the key in the lock and turned. He threw open the door and stepped inside. He lifted his head to find his wife standing before him. He didn’t feel the tears running down his cheek. He rushed over and hugged and kissed her. He let go of her for a second and backed up. “How?” He said.
She smiled. His heart melted. “I truly don’t know. I was not on the list to come home but then I was. To make it even better my time is done. I get an honerable discharge in the New Year. All I can say is it is a miracle.
Outside on the sidewalk a Santa smiled, tipped his head and vanished.