Snowflake

My Christmas present to you dear reader is an abridged version of a story penned by RL Williams which won 1st place in the St. Augustine Record Newspaper (Florida) Holiday Short Story Contest.

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Ten-year-old Becky stood in front of the pet store, looking at the well-groomed puppies and kittens.

“I wonder how much they cost?” she thought, putting her hands in her coat pockets on this cold day before Christmas.

Becky walked in and approached the saleslady.

“I’m looking for a pet for my sister. How much are these?” Becky asked.

 “45 up to 300 dollars,” the saleslady replied.

“I only have nine dollars,” she said sadly.

“I’m sorry. We don’t have anything that inexpensive.” The lady then left to help another customer.

Becky wandered towards the back of the store. Her eyes spotted a lone cage in a corner that housed a frail white puppy.

“Hi little doggie,” Becky said to the almost lifeless animal.

The puppy strained to lift its head, acknowledging Becky’s presence. One ear rose up slightly and its eyes opened halfway.

“Come doggie,” she prompted the puppy. It tried to get up, but immediately fell back.

The saleslady noticed Becky in the back corner and approached.

“How much is this puppy?” Becky asked.

“Oh, you don’t want that one,” the saleslady sighed. “He’s got a bad leg. He wouldn’t make a good pet.”

“But if I wanted to buy him, how much?” Becky asked.

“No honey, he’s not for sale. Now run along dear,” the lady snapped.

“My sister would like that puppy,” Becky said to herself. She left the store, saddened by her empathy for the frail little dog.

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Back home, Becky opened the TV and watched a man and woman talking about ‘getting what you want out of life.’ She turned up the volume and listened.

“Well, Marc, why is it that most people can’t seem to reach their goals or get what they want out of life?” the lady asked.

“Interesting question,” the man replied, “and the answer is primarily because they don’t believe they can achieve what they want to. And those that think they can don’t follow-through on their ideas with action.”

The lady replied, “that sounds simple.”

“It is,” he agreed, “and most people have a good idea of what they should do, but they don’t take action and they easily give up. If it’s important, you will find the time, you will find a way.”

The lady smiled, “OK, Marc, I have something that’s important to me that I feel I must do. What should I do to make it happen?”

Marc answered, “you have got to believe with certainty that it will happen. And then you have to take action, be persistent and don’t give up!”

Becky excitedly hopped up from her chair. She put on her coat and headed back to the pet store.

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Becky entered the store and headed straight to the back corner.

“Hi puppy,” she said happily. “I’m going to get you out of here.”

The little puppy responded with enthusiasm, sensing an air of excitement in Becky’s voice.

The same saleslady approached. “Back again huh. I thought I told you before that this one’s not for sale and …”

Becky interrupted, “excuse me ma’am, but,” she politely said in a raised voice, “what would it take to be able to take this puppy home with me today?”

“I already told you that one’s not for sale,” the saleslady replied.

Undaunted by the rebuff, Becky turned and approached another saleslady. “Excuse me, but I would like to buy that puppy in the corner?”

This saleslady replied, “That one’s not for sale but we have some nice puppies out front …”

Becky interrupted, “but I want that one in the corner. What would it take to get that puppy?”

The saleslady paused a moment and said, “you don’t want that one. It has a bad leg…”

Becky politely but unwaveringly interrupted again, “that doesn’t matter to me. I know my sister would love that puppy. What would it take to buy that puppy TODAY?”

“I’m sorry, but I need to help other customers,” the saleslady said, brushing her off.

The vision of the man on TV saying don’t give up replayed again in Becky’s mind. She looked around for assistance, and spotted an older man, coming out of the storeroom.

“Excuse me, sir,” Becky waved. “I want that puppy over there. I want it as a Christmas present for my sister.”

 “Oh,” the man said, “that little puppy has a bad leg and he wouldn’t make a good pet. He’s not for sale.”

Her enthusiasm dampened, but she remembered the passionate TV spiel about not giving up. “What can I do to make this happen?” she asked herself… Then she had an idea.

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The pet store clock now read 5:45. The hectic day was coming to an end.

The front door opened. Becky hurried in brimming with confidence and proclaimed, “I’m here to buy that little puppy in the back.”

“Like we told you before, you don’t want that one,” the saleslady responded.

Becky’s mom then entered pushing her sister’s wheelchair. All three salespeople converged on Becky, her sister, and her mom.

The older man tried again to explain, “I’m really sorry, but this puppy is not for sale. He has a bad leg, he can’t walk, he can’t jump, he can’t play …” the man paused, looking at Becky’s wheelchair-bound sister suddenly awakened by the reality that confronted him.

Becky’s sister looked at the small frail puppy and said, “I would love to have this one because I know how it feels to have legs that don’t work right. I’ll name him Snowflake because he is a special one-of-a-kind present. I understand Snowflake.”

Everyone stood around looking at each other, realizing that they had just received a Christmas gift in the form of important lessons about life.

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A joyful CHRIST — mas to one and all.

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“What is important in life is not what we possess, but what possesses us.”   —St. Augustine

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