A Short Story About A Christmas Reunion-

Twas the night before Christmas and all through the house not a creature was stirring not even a mouse.

Timmy lay quietly in his bed. He'd never walked due to a birth defect, Spina Bifida ( The spinal cord protruding on the outside of the lower back, a large twisted mass. )

Tomorrow was not only Christmas, it was his birthday, his sixth. Even though he'd never walked, he was a happy child. His father, James had left the family soon after Timmy's birth, expressing his dislike for the ugly mass on the child's back.

Timmy's mother, Amy has struggled to make ends meet. James' support check arrived faithfully every month, and it was enough to pay the bills and keep a roof over their head's but nothing more.

Timmy loved books and had learned to read early. Amy had spent countless hours tutoring him. The local library in their small town kept him furnished with a wide variety of books, usually his bed was covered with many wonderful fun filled stories.

He was aware that he shared a birthday with the baby Jesus. He was reading about his birth in a stable when he heard a knock on the door. He listened and heard his mother speaking to someone and finally saying, " Come in. "

A tall dark haired man came into his room carrying a package wrapped in sparkling pink paper and a golden bow on top of the lid. Timmy asked, " Who are you and what ya got all wrapped up so pretty? " James attempted to answer both questions but broke down in tears. He managed to place the package on the bed and reached down to touch his son's cheek. After looking more closely, Timmy recognized his father from a picture his mother had shown him many times. He grabbed his father's hand and asked, " Is that you daddy, I was hoping you would come to see me on my birthday? "

That was the start of a joyful reunion.

In time the medical field advanced enough to safely operate on the mass, and in time, Timmy took his first steps. He received physical therapy daily and in about two years he could run and play and go to public school, something he's dreamed about his entire life.

Today he will tell you that the best part was his dad coming home to stay.

Timmy is now a young man in college and he loves to tell people about the time he saw his father for the first time and about the special gift he brought him on that Christmas Eve long ago.

It was a sleeping puppy all curled up in the Christmas box, he'd punched holes throughout the package so the puppy could breathe. He named his puppy Jingle Bells, and they grew up together.

Every Christmas Eve Timmy remembers that day when his dad returned home with his puppy, and he remembers the many nights he folded his hands and prayed that his daddy would someday come home on his birthday.