Merry Xmas?

GRAND OPENING

 

His crying had stopped. Tommy was holding onto his mother's hand. Pointing to Macy's Christmas window, he showed her the three bears playing a toy piano. What they were playing could be heard outside. Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer' tinkled, made Tommy laugh and clap. The too thin Santa standing near the revolving door watched Tommy  and smiled thru his long, fake white beard. Pulling his mother's arm, Tommy didn't ask, but told, his mother he was giving Santa his last Hershey bar. Then sheepishly, lowered his head and added, 'Is that ok, Mom?' Without waiting for her answer, he dropped it on top of some coins and a one dollar bill. Santa spoke to Tommy. 'Thank you, Sonny. Your nose is as red as Rudolph's.' He winked and offered Tommy ½ the Hershey. Tommy refused it and showed Santa the Mounds Bar he had saved for himself.

 

Macy's was holiday busy, wild with customers. Every step on the escalators was filled, until the 4th floor toy department, where all kids dragged their moms. He pulled her past the wagons, bikes, baseball bats, games. As soon as he caught sight of the beautiful black toy piano with the three bears sitting on a bench he yelled louder than anybody. 'Mommy, Mommy, over here.' He reached under the red velvet rope and touched the keys. There was a soft tinkle but the keys didn't move. The bears didn't either. 'Mommy, this one is broke. Don't buy it. I want one like the one in the window.' His Mom ignored him.

 

Tommy had something to say and said it. 'Mom, my friend, Josh, has a real piano in his house. He played a whole song for me by someone named Moses Art. Isn't that a goofy name?' 'Tommy the man you mean is Mozart, M O Z A R T. He was a very famous composer who died a long time ago. 'Mom, I sure would like to play a real piano, not like Mozart but my own way. I love music. Can I have a real one for Christmas? Next year you won't have to buy me anything.' His face got red, angry, when his Mom told him pianos cost too much. That closed the subject.

 

Tommy pulled his mom towards the escalator.' Let's go buy a shirt for Dad.'