By: Patrick Irving
12/21/2008

May you find a way to get everything you want this holiday season…

CHRISTMAS FOR CHUCK AND STACIE

Chuck and Stacie didn’t concern themselves with the so-called War on Christmas. After all, they were only seven years old, and, like most other seven year olds, they did not care which arbitrary phrases adorned department store signs, or upon which semi-public lawns ceramic shepherds were placed.

They cared about presents! Specifically, they cared about getting as many of them as possible.

But they had a battle of their own over just how that should be done. Chuck, the son of the town Pastor, knew to ask God, while Stacie, the daughter of the Mayor, was all about writing to Santa Claus. Each thought the other to be nuts.

Yes, their faith was strong.

Chuck knelt beside his little bed and prayed to God for video games and action figures and toy guns that shoot bright yellow rubber-like bullets. He promised that if he could only get these things that he would be a good boy all year long. He would shovel snow and walk the dog and brush his teeth without being asked. He promised all this with sincerity – and within earshot of his father (just in case).

Stacie sat at her little desk and wrote to Santa for video games and dolls and toy ovens that bake bright yellow rubber-like cakes. She promised that if she could only get these things that she would be a good girl all year long. She would wash dishes and feed the cat and brush her hair without being asked. She promised all this with sincerity – and submitted it to her father for proofreading (just in case).

The weeks went by and the kids were true to their words. Chores were completed. Good deeds were done. Respect was paid!

Still, Chuck and Stacie could not stop from teasing each other about the certain folly of the other’s plan. They were more excited than ever for Christmas – not just for the many gifts they were bound to receive, but for the satisfaction they would attain by proving the other wrong.

And then the big day came.

Stacie could hardly contain her glee as she sprinted over to Chuck’s house and furiously rang the bell.

“I got everything!” she exclaimed waving a copy of her Santa letter. “Every little thing on this list is at my house right now! What do you and your prayers think about that?”

“Good for you,” Chuck offered.

Stacie smiled because she knew she had her misguided friend on the ropes.

“And what about you?” she asked. “Did you get everything on your list?”

“A lot of it, but not everything, I guess. I didn’t have it in writing, you know.”

“Ha! I told you so,” she cackled.

Despite his adversary’s gloating, Chuck was magnanimous in defeat. “Why don’t you come in and play some video games with me?”

“I can’t right now,” she said. “I need to get home and do some dishes and feed the cat and stuff.”

“That’s what I thought,” Chuck sneered.

Stacie was suddenly overcome with dread – and regret. She glanced uneasily over her shoulder to the unshoveled walk in front of Chuck’s house.

Chuck snickered as he closed the door in her face.

“Like I said, I wasn’t stupid enough to put anything in writing.”

FADE OUT:

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