Chapter 5
About two and half weeks before Christmas, Mara and Cooper came home from school and on the door was a beautiful Christmas wreath. It was made of evergreen with pinecones and had a velvety red bow. It looked expensive. Had her mom gone crazy?
“Where’d that come from?” Cooper exclaimed. “This is our apartment right?”
“Yes,” Mara replied, “This is definitely ours. See the number?”
When she unlocked the door there was a folded piece of green paper on the floor. It had obviously been slipped under the door. It said:
Luke 2:10 And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.
Christmas is coming! Be of good cheer!
God has not forgotten you. His love is near.
This wreath is a symbol of his unending love.
He is loving your sweet family from his throne above.
Merry Christmas from Your Secret Friend.
Mara looked outside the door. She checked the stairs up and down. No one was there. It was a mystery. Their mother was here, but she was still asleep. They knew better than to wake her. Night shifts reduced their optimistic mother to a grumpy mess. Having to leave extra early to get the bus because the car was still in the shop didn’t help at all. When she finally emerged the two of them showed her the wreath and the note and then barraged her with questions: Had she heard anything? Did she know who did it? Who could it be? Was someone stalking them? Was this creepy or cool? What was going on?
Their mom held up her hands in surrender. “Didn’t hear a thing. You know I sleep like the dead. I have no idea who it could be. Do you think they have the right apartment? Maybe it is meant for someone else?”
Mara and Cooper thought about that.
“Yeah,” Mara nodded, “That makes the most sense. It was probably meant for someone else.” She felt deflated inside. For brief time her family had been specially chosen. Now they were an accident.
“What do we do about it?” asked Mara.
“Finders, keepers,” shouted Cooper. “They put it on our door and now it’s ours.”
Their mom shrugged. “I think we should leave it there, but not be surprised if it’s gone tomorrow.”
Cooper and Mara gave each other a sour look. It had been an exciting afternoon though.
The next day they had hurried from the bus to see if it was still there. It was. Strange. That night they were eating dinner silently around the table because their mom was too tired for speaking or cook. Dinner was a box pasta mix that you added hamburger and a meal. It was never quite enough even though it was supposed to feed a family of four. Mara and Cooper were subdued. Eleven days till their crappy Christmas, Mara thought. There was a knock at the door. The three of them stared at each other startled. Who would knock on their door?
“Go see who it is, Mara,” their mom directed.
When she opened the door there was no one there, but on the mat was a small gift bag. She looked around. It was quiet.
“Who is Mara?” called her mom.
Mara scooped up the bag, “No one there. Just a present.” She brought it to the table. Cooper said, “I want to open it! Let me open it.”
“It can’t be for us,” their mom started, “It must be a mistake.”
There was a tag on the gift: To the Munroe Family.
“It has our name on it.”
Cooper was hopping up and down with impatience. “Let me open it!”
Their mom shrugged, “Open it.”
Inside was a CD with Christmas music and another letter. It said:
Matthew 2:10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy.
Are you wondering what is happening? Don’t be afraid, but like the wise man rejoice! You are precious to God. This day 2 of Christmas surprises. There are more to come! We want to remain a secret, but we promise you no harm. We just want to show you God’s love.
Merry Christmas, Munroes
Your Secret Friend
PS. I had to give up on the rhyming. It’s too hard.
The CD was one of Christmas music by “Christian Artists.” The three of them looked at each other unsure what to say.
Their mom recovered first. “Well,” she said is a forced cheery voice, “It will be festive for Christmas--even if it is Christian.” She looked at the back of the CD. “I think I know some of these songs.”
Cooper got in the spirit, “Let’s play it now!” He tore off to get the CD player. It was an old boom box that used to belong to their dad. He wrestled the CD open and put it in the player. The music spilled out. They sat back down to finish their dinner. Mara didn’t realize how silent their home had become.
After a few songs their mom asked Mara, “What do you think?”
“It’s not terrible,” Mara conceded. Her mind was working on who was doing this. The only Christian person she knew was Boaz, but he didn’t seem to have the extra money to afford the wreath and the CD. Who else could it be though?
Their mom left for work after giving them a both a kiss. She gave them the usual instructions, “Don’t open the door to anyone. Be sure to lock it and bolt it. Don’t play with the stove or matches or the iron. Get along and don’t fight.”
“You tell us the same thing every night, mom,” Mara said with typical teenage disdain. “Do you think we’re stupid?”
“No, I don’t think you’re stupid, Mara,” their mom gave a little sigh, “I just need to. I just want to know you’re safe.” Her eyes had more lines around them then Mara remembered. Her voice sounded lower than it had been. Mara felt a twinge of compassion for her mother having to work so hard.
“I’ll be sure to lock the door and not pick on Cooper,” Mara promised.
“I’ll try not to get mad at Mara if she gets too bossy,” Cooper said earnestly.
Their mom smiled, “Thank you, Cooper.” She hugged and gave Mara a wink. “See you two tomorrow.”
Later when Cooper and Mara were brushing their teeth, Cooper said through toothpaste slush, “What do you think we’ll get tomorrow?”
Mara shrugged, “I don’t know.”
“I hope they bring us something for Christmas. I don’t think Mom has any money.”
“Were you going to get her a present?”
Cooper spit into the sink. “I don’t have much money either. Could I get a job?”
“I don’t think people are allowed to hire 10 year olds.”
“Yeah.” Cooper shoulders slumped. Then he perked up, “Maybe I’ll pray for a job.”
“What? Since when do you pray?”
“My friend Micah’s family prays before they eat. Every meal. Even breakfast. His mom prays for him before he leaves for school. If I’m there she prays for me too.”
“Micah? I thought your friend’s name was Mark.”
“No, it’s Micah,” Cooper replied, “It’s from the Bible. I told you.”
“Okay. I believe you.” Mara spit into the sink and asked, “What does she pray?”
“She prays that God will protect me and help me do well in school. I like it.” He spit into the sink or tried to. It was more like spraying toothpaste in the direction of the sink.
Mara wiped down the sink with tissue to get rid of the remnants of toothpaste. “Do you think they’re the ones doing the presents?’
Cooper blinked in surprise. “Maybe. I don’t know. The note said they wanted to stay a secret. If we figure it out they might not do it anymore.”
Mara nodded. Her brother surprised her occasionally with his way of looking at things.
“How long do you think it will go on. The presents?” he asked.
“I don’t know, Cooper. Maybe till Christmas day. What’s the date? December 14th?”
“I think that’s what the teacher wrote on the board today.”
“So it started yesterday on the 13th. It could be like the 12 days of Christmas. Then the last day would be the 24th.”
“Twelve days. That makes sense,” he paused. “Mara.”
Mara was standing by the sink thinking about who it could be and how long the gifts would come and what they might bring.
“Mara,” Cooper repeated shaking Mara out of her head.
“What?”
“I need to pee. Can you go out?”
Mara looked at her brother’s serious face. The intensity of his look made her smile.
“Yes, I’ll go out. Good night, Cooper.”
“Maybe I’ll ask Micah’s mother to pray about Christmas money for a present for mom. She’s had lots of practice. Good night, Mara.”
The next few days brought several gifts. There was a little fake Christmas tree with built in lights. It came about to Mara’s waist. They brought it in and set it on the table.
“It needs something,” said their mom. She got out some tinfoil and scissors. The three of them spent the short time before their mom left for work making stars. They hung them on the little tree with dental floss. They plugged it in and Cooper turned out all the lights. The tinfoil stars twinkled in the white light of the tree. It was magical. The three of them had small smiles on their faces delighting in what they had created.
“Where did you learn to make those?” Mara asked her mom.
“Dad and I made them for out first tree.”
They next night the gift was a DVD called “The Christmas Story.”
“It’s going to be about Mary and Joseph,” lamented Cooper, “with angels singing.”
But it wasn’t. It was about a boy who really wanted a bb gun for Christmas. It was so funny. Their mom was surprised that they hadn’t seen it before. She told them it was their dad’s favorite Christmas movie. She told them about their first Christmas together. She was pregnant with Mara and they lived in a tiny apartment above a pizza place called Little Slice of Heaven. The smell of pizza made her feel nauseous some of the time and super hungry at other times. Her dad never knew which wife he would find at home. He started carrying around little candy canes in his pocket to give her because that helped with the nausea and the hunger. Mara had never heard that story before. She felt simultaneously happy and sad about her dad. She missed him. She had a secret hope that some how the Christmas gifts were from him. She liked to pretend that they were.
The next day was Saturday. Usually they went to the library to let their mother have quiet to sleep, but they both were reluctant to go because they were anticipating the present. About 10AM there was a quiet knock on the door. Mara looked through the peep hole. It was a lady about her mother’s age. She was little rounded with straight brown hair. Her hands were held carefully in front of her. They were white and dimpled. She seemed harmless if a little nervous. Mara cautiously opened the door a crack.
“Yes?”
“Are you Mara?” her voice was soft and shy.
“Yes,” Mara wasn’t sure what was going on. Was she in trouble?
“I’m Micah’s mom, Christina. Cooper said that you two were looking to make some money for Christmas and . . .” she seemed unsure how to continue.
Cooper popped out from behind the door. “Hi, Miss Christina. What are you doing here? Did you bring a present?”
“Cooper,” Mara hissed. She turned to Miss Christina, “Would you like to come in? We have to be quiet because my mother’s asleep. She works the night shift at a diner.”
“Yes, Cooper told me. Yes. Yes, I would like to come in.”
She was soon seated on the brown and tan nubby couch. It came with the furnished apartment and was designed for durability not beauty or comfort. Cooper was beside her and Mara sat in the matching chair.
Miss Christina tried again to say why she came. “I was thinking about Cooper asking me to pray for a job for him and I had an idea. I asked around to see if anyone needed a little help getting ready for holidays or getting some housework done. And several neighbors were interested,” She tugged on her fingers as she spoke. It was a nervous move. Mara got the feeling this was scary for her. “It wouldn’t be charity,” she assured them waving her hands in the surrender position. “You would work and they would pay you. They can’t pay much. I would help be a go between so that everyone felt safe. You probably need to talk to your mom.” She stopped talking all at once and searched their faces. “What do you think?”
Cooper and Mara looked at one another. Mara shrugged her ascent. Cooper jumped from the couch and shouted, “Yes! When do we start?”
Miss Christina’s forehead crinkled. A little line appeared between her eyes. “Don’t you need to ask your mom first? Wouldn’t she be worried?”
“It’s for her Christmas present,” Cooper explained, “We want her to be surprised.”
“Oh. Yes. I see.” She was back to tugging on her fingers. “She wouldn’t be worried?”
“She works nights and needs to sleep during the day,” said Mara, “She wants us to be safe, but she trusts us to not get into trouble. I think she won’t mind.”
Miss Christina gazed at the ceiling as she considered. “All right. I would want you tell me when you’re working for someone so that if something happens I can help. You could leave your mother a note perhaps saying that you’re at my apartment. That way she can find you if she needs to. What do you think of that?”
Again Cooper and Mara exchanged glances. It was strange to have a grown-up they barely knew so concerned about them. “That sounds like a good idea, Miss Christina,” Mara replied.
The plump woman looked visible relieved. She broke out in a big smile. It erased the line between her eyes. “Do you want to get started today? I told some of the neighbors you might could work some today.”
“Yes!” Cooper shouted.
“Cooper,” Mara hissed, “Mom’s sleeping.”
“Oh, right,” he whispered. “Yes,” he whispered fiercely.
They got their jackets and returned to Miss Christina’s apartment. Cooper was so excited to get started that he barely spoke to his friend Micah.
“Steve, this is Cooper’s sister, Mara. This is my husband, Steve.” He was at a desk in the living room typing on a computer.
“Hey,” he said with a wave then returned to the screen. Besides Micah there was a little dark haired girl about five or so. She was sucking her thumb and watching them. Her eyes were strangely shaped. It dawned on Mara that this little girl had Downs Syndrome. She must have decided Mara was all right because she brought a book for her to read. Her gait was awkward. Her body seemed unsure of what it was doing. She climbed up into Mara’s lap, while Miss Christina called to check and make sure her neighbors was ready for them to come.
“This is Esther,” Miss Christina said to Mara as she dialed. “Esther ask before you get in someone’s lap.” Esther blinked solemnly at her mother. Then she climbed down and got another book for Mara to read to her. The first one had been about a dog family having another puppy. Flaps needed to be lifted to reveal hidden toys. The next book was about potty training. How great it was to use the potty.
“I wear panties some times,” Esther confided to Mara speaking around her thumb, “They have princesses on them.
Unsure what to say Mara answered, “That sounds fun.”
“Princesses don’t like pee-pee on them.”
Mara nodded.
“If you pee-pee on the princess you have to wear diapers again. Like a baby.”
All this talk of peeing was making Mara have to go.
“Can I use your bathroom?” she asked Esther because everyone else was busy.
Esther gave her a contemplative look, “Do you have princess panties on?”
“No. No, just regular ones,” Mara replied.
“Okay. Come on,” Esther grabbed her hand and dragged her to the bathroom.
“Thanks, Esther,” Mara said as she shut the door.
“Do you need help?” Esther chimed, “Sometimes I need help.”
“I’m ok. Thanks,” she said as she shut the door. Breathing sounds were coming from the other side of the door. “I’ll be out in minute.” She still heard the breathing. “Why don’t you go pick out another book?” She called through the door. There was a pause then she heard retreating footsteps. Mara quickly did what she needed to and by the time Esther was back she was washing her hands.
“Mommy was looking for you. I told her you were going pee-pee and that you didn’t have princess panties.”
Terrific, thought Mara, Everyone knows my bladder status and my underwear choice.
In the kitchen Cooper was consulting with Miss Christina. She had a list of different people that wanted help and their apartment numbers.
“Now around lunch time, you two come back here. We’re having soup and sandwiches and there is plenty for you both. That will save you time from having to make some yourself.”
Esther came over to Mara leaned against her leg and held her hand. “Can I go with Mara?”
“May I go with Mara?” her mother corrected, “I need you to help me here, but Mara will be back for lunch and you may see her then.” Miss Christina turned toward Mara, “If that’s ok with you?”
“Yes. That’d be really nice,” Mara was a bit overwhelmed by all the kindness and care. “Thank you.” She gave Cooper a little nudge.
“Thank you,” he said. “Let’s go, Mara.”
The two of them spent the next several hours walking dogs, putting up Christmas decorations, helping organizing closets, cleaning bathrooms for elderly residents. Most of the jobs were completed in less than half an hour. The “clients” usually paid them around $5 for them to split. By lunch time they had made $22.50. It was the most money they’d seen in a while.
They returned for lunch at the Brantly’s apartment. They all sat around the little table. Before they ate, the dad prayed for the food and for Mara and Cooper-that God would bless their work. When their grandparents prayed it was mostly for them to be good. The beef vegetable soup was homemade. It was delicious. Cooper and Mara each had two bowls. Their mom didn’t have much time for cooking. She tended to make quick food: sandwiches, box mac and cheese, a lot of things from boxes. It was all she had time or energy for.
After lunch Mara read a few more stories to Esther while Cooper and Micah played a video game. The little apartment seemed brighter and to have more color than Mara and Cooper’s. It was on the outside of the building and Mara and Cooper’s faced inward to courtyard. Mara’s throat grew tight as she watched Steve give Miss Christina a quick kiss and say, “Great lunch, honey.” Mara focused on the book in front of her where a bear was trying to make cookies, but kept eating the dough and then couldn’t figure out why there were so few cookies.
“There is one more job if you two feel up to it,” Miss Christina said after she had finished the kitchen. “It is for Mrs. Anders. She lives in 338. She wants her car washed. It’s pretty cold out. I think it’s 45 degrees. She knows it might not work out for today.”
“We’ll be okay,” Mara assured her. She turned to her brother, “Cooper, are you ready?” Mara asked.
His eyes were flicking back and forth as he manipulated his character. “Yeah, almost.” His voice had the detached sound of someone absorbed by electronics. Mara and Miss Christina exchanged a knowing smile.
“You can come back and continue playing after your job is finished.”
Cooper blinked and woke up out of his gaming stupor. “Yeah!” he enthused, “Don’t play till I get back. Okay, Micah?”
“It’s Esther turn with the TV now anyways,” said Miss Christina.
“Princess movie, princess movie,” Esther started chanting.
Micah groaned, “I think I’ll go build with Legos.”
“Thanks again for lunch,” Mara said, “and for everything. Thanks.”
Miss Christina gave her shoulders a quick squeeze.
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