His name was Tommy Hall
He was poor. He was seven
His mother always cried
His daddy was in heaven.
Yesterday his Dad was here
Before he went out the door
He told him he loved him
Tommy wished he’d said it more
His mother had told him the news
“Dad’s not coming home, Dad’s dead”
Then she left Tommy alone
He cried at what she said
He could hear his mother’s sobs
His own tears burned his cheeks
His siblings were screaming now
Each second felt like weeks
Tomorrow would be Christmas
But it felt like any other day
There would be no presents
All they could do was pray
Everyone would be too upset
To celebrate the next day
He didn’t like seeing this
But he didn’t get much say
So he went to his bedroom
To make a top secret plan
To save his family’s Christmas
Doing the only thing he can
He did what he thought was best
He crafted gifts for everyone
He worked for hours and hours,
Satisfied when he was done
He came out of his bedroom
Carrying a pillowcase full
His family members watched
And silenced to a lull
They stared at him, waiting
He put each gift under the tree
“What’s this?” his mother asked
“One for everyone, everyone except me”
He walked back to his room
And laid down in his warm bed
Tomorrow was a new day
It wouldn’t be the same, Dad’s dead
He drifted off to sleep
Christmas filling his dreams
Until he woke up the next morning
To his sister’s excited screams
One by one, the gifts were given
It was just like Santa came
Everyone seemed happier
Without Dad, it wasn’t the same
Mom was still crying softly
Tommy didn’t know why
“Don’t you like your gift, mother?”
Tommy questioned with a sigh
She was crying harder now
“It’s perfect, Tommy” She said,
“But, you’re crying?” Tommy asked
“It’s not the same, baby, Dad’s dead”
Tommy hugged his mother
He didn’t know what else to do
He knew how she was feeling
He needed a hug too
“Whose this one for Tommy?”
A package was in his sister’s hand
It reflected the light like a mirror
It looked like it was from a faraway land
His sister spelled out the letters
“T-O-M-M-Y, Tommy, it’s for you!”
He didn’t know whom it was from
And didn’t know what to do.
He ripped off the shimmering wrap
And recognized the card’s writing
It was from Dad!
He was too amazed to do anything
He glanced at his mother
And handed her the card
He knew she would read it
Even though it would be hard
“Dear Tommy” She read,
“This Christmas isn’t going to be the same,
There will be no gifts this year
I hope you don’t think it’s that lame
But that’s not what Christmas is about,
It’s about family’s being together
So that’s what we’ll do
We’ll make the memories last forever
Promise me one thing Tommy,
Lets make this Christmas the best
No gifts, just love and family,
It’ll be a real test
But I know we can handle it
Because that’s what it’s all about
Your siblings might not understand
But they’ll have to do without
So let’s be together,
That’s what families do,
Remember, I love you Tommy,
I don’t know what I’d do without you”
She could barely get the last words out,
“Love you, Dad,” she said
The room went dead silent
It couldn’t be. Dad’s dead
There was sudden a wave of calmness
Everyone seemed content
There were no more tears,
It was the last gift Dad sent
Christmas was perfect, they were together
In their hearts, even Dad was there
They laughed, they cried and they loved
It was the last gift Dad had to share
By Bailey Thompson
Author's Note: Here's the story with this one. Right before Christmas in grade 9, my English teacher assigned a project. We could do one of two things: Write a rhyming kid's book or a song. we could do this either in partners or alone. I personally prefer to be alone in projects because it just makes my life easier! So the first day, I began writing this kids story. The second day, I began writing again and my friend walked up to me. She'd been absent the last few days and needed a partner. I didn't want to use my story because I was pretty much done, so we decided to write a song pushing my story aside. When we were done with the project, I went back to my story and finished it. Although my English teacher never did get to read it.
*The song that my friend and I wrote is also here. It's called Hearts lost, society Rules. *