A Christmas Gift - 1. Chapter 1

I couldn’t believe that I was driving to my parent’s home in this weather. The rain was coming down so hard it was difficult to see the road and to make matters worse, it was a freezing rain. The road had a light slick coat of ice that required driving extremely slow. My eyes were becoming tired from concentrating on the road. The swish of the windshield wipers was hypnotic as they tried to keep the windshield clear of the freezing rain.

Traffic seemed to become less dense as I left the city and drove toward the countryside where my parents lived. I guess country folk have more sense than to be out driving on a night like this. As I went around a curve in the road, I couldn’t believe what I saw. Along the side of the road was a young man hitchhiking. He had on a relatively light coat, and there was no question he was cold and wet. I generally wouldn’t have stopped, but he looked so miserable, I felt sorry for him.

He quickly got into the car, “Thanks, mister. I appreciate you stopping for me. I have been out there trying to get a ride for five hours. I was almost ready to give up hope when I saw your car and decided to give it one more go.”

“My name is Chet; what’s yours, and why were you hitchhiking in this weather?”

“I was trying to get to my grandparents’ place before the rain started. I had a ride part way, but then I walked to where you picked me up.”

“You didn’t tell me your name.”

“It’s Josh.”

Something wasn’t right. He seemed to hesitate to tell me his name. I figured that wasn’t his real name. I was also sure he wasn’t going to visit his grandparents. All he had with him was a shoulder bag, which didn’t look like it would hold much. No, I’m convinced there is more to his story.

I needed gas, so at the next gas station, I pulled up to the gas pump. “I’m going to go in and pay for my gas; do you want to come along? You probably could use the men’s room to change out of those wet clothes.”

As I was filling my gas tank, Josh took his bag and went into the men’s room to change. When he came out, I was still inside paying for my gas, deciding if I wanted something to eat. The station wasn’t large, but they had pre-packaged sandwiches and coffee. Seeing Josh standing outside, I asked him if he wanted something to eat and a coffee. He said he was ok, but I felt that he was lying. So I bought several sandwiches and a cup of coffee and a cup of hot chocolate. After paying and getting back into the car, I gave the hot chocolate to Josh. “Here this’ll warm you up. I also got carried away with the variety of sandwiches they had, so I think I may have bought too many. Help yourself to the sandwiches.”

I took a sip of my coffee as I watched Josh out of the corner of my eye, sipping his hot chocolate. He kept glancing at the bag containing the sandwiches. I took the bag and took out two sandwiches and gave him one. At first, he said no, but when I unwrapped mine and set one on his lap, he unwrapped his. I never saw a sandwich disappear so fast. I took another one for me and set it aside, giving Josh the rest of the sandwiches.

“Josh, here, two sandwiches are enough for me, and I don’t want to throw these away. Do me a favor and eat them.”

“Thanks, they are good. By the way, my name isn’t Josh. It’s Tony.”

“You’re not going to your grandparents either, right.”

I saw some tears beginning to form in his eyes. “It’s alright, Tony. I’m not going to put you out of the car, but since I have another six hours of driving, why don’t you tell me the truth. Maybe I can help you.”

“I’m not going to see my grandparents; I don’t even have any grandparents. I lived with my parents until they told me I had to leave. They belong to one of those Christian groups that preach hate more than love. When they found out that I wasn’t going to be what they expected, they told me to leave. So I packed what I could. I tried to stay at my friend’s house, but his parents were friends with mine, so they also told me to leave. I started to hitchhike out of town and made it to where you saw me. I got a ride at the city limits, but the guy wanted me to do things, and when I wouldn’t, he put me out.”

“How old are you, Tony?”

“I’ll be 18 in one week. I was hoping to finish my senior year and then go to college. That would have gotten me away from my parents and their negativity.”

“Do you mind if I ask you a personal question?” Tony shrugged his shoulders, which I took as an ok. “Are you gay?”

“Tony started to cry again. Please, Chet, don’t put me out. There is no place for me to go and it’s raining and dark. “

“You needn’t worry, Tony. I’ve no intention of putting you out in this weather. And, you don’t have to be afraid of being gay. I’m also gay, and fortunately, my parents have accepted that and still love me. You’re going to stay with us, and we’ll straighten everything out. This is the season of miracles, and maybe one will happen for you.”

Tony smiled and snuggled into the seat and soon was asleep. His face was calm, and he appeared to be relaxed. How anyone could turn their child adrift is something I could never understand. I was more than thankful for my family; they accepted me and still show their love for me.

We were about two miles from my home, and the sun was breaking the night. The rain had stopped, and everything was coated in ice. It looked like something from a fairy tale; the ice sparkled as the sunlight was reflected. There was a diner where I always stopped when I was coming home. I nudged Tony awake, “Ready for some breakfast?”

“You don’t have to buy me breakfast. Those sandwiches filled me up.”

“Well, I need breakfast, so why don’t you join me and you can have coffee or something to drink.”

When I entered the diner, Stella, the owner, came over and threw her arms around me for a big hug. “Who’s the cutie pie?”

‘This is a friend of mine. Tony, meet Stella but don’t believe a thing she says about me”

I knew Tony was in for a hug as well. Stella has owned the diner for years, and she always greeted people she knew with a hug. There aren’t enough hugs in this world, and I’m going to set the record; that was the motto that Stella lived by.

Stella showed us to a booth and walked away. She came back with a coffee for me and a hot chocolate for Tony. Then she left again. I could see Tony was perplexed as to why she didn’t take my order. Five minutes later, Stella returned with two plates of eggs, ham, fried potatoes, and a basket of hot biscuits.

“I didn’t order this.”

“Tony, you have to eat it, or you’ll hurt Stella’s feelings. As long as I have been coming here, she does this. I never order, and she brings me the same breakfast each time. So eat up and enjoy a country breakfast. Try the biscuits; they’ll melt in your mouth.”

About 15 minutes later, Stella returned to refill my coffee and had another cup of hot chocolate for Tony. I think I had one biscuit, and Tony had the rest.

“Those were good. Thanks for breakfast. The food was great.”

“If you think that was great, wait until you taste my mom’s cooking. You’ll not want to leave the kitchen.”

Tony looked at me like he didn’t comprehend what I just said, and then it dawned on him what I just said. “I can’t stay at your parent’s house. Look at me, I’m a mess.”

“Don’t think that way. You’ll be welcomed as a friend of mine. My parents will understand and show you another side of being a Christian. Trust me, please.”

I paid Stella, “We’ll see you again. We plan on spending the next two weeks with my folks before heading back home.”

“Tony, is there anything you need as a toothbrush, deodorant, body splash? We could stop at the mall and can get some things you’ll need for the next two weeks until we get back to where I live.”

Again I saw the tears beginning to pool in his eyes, and I knew what I was going to do. On the way to my parent’s home, I stopped at the mall. Going into a drug store, I picked up a toothbrush, small tube of toothpaste and told Tony to get what else he needed. I had to threaten him and told him if he didn’t do it, I would, and he may not like my choices. Reluctantly he went and got what he needed. I paid for them and gave the bag to him to carry.

“Well, we’re here, is there anything you need? I’ll buy it for you as a Christmas present. Come on, and there is no need to cry or feel bad. Let me do this for you. I don’t have anyone to enjoy Christmas shopping. Let it be your Christmas present to me to allow me to spend some money on you.”

So without waiting for an answer, I took him into a clothing store that catered to young men. We picked out several pairs of jeans, some pullover shirts, T-shirts, underwear, and socks. His shoes were in reasonably decent shape, but he would need socks. I saw a winter coat that he would like. While I paid, I suggested he change into his new clothes. The sales clerk removed the price tags, and Tony went to change. He came back looking like a new person.

“So are you ready to meet my folks?”

“I’m a little nervous”

“There’s nothing to be nervous about, but I understand. You’ll do just fine.”

When I pulled into the driveway, I heard my father yell, “He’s here.”

Mom and Dad rushed to the car to greet me. After my dad hugged me, he introduced himself to Tony. Mom hugged me and said, “Is he your boyfriend?”

“No, but I’ll tell you later. Right now, he needs a mother’s hug.”

Mom, true to form, went over to him and drew him into a tight mother’s hug. “We’re glad that Chet brought you home with him. Are you hungry?”

As we entered the house, I could smell the pies in the oven. Our home always had wonderful smells around the holidays and today was no different.

After having a glass of milk with Mom's homemade ginger cookies, we went to get our luggage. I took mine to my old bedroom and showed Tony the guest room. Once I was unpacked, I went and checked on Tony. He was sitting on the bed with all of the packages around him, crying.

“Why couldn’t my parents be as loving as yours? I feel the love here, which I never felt at my home.”

“I can’t answer that question for you, Tony. All I know is to accept that which reflects love and disregard that which doesn’t. Why people behave as they do is a mystery that only someone higher can fathom. For me, if you don’t like me, that’s their problem, not mine. I’ll not shoulder that burden. There’re too many good people in this world for me to worry about those who aren’t.”

Tony thought a while and then, wiping his tears, hugged me. “Thanks.”

Going downstairs, we heard the TV before seeing it, Dad was watching a ball game, and so we joined him. After a while, Tony went into the kitchen and asked my mom if he could do anything to help. It wasn’t long when I heard him laughing for the first time. This I had to see. Peeking into the kitchen, where he was chopping vegetables and Mom was telling him all about me.

“Hey, no fair telling him those stories.”

“Oh they are good stories and fun to share. You should know we’d never tell about the bad things you did as a boy.”

“What bad things? I was always a good boy.”

“Don’t go there, son. I may have to show Tony the etchings on the back porch.”

“Ok, you win. How’s your new cook doing, Mom?

“Oh he’s doing just fine. He reminds me of you when you were living here. I think you spent more time in the kitchen than in your bedroom.”

“That’s because the kitchen is always full of love and good things.” That got me a kiss on the cheek and a hug. Tony just smiled, and that was a good thing as well. Maybe kitchens are magical, there’s a lot of love there.