Naomi sighed as she watched her toddler sleep. She fished through the box of second hand clothes, picking out the least tattered for her growing child. They may be poor, she told herself, but she�d be damned if Blair knew it. They were barely managing to get by. Welfare barely covered the cost of their little apartment, and the food stamps she received made sure they didn�t starve. Nellie, the plump Mexican lady who lived next door, watched Blair while Naomi worked at the little corner restaurant . Naomi had tried so hard to make the little apartment into a home, but sometimes it was difficult. Blair, fortunately, wasn�t a demanding child. He loved the tattered books, puzzles and toys she brought home from yard sales. She thought of Christmas, even though it was still months away she�d have to save up now to provide a stocking for her sweet little boy. Maybe she could find another little job somewhere. Something to get a few trinkets for her son.
He would be getting up soon, she realized. He loved to catch the early morning TV shows. She poured him a bowl of cereal and sat out a cup of milk for him. She shook the empty box, grateful she still had enough food stamps left to get another box. She started to throw the box away then something caught her eye. She read the box, a smile finally lighting her face as a plan formed in her mind.
Christmas Morning:
Blair�s eyes glowed as he saw the stack of presents from Santa. Naomi grinned, glad the little church down the road had offered to help out the children in their housing project. True, most of the packages held needed clothing, and even a warm winter coat, but Blair didn�t care. All he knew was Santa hadn�t forgotten him. He manically ripped open his gifts, trying on the warm flannel shirts and new blue jeans. A lady at the library had given him several new books. Then his eyes lit of the large red stocking hanging by the window. He reached for it.
�Mama, look.� he squealed as he dumped it on the floor. Dozens of little toys spilled out and Blair dug in happily.
Naomi grinned. It had been worth months of cereal breakfasts and fast food lunches. Definitely worth the numerous box-top cuttings and mailings for the little premiums. Blair would never know that all the fast food toys and other little giveaways weren�t from Santa, but instead from a mother who loved him more than anything in the world.
