A Christmas Story

It was late at night; Johnny was staring at the play of Christmas lights across the street hanging on a tree laid in contrast to the dark cloudy Christmas Eve. His mind wanders at the beauty he sees over the grumpy skies.

“Johnny? What are you doing here? We have been waiting for you. Do you have the medicines?” Mama asked seeing Johnny staring blankly over the window.

“Yes Mama. I’m sorry I wasn’t able to come back in time. I was awed at the sight of the Christmas light over the window.” Was Johnny’s reply.

“It’s okay honey. Come now, your Papa needs his medicine.”

They went into a large room with six beds and six side tables of which only three are occupied. Johnny’s Papa lay asleep on the third bed from the door where they are standing. His breathing is supported by oxygen connected to his nose. A nurse was seated beside the bed waiting for the medicines.

“Where is mister Alvarez Mama?” Johnny asked after the nurse had left the room.

“They already checked out honey. The doctor said he can go home and celebrate Christmas with his family.”

“Are we going home too, Mama?”

A tear fall from his mother’s eyes which she right away wiped so that Johnny won’t see it.

‘No. Not yet sweetie, Papa’s not well yet. We will be spending Christmas here together with Mr. Perez and Mr. Cruz. They said their families are coming over and will bring some for all of us. The nurses are staying too making sure your Papa, Mr. Cruz and Mr. Perez is okay.”

“Is Papa going to be okay, Mama?”

‘He will be. He will be, son.” She replied trying to convince herself and her son.

“What did the doctor say ‘bout his illness?”

“Well, -- trying to hold back her tears – the doctor said the he will be leaving us anytime soon. Papa’s not getting better now Johnny and Jesus want him to go home.”

“So we will be going home too, Mama?’

“Yes, sweetie… In our time...”

And so Christmas Eve came to pass. They gleefully celebrated it together with the nurses and three other patients. They shared stories about Christmas and their Christmas experiences. The room was filled with joy and laughter as if there’s nobody sick inside that room. Until they tire and went to sleep. While the spirit of Christmas lingered inside the room.

Johnny was awaken by his mother the next day, sobbing.

“Why are you crying, Mama? Are you hurt?” Johnny asked.

“Papa has gone home honey, and he will be waiting for us there, with Jesus.”

It wasn’t easy for Johnny at first. Losing his father at an early age is quite big for a child like him. He cried and cried until the crying turned into sobbing. ‘til his eyes were dry and no sound can ever come out of his mouth.

“Remember the Christmas light you saw last night?” Mama asked.

“Yes, Mama. Why?” Johnny replied almost like a whisper.

“Well, why do you think it was so beautiful last night? It shined the brightest because the surrounding was dark and stormy. It was the only light of different colors we can see amidst the pitch black surrounding last night. And because of that it even shined brighter. Sometimes we are worried of the storms that come our way that we fail to see the beauty ahead of us. And by doing so, we miss the opportunity to appreciate and savor that moment. Your Papa went into that City of Bright Lights, where everything was nothing but of pure beauty. We will be going there too Johnny, in our time… and Papa will be waiting for us there…