The unexpected Christmas gift. A short story.

At the top of this icy, snowy road lives a family of four. James the father, Joan the mother and Kimmi a little five year old girl and Keith a seven year old boy.

The family is poor. James unemployeed for over a year now. Joan has multiple sclerosis and is wheelchair bound at times.

They are living on food stamps and a small check issued monthly from the government.

Christmas is approaching and there is no money for presents.

One evening as the family sat down to eat supper they heard a loud crashing sound followed by a terrifying scream. James quickly ran to the window and observed an overturned car at the bottom of the snowy ravine. He rushed to put his coat, hat and gloves on then ran to see what he could do to help.

He found a man alone slumped over the steering wheel. A large gash on his forehead was bleeding profusely. He applied pressure to the area with his gloved hand. He worked frantically to free him from the vehicle, then carried him up the icy hill to his home.

While James was covering him with blankets he noticed a cell phone in his coat pocket. He quickly called nine one one and relayed what happened and told them they were in dire need of an ambulance.

Soon they heard the sirens blaring as the ambulance moved slowly up the icy road.

The E.M.T. recognized the injured man. He was the owner of the Chevrolet dealership in town........

Two days had passed since that fateful night when they heard a knock on the door. James was surprised to see the E.M.T. standing with an envelope in his hand. He gave it to James and told him it was from the man he had rescued that bitter cold night.

When he opened the envelope and saw a check for two thousand dollars and keys to a new silverado pickup truck, he was speechless! The envelope also included a note asking him to please come to see him in the hospital.

The E.M.T. drove him to the hospital. They both were welcomed with a warm smile and a grateful handshake.

He told James how very thankful he was, stating " You saved my life. I want to help you anyway i can. " He had asked around town about the family who lived in the old rundown house at the top of that road where he had the accident. He was told of their plight. He offered James a good job at his dealership. He also told him that he owned an appartment complex and had a vacancy on the ground floor. James accepted with tears flowing.

When James told his family the good news they too, were overjoyed.

The next day they drove their new truck to the woods and found the perfect tree, They also bought each a gift.

That evening as they all sat down to eat supper they all joined hands and said a prayer of thankfulness and feeling secure that there are angels among us. They just needed to reach out a helping hand to feel their presence.