As I ran down the steps, I smelled pine. As I reached the end of the steps, I greeted my mother quickly because I was ready to dive in Christmas presents. However, my expectations were shot.
There were only 2 presents: 1 from mom and another from dad. I groaned and pondered the many presents other 5 year olds would receive. My mom smiled warmly and told me to open which ever caught one my attention: My dad’s present. I shredded the color paper to pieces as I got closer to the prize.
It was a ball cap. I yelled passionately: “I didn’t want a ball cap, I wanted a bear! He never listens to me!” I was so upset, I wouldn’t open my mother’s present.
When my mother was alone in the kitchen, she called dad crying. I put my ear to the door and listened: apparently, my dad did not want to buy a gift for the son of his divorcee, so mom took it upon herself to buy both presents and say that one was from dad. I knew she was struggling financially too. I knew I had ruined her Christmas. I hurt her. Some Christmas that was.