23/12/2024
Holiday Literary Series Day 4:
The Gift of Love
By: Ella Bautista
In the cold sweet winter of December 24th, the spirit of Christmas could be felt all around the chilly air. Snow pellets fell and landed everywhere, covering the trees and streets like the ocean floor. The crisp air carried the smiles and laughter of the townspeople as does the aroma of roasted beef and other meat being prepared for the night.
Amongst the bustling streets, a young girl skipped by, hopping along the snowy pavement of the village. As the young girl went, her eyes darted around eagerly. Out of the corner of her eye, she spots a store so lovely. And with great curiosity, there the girl hopped, opening the wooden frame of the door as the bell above chimed softly.
The shop was like an island trove, with the sweet nostalgic ticking of a grandfather clock, to the sweet melodies that the music boxes play to a thousand stories, hidden among the books, waiting to be opened and revealed. Yet, none of the antiques piqued the young girl’s interest. So, the young girl continued to wander, pacing through the store, searching between vases, books, and furniture. Yet, none of them would fit as a present for the young girl’s mother. Until she passed along this one aisle.
Although the aisle is like any other aisle she has gone to, there she spotted a blue pendant, shining among the boxes. With nothing in the girl’s hands, there the girl went. The girl’s winter boots thudded and creaked the wooden floorboards as she wandered closer and closer to the shining pendant. With each step she took, the more the young girl wondered what if that was the one, if it would make her mom happy.
The young girl stood before the boxes, rummaging and setting them aside as she finally set her eyes upon the piece. The pendant was attached to a golden necklace cord. The pattern along it looked lovely and unique, like a spider’s web. With admiration for the necklace, the young girl gently picked the pendant up. Observing the piece on her mittens. The young girl touched the smooth surface, making the pendant shine brighter and hummed as a shiver ran through the girl's spine.
“Woah!” the young girl gasped as she continued to stare at the pendant, entranced and fixated by its aura.
It took a while for the girl to notice. The design in the pendant was in the form of a snowflake, buzzing with a faint blue hue.
“Perfect...” the young girl smiled in delight. Clutching the pendant close to her heart, she quickly went to the counter.
The young girl placed the pendant before her on the counter, her body running with adrenaline, jumping on her toes excitedly. Behind the counter was a man, wrapped in a dark cloak whilst wearing dark sunglasses, the man looked no older than 25. His hazel-colored eyes scanned the young girl's face before looking down at the pendant, his thin fingers reached out to pick the pendant up, examining it.
“Are you going to buy this, kid?” the man said, his brow raised as he glanced back at the young girl.
“Yes, sir! I’m going to give it to my mother as a gift!” the young girl said with excitement.
“... Gift?” the man tilted his head to the side.
“Yep!” the girl smiled, reaching into her pocket, bringing out a few silvery coins.
The man gave the young girl’s payment a stare, knitting his brows. Still holding the pendant gently, he leaned on the counter, counting the coins.
“This is how you will be paying?” the man asked.
The young girl nodded, gently pushing the coins towards the man, “Mr. Shopkeeper usually let anyone pay with anything they have on the holidays,” The girl explained, “Even if it’s a small amount, he lets the person buy it!"
The man behind the counter gave a small chuckle, almost mocking the young girl, discreetly pushing the payment to the girl’s end.
“Look, missy...” the man started, “If you haven’t heard, the shopkeeper, is retired.” He said, leaning on the wooden counter, the pendant subtly swinging from the man’s clutches, “He gave me this establishment, meaning I, can do what I want with the payment you give.”
The young girl’s grin turned upside down, the shine and determination in her eyes instantly. Her body stood still for a moment.
“W-wait… What does that mean?” the girl asked.
The man’s brows knitted, his lips curling up in disdain, “Your money isn’t enough to buy this old necklace.” The man explained.
“But...” the girl paused, looking down at the silvery coins on the counter, “The shopkeeper usually gives out anything on holidays. To make people happy...”
“Well, I’m not that person, kid.” the man stated, his voice was stern, “You’ll either pay for this pendant for its actual price or leave this shop this instant.” The man said.
“Can’t… Can’t you reconsider?” the young girl clasped her hands together, looking at the older person before her pleadingly, “It’s Christmas. You have got to at least reconsider. I want to make my mom happy!” she pleaded, “I’m sure you would want to make your mother happy also? Buying her a gift or anything—”
“I’m really sorry, kid,” the man interrupted, his voice didn’t show any sort of sympathy at all, “Rules are rules.”
Whilst keeping the pendant in his palms, he walks not too far away from the counter, placing the piece in a drawer. The young girl wanted to stay and try to bargain with the older person, but she knew she couldn’t. Her shoulders slumped, her gaze wandered down at her feet, silently walking out of the shop, her heart crushed like the snow on her feet.
The young girl sat on one of the benches in town, her shoulders slumped, her chin resting against her palms. Most people ignored the girl, some looked at the girl’s defeated face, some showed sympathy, some didn’t. The cheerful laughs and grins of the townspeople, the delicious smell of roasted beef, and everything around the young girl seemed to get duller and duller as the previous scenario dwelled on her mind. She couldn’t help it.
What will she do now? She can’t afford a gift for her mom. Tomorrow is Christmas, and she doesn’t know someone who could help her. A faint mist of clouds formed in front of the young girl as she sighed, her foot shaking up and down against the ground, making a thumping pattern. As the girl stared at the snowy ground, the sound of bells shook her to reality as she realized a shadow formed in front of her. The young girl looked up to see an elderly woman, wrapped in a scarf and thick clothing, her curly grey hair glistened under the winter sun.
Whilst the elder leaned on a cane filled with bells, with a warm, kind smile, the elder asked, “Are you alright, little girl?” Her voice tickled with an affectionate tone.
The young girl gulped down the lump in her throat, her body relaxing as her gaze settled on the elder woman’s soft eyes.
“I—erm…” the young girl mumbled stuttered, clasping her hands together, staring down at the snowy ground again.
Noticing the girl’s skepticism, the elderly woman sat next to the young girl, the smell of cinnamon hitting the girl’s senses as does the sense of coziness and comfort.
“Do not worry, young one.” the elderly woman said, “I don’t judge,” She reassured, a warm smile creeped up her lips.
The young girl glanced up at the woman, her palms on her knees as she let out a sigh. “I wanted to give my mother a present. To repay her for everything she has done for me...” The girl started, staring down at her mittens.
And with that, the young girl poured her story out onto the elderly woman. Making side comments all along the way, her hands making huge gestures. Yet the elderly woman listened intently, nodding along with every detail the girl had shared.
“The end...” the young girl breathes, leaning back against the bench, her cheeks as red as a rose from all the talking.
"What do you think I should do?” the girl asked, glancing up at the elderly woman beside her, her brows raised.
The elderly woman stared out at the snowy mountains, pondering for a moment.
“Not all gifts have to be something that is bought,” the elder finally stated, her attention turning back to the young girl’s gaze. “Some gifts can be made. Like a letter or a drawn picture.” she spoke.
The young girl pursed her lips, processing what the elderly woman said, “Anything… Anything can be a gift...?”
“Yes!” the woman said softly, “It just has to come from the heart, the love that you’d pour for the person.” She explained, putting a hand over the young girl’s heart, “Because love is the best thing a person receives.”
As the elderly woman withdrew her hand back to her cane, the young girl looked over her chest, touching over her beating heart. Even from the elder’s advice, the girl furrowed her brows, clutching her chest. “But I can’t do something like the pendant, or anything.” the girl stated, “I can’t even make a good letter...”
“Ugly or not, the important thing is that you have given your effort and love for that gift” the woman said, parting the girl’s shoulder, “Young one, don’t stress out. I’m sure that your mother would love your gift.”
“Even if it’s not perfect...?”
“Even if it’s not.”
The young girl smiled softly, her heart swelling with newfound hope and determination, the girl stood up, shaking the elderly’s hand. "Thank you. Thank you so much!” her smile widened, reaching up to her eyes, “I promise I’ll remember your words, thank you so much, miss!”
The young girl stood tall, releasing the elder’s hand, the girl took off running, leaving her footprints behind. The elderly woman smiled contently, the wind dancing with the bells on her cane as the soft chimes filled the air.
Graphics by: Ayen Palabrica