A Candy Cane or Two

        Dan shivered. The wind whisked the snow around outside and the fire was dead. It was Christmas eve and Dan's family still hadn't but a single pine needle. It was held in Dan's hand, small and lonely. Just like him. Dan lived in a shabby New England house with his mother and father who, were often gone either looking for a new job, or doing the one they had. They had a very poor bank account which kept taking bits of money from them, and they had not much money to spare. At school his classmates kept jeering at him for his poor clothes, and he dreaded gym time when he'd be teased of being skinny and weak. But worst of all, Dan and his parents hadn't any money for buying Christmas decorations, and there was no tree. The only tree was the big strong oak tree out in their front yard. And it definitely wasn't a good Christmas tree, with it's scratchy bark and leafless branches it looked more like a Halloween tree. Dan sadly looked at the place where their chimney used to be. It had fallen down a week ago, too rackety and old to stand up much longer. How is Santa Claus going to get in here if we have no chimney? Dan wondered. Then he thought, Maybe that is a good thing it fell down now. Maybe it would have fallen down when Santa was in it and then he got hurt. But Dan still wished the chimney would have fallen down after Christmas was over. Dan sighed. It wasn't fair everybody got Christmas but he didn't. Oh well. He thought. At least we have one pine needle. He looked at the needle and groaned. Other kids got a whole tree full of pine needles and all he had was one. He rolled onto his stomach and fell sound asleep, dreaming of driving Santa's sleigh for him.

             The sleigh was shaking! All the presents were sliding to one side, then the other! They were going straight towards a tall house's chimney! They were going to crash! They were going to brake all the presents! They were- Dan woke with a start. His mom was shaking him gently. He groaned. He didn't want anything to do with a Christmas where he didn't get any gifts. But, annoyingly, his mom kept shaking him until he finally sat up and looked around. Dan had fallen asleep in the living room. Then Dan saw something. It was a baby Christmas tree in a pot too big for it's mini size, sitting in the middle of the living room. Dan just stared at it, his mouth wide open like a cat trying to eat a pigeon. Tied onto it's tiny trunk was a tag. Dan scooted over, his mouth closing slowly. It read, For Dan Gilltrip, a good boy. From, Santa Claus. Dan jumped up and down with excitement, then noticed five little figures under the tree. He picked them up; they were candy canes! One of them was for his dad, one for his mom, and THREE  for him! He nibbled a little on one, then he and his family sang some Christmas songs and had a very happy holiday. And from then on, Dan knew that it doesn't matter how fancy or how many gifts you get, it's the joy and excitement that counts.

                                                                             THE END