Free Mary’s Son by Darryl Nyznyk Page A

Sarah stepped toward the bed in search of the child’s gift.
    The boy was about six or seven years old, although Sarah couldn’t be sure of his age. His body was so small and tightlywrapped with arms and legs entangled at his chest and stomach that she could not really tell. The boy lay on his side, unable to move. From the corner of his lips a thin stream of spittle leaked onto the bed, and nowhere near the child or his bed could she see a gift.
    Sarah’s heart quickened at the thought that she might help this forlorn child if only she could raise her voice loud enough for Nicholas to hear her. She flushed a bit and then braced to shout.
    “No, that’s not everyone. This boy didn’t get anything.”
    As loud as the room had been just seconds before, such a silence now prevailed. Everyone turned to stare at Sarah and the little boy on the bed before her. Sarah’s first reaction was shock that her words had such an effect. Her stomach jumped for a second as all eyes bored into her, but she stood firm and stared at Nicholas.
    A young boy some ten feet from Sarah stood and glanced at the bed. He turned sharply to Santa and said, “Yeah…Greggy didn’t get nothin’!”
    Nicholas craned his neck and asked, “Gregory didn’t receive a gift?” He then looked around himself and then at the flat cloth sack lying at his feet. He lifted the sack and held it up as he walked slowly through the children and their gifts to stand at Gregory’s bedside across from Sarah.
    “I can’t seem to find anything in here for Gregory. It’s empty.”
    Sarah glanced at the young child on the bed and noticed that he was trying to lift the corner of his mouth in a smile at Nicholas who had crouched next to the bed to be at eye level. For several seconds no one spoke. Nicholas smiled sadly and stroked the young boy’s head. Sarah’s stomach churned at the thought of the one child who needed the most getting nothing. Then suddenly she knew what to do. It was as if she’d been struck with an understanding that had been there all along but only now came forth as the shackles of her self-pity were lifted.
    “Wait,” she said. “Don’t you remember Santa? Your sack was too full.”
    Nicholas looked up at Sarah, who withdrew the Nativity globe from her pocket and extended it toward Gregory. “You asked me to hold this one for you. It was special because it was for a special boy named Gregory.”
    Because the boy couldn’t turn, Sarah reached over him, laid the globe before him, and flipped the switch that produced the beautiful sounds of “Away in a Manger.”
    Children erupted in cheers, and the adults tried to staunch the tears that wouldn’t seem to stop. Gregory smiled as broadly as his condition would permit, and his eyes gleamed in wonder at the beautiful gift.
    Nicholas stood slowly and smiled at Sarah. She returned a smile that revealed the joy she felt from giving and her own realization that Nicholas really was Santa Claus. Nicholas took Sarah’s hand and squeezed it in thanks. He then laid his other hand on Gregory’s head.
    “Lord, help this little one with his infirmity,” he prayed silently.

- 8 -
     
    Dreary daylight drifted toward dusk before Nicholas and Stevens shook hands with Mr. Johnson and his staff to bid them Merry Christmas.
     
    “You’re a miracle man, Mister…Santa,” Mr. Johnson corrected himself.
    “It wasn’t me at all, Mr. Johnson. I am only His tool,” Nicholas answered with a quick glance heavenward. “The real miracles here are being performed by you and your staff.”
    Just outside the great room where the children were starting to put gifts away in preparation for dinner, Stevens turned to Sarah, “Where is your coat, Miss Sarah?”
    A five-year-old girl named Julia walked up behind Sarah with Sarah’s beautiful coat hanging over her small frame and dragging on the floor.
    “Julia liked it so much, I gave it to her,” Sarah answered.
    “Julia, now give it back. Sarah will be cold