22-Dec-2000
This was inspired by a song I heard on the radio called "The Christmas Shoes". I don't remember who it is by, but it is very touching.
Author: Tigress Pern
Archived at: GW Addiction
Warnings: None
Disclaimer: GW isn't mine, neither was the song this was based off of.
The crowds were getting worse as Heero doggedly made his way to the cash register. This was the last time he put off buying Christmas presents until the night before. Well, that wasn't completely true, he'd been out a couple other times this month. Sighing as he shifted his burden from one hip to the other, he realized that he didn't know why he was buying this stuff. Because it's Christmas and it is expected, he thought. But I really don't care at this point. All these people shopping because it is what people DO during the holiday season. What was the whole point anyway?
Checking his watch, he realized he had exactly four hours until Quatre's party and it would take him at least an hour to get out of the mall at this rate. Sighing again, he scanned the mass of people around him. His eyes focused on a small boy just in front of him. He was hopping from one foot to the other and bouncing up to see how close he was to the register. His arms were folded tightly in front of him, holding something Heero couldn't see. He frowned. There appeared to be no parent with this child, what was he doing here? The woman in front of him moved and the little boy surged forward anxiously. Once more he followed the same pattern as he had before.
He couldn't be more than seven, Heero reasoned. What was he doing here alone? Was he a war orphan or was he merely saving a place in line for his parents? From his ragged appearance, Heero guessed he was an orphan. His clothes were torn in places and he looked as if he hadn't had a bath in weeks. Definitely an orphan, Heero surmised studying the boy's pattern of hops. They moved forward again.
The little boy stepped forward quickly as to not loose his place. Heero closed the gap between them so that anyone from one of the other lines didn't cut in front of him. If someone dared, they would have to deal with him. Towering over the child Heero glanced down at him, finally catching a glimpse at what he was holding so tightly. A pair of white open toed high heel shoes. Tiny sequins adorned them, making the shoes appear as if they were made of snow. The boy held the protectively to his chest as the line moved once again.
In front of them the cashier smiled and looked directly at Heero, completely missing the boy. She was about to say something when the boy stood on his tip toes and deposited his precious cargo on the counter.
"I'd like to buy these shoes." He said. "They're for my mama. Please it's Christmas Eve and these are just her size." From his ratted coat pocket he produced a small plastic bag full of coins. "Could you hurry please? Daddy said there isn't much time, you see she's been sick for quite a while." He placed the bag, that Heero realized was mostly pennies up on the counter. Still on his tip toes, he dumped them out. "I know these shoes will make her smile, if Mama meets Jesus tonight."
The clerk carefully rang up the shoes and began counting out the coins. As she did the little boy kept talking.
"Mama used to make Christmas special, but since she's been sick we haven't had much of one. Daddy's been having a tough time and Mama's been so sick. She has this really pretty dress and I know these shoes would look so beautiful with it."
Patiently Heero waited as the cashier finished counting. The child clung to the edge of the counter waiting anxiously for his gift.
"Please, can you hurry?" he asked as the cashier looked down at him. "There isn't much time. Mama might be meeting Jesus tonight and I want her to look her best."
"I'm sorry, but there isn't enough." She said, her voice full of regret. "You'll have to put them back or find another pair that cost less."
"But these are the perfect shoes." The boy said softly. "They will make her look beautiful."
"I'm so sorry, but there isn't anything I can do about the price."
"I wanted to buy these shoes, for my Mama." He said sadly.
"I know." The cashier replied biting her bottom lip.
"How much?"
"Sir?"
"I asked you how much?" Heero stated. The boy turned to face him.
"He's off by seven dollars and four cents." Heero gently set his gifts on the counter and reached into his coat pocket and drew out his wallet. Carefully he counted out the money and lay it on top of the child's pennies.
"That should cover it. I would hate for your mama to not look her best." Heeros said softly to the boy. Through misted eyes, the child smiled at him as the clerk quickly packaged the shoes in a nice red box. She grabbed a gold ribbon from the display shoes behind her and stuck it on the top of the box before slipping it into a plastic bag.
"Here you are young man. Merry Christmas."
"Merry Christmas to you too and thank you very much sir. Mama's going to love these shoes!" Without another word he ran out of the store and was soon lost in the crowd. Heero smiled.
"Sometimes we forget what Christmas truly means." The cashier said as she began ringing up Heero's items.
"Yes." Heero agreed. "I hope his mother enjoys those shoes."
"So do I."
The End
Tigress Pern