A Letter to the Giftmaker - Chapter 9

Jo bounced down the street, beckoning his new friends on. His shoes splashed up slush from the sidewalk. He was breathless. Even as the clouds lost the orange tint of sunset for the deep purple of twilight, it seemed brighter out.

"Wait until you see the village square!" His voice leapt and echoed off the houses around them.

"It sounds lovely." Harriet shook her head slightly, as though he were an over-eager child.

Edwin grunted something that vaguely sounded like a bitter great. He followed several paces behind the other two with a vacant look on his face. Hopefully, seeing the lights and shops will lift his spirits after giving up part of his letter.

"What are we going to do in the square?" Harriet rubbed her hands together.

"See the lights!" Jo focused on the corner ahead. They were nearly there.

She chewed on the inside of her cheek. "We should probably find somewhere to eat."

"There's plenty of taverns by the square." Jo chuckled. "You need to relax and have fun."

She furrowed her eyebrows and opened her mouth to argue, but nothing came out. Instead, her eyes widened.

Whitbury square looked like something out of a postcard. Strands of multi-colored lights leapt from light poles to buildings, tracing the gutters and roof lines. A sea of white, red, and green stars twinkled in the twilight.

Warm, golden light spilled from the shop windows onto the sidewalks. Couples and groups of friends strolled along the gray cobblestones that seemed to sparkle almost as much as the lights. Laughter and soft conversation filled the large square with a pleasant, homely life.

Jo pressed his face against the cold glass of a sweet shop. Rows of chocolates laid on in a variety of shapes: squares and circles and blocks, but also teddy bears and boats and kites. Colored glaze had been painted on the shapes to turn them from food into miniature works of art.

"Wow!" Harriet looked up at the lights, spinning slowly.

Even Edwin had the slightest grin on his face.

"What do you think?" Jo beamed a toothy grin. His eyes gleamed with pride. "I did pretty good, huh?"

"It's amazing!"

"It is very nice." Edwin frowned at him. "However, you didn't do anything."

Jo felt a stab in his belly and flinched. "Well, I didn't put the lights up, no. But I showed you it."

"So, you want credit for other people's work?" Edwin asked.

"No, I just..." The conversations around them were muted like he had cotton stuffed in his ear. His lips were dry. He just wanted Edwin and Harriet to be happy after a rough day.

"Let's enjoy the lights," Harriet said, stepping between them. "Regardless of who put them up, we can enjoy them now."

Edwin nodded and turned to look at new woolen coats in a shop window. No doubt his current coat would need to be replaced, once the letter was delivered and he had all that money. Or whatever he had wished for.

"I have an idea!" Jo smiled as an idea hit him. "Since we're friends–"

"We're not friends," Edwin said.

Harriet's eyes darted between Edwin and Jo as if deciding who she wanted to have on her side. Eventually, she simply shrugged.

"Since we're nearly friends–" Jo forced the lonely thoughts away, "–we should buy each other gifts for Christmas!"

"I don't have any money," Edwin said.

"Nor do I," Harriet added.

"Then, maybe just find something? Some shops have small, free gifts." Jo smiled. "Really, it doesn't have to be much. It's the thought that counts."

Before either could shoot down his idea, he strode off down the street. Both Edwin and Harriet were stressed and dealing with a lot. Even if they don't get him anything, he would get them gifts. They were going to be best friends, after all.

Jo stopped outside a stationary shop. In the window was a variety of fancy pens far beyond Jo's salary. But there was a special on offer for a fountain pen. This was perfect! Edwin loved writing letters.

"Welcome!" The shopkeeper was a middle-aged woman in thick spectacles. She quickly looked him up and down. "Looking for a traveling notepad for on the train?"

Jo stepped back, his voice cracking slightly. "I'm not in uniform. How'd you know I worked for the railroad?"

She chuckled. "You have that excited energy of a steward. Now, what can I do for you?"

"I was looking at this." He gestured to the box of fountain pens on sale for five coppers.

"A basic pen, but with a smooth nib and included ink." She smiled. "I'll box it up for an additional copper."

A few minutes later, Jo left the shop with the pen in a black cardboard box. His hands vibrated with excitement. Edwin was going to love this!

Harriet's gift took longer to find. Eventually, he stopped at a stall in the corner of the square. The vendor was selling knit clothing and a pair of navy blue knit gloves caught Jo's attention. Harriet would be out in the cold as a letter carrier. And she didn't seem to have gloves along.

"How much for the gloves?" Jo asked the man.

"Blue ones? Ten copper."

"Oh." He felt his smile melt away. "You couldn't go lower?"

"Ten copper's a steal for quality this good. Ought to charge double."

"I've only got seven on me." He felt in his pockets and pulled out a plain red handkerchief. "What if I included this?"

The vendor felt the fabric. "Cotton, good quality. Probably worth a few coppers."

"So, the handkerchief and seven coppers for the gloves?"

The vendor nodded. Jo handed over the last of his coins. A moment later, the gloves were neatly boxed up and wrapped with a plain blue bow.

"Thanks." Jo took one last longing look at the handkerchief in the vendor's hand before heading off to find his friends.