Previous Challenge Entry (Level 4 – Masters)
Topic: WORTHY (11/29/24)
-
TITLE: Sidney's Socks | Previous Challenge Entry
By Jack Taylor
12/04/24 -
LEAVE COMMENT ON ARTICLE
SEND A PRIVATE COMMENT
ADD TO MY FAVORITES
His tiger-striped feline sidekick, Mugglewort, rubbed up against his leg looking for attention. Sidney crouched to scrunch the furball into his arms, stroking it until the purr-mobile was on revving. “There, there, Mugglewort,” he whispered, “three more sleeps. They’ll be surprised that the worst kid can make a difference.”
Mugglewort wiggled until Sidney released the feline to curl up on the windowsill again. Sidney took a big whiff of luxury into his nostrils: chocolate chip cookies and hot chocolate with marshmallows. The plan was almost ready.
The next morning Sidney snuggled up under the tree with Mugglewort, listening to Christmas carols as the lights above brought out the sparkle on tinsel and ornament alike. Six little angels hung in place, one for each year of his life. The newest angel always took the worthy place at the pinnacle of the fir.
The cat batted at the tinsel on the lower branches. “It’s a sure thing that you’ll never take your place on a tree top,” he said. “You and me; we’re doomed to hide away under the bottom branches where they keep the coal.” He poked at the lone present. “At least we’re getting something this year. Mom went down to Toy Mountain at the department store and they agreed that we were unworthy enough to get something.”
The day sped by as Sidney busied himself getting ready for the big day. Mysterious bags came and went as he scoured the alleys while his mom was away at work. Mugglewort followed him for a short while until he got distracted by a mouse running across in front of them. When they reunited later, Sidney confided in his pet. “It sure would be nice to have a wagon to haul all this stuff. Maybe one day I’ll be worthy enough to get one.”
With one sleep left to go, Sidney hauled all his bottles, cans, and containers to the recycle depot and cashed in his treasures. He left Mugglewort at home while walking to the department store. The kind lady took his coins and traded them for the socks he asked for. “Are these for your dad?” she asked.
He shook his head. “No! I don’t have a dad. I saw campers under the bridge and thought they might be cold. I’m giving them socks to let them know that Jesus hasn’t forgotten them.”
He couldn’t tell why tears were in the woman’s eyes or why she filled up an even bigger bag with more socks. “That’s a very worthy thing to do,” she said. “I wish I had a son like you.”
Sidney relayed the whole adventure to Mugglewort as he wrapped up the socks in discarded newspaper. “I hope they like these,” he said.
On the morning of the big day, his mom went to work as usual. “Try and stay out of trouble,” she yelled before the door slammed.
Sidney got up, brushed his teeth, put on his best pair of jeans; the pair with only one rip in the knee, and set to work. One cookie in a bag joined with two pairs of socks. He put these in the discarded backpack he had found. The chocolate went into a jug. He borrowed the paper cups his mom kept in the cupboard. It took longer than he thought to hike to the bridge and the sun was already disappearing.
He found the tents right where he had seen them. Five men and two women huddled around a barrel with a fire in it, warming their hands and stamping their feet. “What do you want, kid?” one old man asked.
He set down the backpack and pulled out his packages. “Jesus wants you to know that he loves you and hasn’t forgotten you on his birthday,” Sidney said. “He thinks you are worthy enough to be loved.”
The seven gathered around him and accepted their gifts. A man and a woman had tears like the lady in the department store. “I have one extra in case you have a friend who doesn’t have anything,” he said.
He got more hugs that day than he’d gotten all year. It was the best Christmas ever and Mugglewort got to hear every part. “Jesus would be happy we found worthy people to celebrate his birthday.”
The opinions expressed by authors may not necessarily reflect the opinion of FaithWriters.com.
Accept Jesus as Your Lord and Savior Right Now - CLICK HERE
JOIN US at FaithWriters for Free. Grow as a Writer and Spread the Gospel.
I love how you showed - rather than told - his poorness, the lack of affection from his too busy mother, and his joy of giving.
Keep up the wonderful writing you do. I enjoy reading your work.