far. Dad was stuck in a bar somewhere and would be taking a cab
home, after Mom passed out.
Jerry spent most of his time alone. It was okay with him. He
didn't have to explain anything to anyone. He didn't have friends
over and they never invited him to their house. Sometimes he'd sit
alone in his room and play with his toy soldiers, but mostly he'd just
day dream about what it was li ke to be popular. Maybe not popular,
but, at least, what it'd be like to have one friend.
The holidays were really hard for Jerry and his family. His Mom
and Dad would constantly argue about how much money they didn't
have for Christmas and about how no one would get nothing that
year. Years turned into decades. Jerry couldn't remember one
Christmas where he'd gotten anything at all other than a drunken
mother and a pissed off father.
When he was eight years old he invented a game. He'd put on his
coat on Christmas eve and walk to the rich person's side of town.
He loved the Christmas lights on the houses every year. It was kind
of like walking through a winter wonderland.
A huge house in the middle of the block was his favorite. The
whole yard was decorated with Christmas lights and figurines, but
his favorite thing was the huge picture window in the living room.
The window would be highlighted with Christmas lights, but one of
Jerry's favorite things was to watch
the family gathering happening inside the house.
Children and adults were all over the house, singing Christmas
Carols, playing and reading verses from the Bible. Jerry
remembered the story of Jesus and his birth. He sat on the curb and
looked into the big picture window and pictured his father reading
the story of Jesus and his birth.
They had a beautiful lay out for dinner, ham and all the trimmings.
Jerry's mouth watered as he watched them Thank the Good Lord in
prayer for their meal and chowed down. Afterward he watched them
bring out a Birthday cake and place it on the Children's table. It read
"Happy Birthday Jesus" on the top. They blew out the candles and
cut the cake.
Jerry watched the family traditions unfold until late into the