Free Covert Exposure by Valerie J. Clarizio

he didn’t
recognize stood next to her. Was that her child or another foster
child as well?
    Shannon plopped a little boy on Spinelli’s
lap. The enthusiastic little fellow rattled off his wish list
before Santa even had a chance to ask for it.
    Children came and went. With each passing
child, Spinelli felt a bit more comfortable in this new role. It
wasn’t so bad. All he really had to do to make the kids happy was
let out an occasional mighty “Ho, ho, ho” followed by a belly
jiggling laugh, and the kids did the rest.
    The Washington kids drew closer. They were
laughing, all of them, even the foster mom. They seemed happy.
Spinelli wondered if those kids had ever been truly happy in their
short lives. If not, now maybe they stood a chance. The foster mom
crouched down in front of Lesha. Lesha whispered something into her
ear. The woman smiled, kissed her on the cheek, and hugged her
before she stood up again. Lesha reached out and took the woman’s
hand. Darius held Lesha’s other hand. They’d only been in foster
care for a couple of days, yet something already seemed different
about them.
    A few more kids passed by Spinelli. Now it
was the Washington kid’s turn.
    As they approached, Lesha zeroed in on
Shannon. “Hi Ms. O’Hara.”
    Shannon smiled. “Well hello there Le…”
    Spinelli cut her off, “Don’t tell me. Is that
Lesha Washington?”
    Lesha’s eyes widened and she flashed him a
humungous smile. Darius slid behind her.
    “Where did that little brother of yours go?”
Santa asked as he leaned over and peeked around Lesha. He caught
Darius’ gaze. “Come on over here Darius and tell Santa what you
want for Christmas.
    “Go on, go tell Santa what you want,” Lesha
urged her little brother.
    Darius walked up to Santa. Shannon lifted him
up and placed him on Santa’s lap. Spinelli caught and held his
gaze. The fear in Darius’ eyes faded. He smiled and asked for a
fire truck before he slid off Santa’s lap and ran back to his
foster mom.
    Spinelli looked at Lesha. She pointed at the
other little boy with them. “Samuel can go next. He’s been so
excited all day to see you.”
    Was this how it was? Already the little
mother hen at only seven years old. Spinelli’s heart went out to
her. He hoped she would get a childhood, the normal kind, where
kids laugh and play, and where parents take care of their kids and
love them. Something he never knew.
    Samuel darted over to Santa and hopped up
onto his lap and offered his Christmas list. Samuel finished
quickly and scooted back down.
    Spinelli looked at Lesha. She seemed to be
studying him. She shifted her gaze to Shannon. Shannon stepped
toward her, took her hand, and led her to Santa. Spinelli pulled
her up onto his lap. Shannon stood by their side.
    Lesha caught his gaze and held it, her eyes
inquisitive. Did she know who he really was? How could she?
    Spinelli softened his voice, “Well Lesha,
I’ve had my eye you. It seems you’ve had a pretty tough year and
through it all you’ve been a very good girl. And you’ve kept an eye
on your little brother and sister, and took care of them. I’m very
proud of you. Now tell me, what do you want for Christmas?”
    She looked up at him with her big brown eyes.
He decided in this instant that whatever this little girl wanted
she was going to get. He’d run out tomorrow and buy it and make
sure it made under her tree on Christmas morning.
    Lesha brushed his hair back and whispered
into his ear. A lump formed in his throat. He wasn’t sure how to
respond. He glanced at Shannon and caught her curious gaze. He’d
tell her what Lesha asked for later, she’d need to know. He turned
back to Lesha, “I’ll see what I can do, Sweetheart.”
    She kissed him on the cheek and slid off his
lap.
    Spinelli stared after the foster family as
they walked away. He’d give anything to make good on her Christmas
wish; he knew how she felt. He’d been there himself in the
past.
    Four hours later, he wished for