A Tradit.Christmas
One Christmas in a small town called Harrington lived a small family named the Smiths. They owned a petite little house on the outskirts of town. Kyle J. Smith was an owner of a local McDonald's restaurant.
The exterior of the house was nothing much to look at but inside was the utmost modern house. Equipped with microwave, extra spaced refrigerator, complete home entertainment system, automatic recliners for each member and multi-lined telephone system with answering capability the Smiths found the house made life easy and smooth.
Although their family consisted of only four members the extended family was enormous, more than a hundred and fifty people. Each year they would pick out of a hat to find who would host each holiday. It had become quite a contest between the families to outdo the others.
Last Halloween Kyle's brother had hired a band of over thirty professional members and a full cast of performers to act out ''The phantom of the Opera'' on the stage of the most expensive openstage theater in the state.
As Kyle's name was picked from the hat for the Christmas celebration he silently leaped in anticipation. He had been saving all year for this and as luck held he was not chosen for any other holiday.
He had saved roughly five thousand dollars and he was going to throw the largest bash in history.
The first day after the drawing, The first of December, Kyle J. smith was ready for some serious shopping.
That day he went to the bank and withdrew his savings. He had always loved raw cash and he felt powerful with fifty one hundred dollar bills folded in his back pocket. He raced home and rounded up the family announcing the beginning of a legendary project.
To start off he took one of the fresh bills and put the rest in his safe. Then once everyone was in the car he drove to the best ice cream parlor to think of the best ideas over all you can eat ice cream buffet.
After brainstorming and sickening themselves they picked up the fifty dollar tab with Kyle's hundred and sat back in their Lincoln Towne Car and to watch the Oprah Whinfrey Show.
At their humble home they stretched as they emerged from the luxury car and tromped up to the house.
As the lock clicked open and Kyle swung the door inward he could tell something was wrong.
When the door had finished it's sweep open Kyle stood with wide eyes. As the rest of the family followed up soft gasps escaped their sticky lips. The entire room was bare. All of their overstuffed chairs and couches, gone.
As the surprised lot stumbled through the house observing all of their loss not a tear was shed. But as the reality of the dastardly event crept upon them, mother Hilary Smith broke into tears and fell sobbing to the soft light green carpet, the only thing left in their possession.
As the invisible devastating wave of despair swept over the others they also collapsed upon the floor. Kyle almost fainted. In despair, he stumbled to his room and to the safe, which to his relief was sealed.
But after he had flicked the dial and opened the thick door he gaped with dead eyes at the empty room inside. A small hole penetrated the alloy safe above and to the right of the dial.
There was a small note that read 'Thanks for the cash!'
No! How could this happen? Thoughts of unbelieving raced through his mind.
Later that day he was talking to the police describing all of the things stolen.
There were no suspects, there were no witnesses, there were no clues. Who ever did this was obviously an expert. Over one hundred thousand dollars of merchandise moved in less than an hour.
As the police worked on the case Kyle called his brother Jim who lived in the same town. Jim was incredulous there was no way he was going to believe it. But when Kyle broke down in tears Jim began to wonder.
Jim called everyone else and reported Kyle's incident. All of the family was very concerned and chipped to get a hotel room in town for the poor family through the end of year.
The world buzzed by and before they knew it Christmas Eve was on top of them.
They went to bed in their soft hotel rooms wondering if the magic of Christmas would come unassisted.
The next morning brought next to nothing but a Christmas breakfast furnished by the hotel.
But after breakfast came a subtle gloom of hopelessness.
Then Jim shyly opened the door. They were surprised to see him. Jim led them out of the hotel and to a waiting VW Bug. They were driven in the car to their house and stopped. The cold windows were vacant and empty. They came to the door where Jim handed Kyle a bright shiny key.
Kyle was dying of curiosity as he turned the key. The entire family stepped into the dark room at once and when the lights came on a welcome sight met their eyes. There were chairs and furniture. A homely arrangement lay before them.
It was a dream come true. And to make the sight complete came their entire family, hiding in the other room.
As they crowded in they all burst into tears of joy and love. They all came through, hugging and kissing on the cheek as they passed.
The relatives escorted the surprised but happy family into the soft new couches and chairs.
Jim related the story to Kyle with all of the others adding comments here and there. Jim had called all of the family together to decide what to do. Jim suggested giving their Christmas present money to refurnishing Kyle's house.
They had voted and from unanimous vote from children and adult decided to do it they had given a total of about thirty thousand dollars from everyone.
They had spent everything and had close to no money left. But they were happy. They were together for the Christmas. The love and happy thoughts swelled that day.
Since they had no food to eat Kyle invited them all to a Christmas at his McDonald's.
All in all it was the most traditional Christmas.
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