Christmas Wish

He sat in his chair at the center of the mall
Talking to children, toddlers so small
Who's parents sat and listened in
As their children became greedy again
And once they were done listing their wants and demands
Their parents smiled and took them by the hands
And the mall Santa rubbed his knee
While he listened to the children whine and plea
He sighed and looked at the clock again
Seven hours had past since his job began
It had been a long day
And he was looking for a way
To cut out early
He was tired and weary
And just wanted to go home to his family
He hated being paid in charity
His only joy came from when his kids came
And their eyes lit up just the same
The same as every other child
Their faces eager and their excitement wild
But that had been a while ago
He just wanted to end the show
As the mall quieted down around eight pm
Mothers and Fathers taking their kids home again
He waved goodbye to their tired eyes
They smiled instantly and stopped their cries
His elves and reindeer checked out for the night
He waited till no one was in sight
Then he started packing his things
And suddenly he heard the bell towers rings
He sighed as he saw the plastic angel hanging from the tree
He sat back down, thinking "Somebody will be watching me."
He waited till it was ten till nine
When there wasn't a person left in line
Then he grabbed his bag and stretched his back
Muttering about all the things he was forced to lack
Working for pennies and dollars
Dealing with all the screams and hollers
He was worth more then this shit, he knew it some how
If it wasn't for the war he’d have a job by now
He looked down at the welcome sign
That’s when he noticed there was a girl standing in line
She took her steps slowly, her face unsure
Like she didn't know what she was looking for
He was about to say that he had to go
When her steps halted from their pace already slow
He looked at this girl, standing alone
She was pale and tired and skinny to the bone
But some how she seemed to glow
And he just couldn't say he needed to go
He sat back down and said 'Ho! Ho! Ho!'
She didn't smile just took a step that made her thin dress seem to flow
He offered her a seat on his lap and a friendly joke
And only then for the first time she spoke
"My family never celebrated Christmas, our Holiday has already past
But I'm hoping I can make Yule last
By coming and asking what I forgot to ask
It's my self appointed task
I can see the way you look at me
In your eyes I must seem scary”
He had to stop himself from nodding his head
Instead he just laughed instead
"You don't celebrate Christmas? That’s just fine!
But why are you all alone, standing in line?
I'm here for all girls and boys!
Are your parent’s shopping for Hanukah toys?"
She gave a little smile at the corner of her mouth
Then she spoke the truth
"My family is Pagan. We don't follow your ways
We have circles while you have plays
But my Teacher told me that on Christmas every child gets a wish so true
Yet I... don't have anyone to give my wish to."
He smiled again and said 'Ho! Ho! Ho!'
He looked at the clock, and wanted to go.
But he said go ahead girl
Give it a whirl.
In his mind her Parents were evil
Whoever would teach their child Witchcraft must he his rival
He was thinking about this when she spoke
Her words were a song his heart took
"I just want peace tonight
I want to give up the fight
I don't want to see the light
Shinning bright
I just want to rest tonight
I want to bless my Mother and Father
I want to send them a special wish from their daughter
Bless my friends bless everyone I know
Tell them I love them so
Bless the world, bless the earth
Bless Yule that gives us new birth
Bless the land
Bless the sand
Bless the sea
Bless with winds so breezy
Bless the stranger
But most of all, bless my sister.
Bless her heart that has been broken
Bless her friends and her harsh token
Bless the words she leaves un spoken
Bless her soul that has awoke
Bless my sister
Bless her forever
Keep her safe to return home to me
And let her know, that I'm so sorry"
He shook his head, at her words, and had her write her name on a slip of paper
Tory Turquoise Taker
He went home and got online
He looked for hours, taking his time
Then he found it, her registration
Containing a fortune of information
The he sucked in a breath, his heart hit hard
He had to check twice the name on the card
Listed as the only person with the last name she had
He wondered why he had ever though his life was bad
He looked at the name on the screen
Listed as a fighting Marine
In Iraq she was a fighter
But at home she was Tammy Tempest Taker
Loving sister, of her sister
Who wanted to say how much she missed her
Parents long gone, lost in the crash
September eleventh had hit this family with a fierce bash
He know knew why the girl had looked so scared
For her family, he just hadn't cared
The legal guardian of her sister
Oh, how, she would miss her
The little girl, diagnosed with cancer
It said she had once been a dancer
He thought about what might have happened if he had left early
He whispered silently "Thank you for this story."
And then he took down all his anti war signs
And just for this night he shut the blinds
And had in his mind a peaceful night
Praying that everything would turn out right
Saying the soldiers fought the good fight
And somehow, for one little girl, he made everything right.