Last Minute Shopping With Mother

The bustling city was adorned with twinkling lights and festive decorations, creating an atmosphere of holiday cheer and excitement. Amid the joyous chaos, Molly was dragged from one busy store to another by her haggard mother during a last-minute Christmas shopping spree. Molly’s eyes sparkled with anticipation as they walked the crowded sidewalks, while she took in all the holiday sights. They strolled past shop windows adorned with snowmen, reindeer, and shimmering ornaments. The scent of roasted chestnuts filled the air, carols were played on speakers all over town, and a Santa rang a bell on the corner in front of some stores.

Mother had promised Molly a visit to Santa if she was a good girl while Mother grabbed a few last moment gifts. So, Molly eagerly waited as patiently as she could. There was a time or two when she had pulled on her mother’s hand, asking if they could see Santa yet, worried that Santa would leave for the North Pole before she could give him her list.

Molly knew just what she would ask Santa for this year. She wanted to ask him for a bicycle for herself and a teddy bear for her new brother, Kenny. For her daddy, she wanted Santa to bring a new deck of cards. Her mother needed a new hat to wear to church on Sundays. She also wanted to let him know their new address, since they’d moved this year. She wasn’t sure if he knew that yet or not.

So, Molly waited as patiently as her impatient five-year-old self could.

She didn’t stamp her feet when her mother wanted to shop at Pad & Pen Stationary Emporium. No whining came from Molly as she followed her mother through Tadpoles -N- Lilypads Tiny Tot Boutique. As her mother took an hour-long luncheon at Harley’s Cup & Sup with all her friends, Molly fought off the temper tantrum that had been building all day.

With so much commotion and people running everywhere, it was hard for Molly to be good, too. Her head buzzed with all the noise; and all the moving decorations kept her distracted, drawing her toward them.

Santa seemed to be everywhere at once. He was in front of different stores they went to, ringing a bell or surrounded by adults. There was a filthy Santa who smelled funny and walked around asking for change. When they’d eaten, Santa led them to their table. Molly was anxious when Santa drove by in a white bug-shaped car, and she started pulling on her mother’s hand hard, thinking he was heading back to the North Pole.

Finally, Molly’s mother said it was time. So, they walked towards the area where Santa had set up his temporary Workshop, between the Christmas tree lot and the pond the teenagers ice skated on. Snow was gently falling, so Molly stuck her tongue out trying to catch a dainty white flake. Along the way, they stopped and listened to Carolers sing "The Little Drummer Boy" and "Angels We Have Heard On High."

Molly enjoyed the singing but remembered they had to get to Santa before he left tonight. So she pulled her mother along, and they entered Santa’s Workshop. She let go of her mother’s hand and twirled around in circles. Santa’s Workshop looked like a gingerbread house, with colored gumdrop lights and candy cane trees. Elves dressed in red or green tights were handing out balloons, cocoa, cookies, and other treats. Seeing Santa sitting on his throne, Molly hurriedly went to him and waited her turn to sit on his lap.

Looking over her shoulder at her mother, she smiled her biggest smile. They’d made it in time to tell Santa after all.

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Carol watched her mother spin, while her mother looked at all the decorations about them. It was so hard sometimes, taking care of her, knowing that her mother was forever stuck in her childhood. Then there were times like right now, as her mother turned and looked at her with the most radiant smile Carol had seen in such a long time, that Carol’s heart filled with so much love.

Praying as her mother walked up to Santa, Carol pleaded with her eyes when he glanced her way. Thankfully, he seemed to understand, he took her frail mother on his lap, and said, “Ho, ho, ho, little girl!! What do you want this year for Christmas?”