Gifts of the Magi by; Chris A. (omicrontheta)
The wind rustled around his flimsy coat. Granted Sean was well cared
for but his coat was busy being dried from yesterday’s blizzard. The
temperature had warmed up some in the morning but yet again the snow
started to fall. Flurries. That was all, just flurries. On Main Street
he stood looking bluntly through the double pained glass. There before him
was a watch. It was beautiful. Platinum with the right amount of gold.
The dial was black and had silver arms. Godly it looked. Sean’s eyes
drifted to the price tag in which his bright eyes turned down fast.
$245.00. Such an amount was unthinkable at the age of 15. Such an amount
was $205.00 beyond his reach. He had saved for months for this. Dollar
here, fifty cents there. A teen has to live right. Candy and games
cost a lot. Christmas being 4 days away, he had $40.00 to his name to
spend on his one true love, Jake. Much to his surprise, actually, at the
age of 13 Sean discovered that he fell for boys, not girls. He chalked it
up to a phase. A year later, he settled into that life. He knew it was
for real. Again, much to his surprise he met Jake. Jake, it seemed felt
the same way. As a quirk of fate they met and fell into a deep love.
Bonded. That was seven months ago. This would be their first Christmas
together. Sean wanted it to be special. Very special. He marched into
the store and requested to look at the watch in the storefront window. The
shopkeeper looked suspicious. Who wouldn’t? Teen looks at really
expensive watch. Like he really intends to buy it. Sean carefully
handles the watch. He pays no attention to the dial, more so to the band
itself. Many years ago, Jake owned a watch like this one. It was passed
down and was an unofficial heirloom. Jake was a kid and through the
trials of being one, the band snapped. He hid the watch from then on.
Shame, he didn’t want to face. “Sir, how much would the band itself cost
to fit around my wrist?” Sean and Jake had almost identical builds. When
the hugged neither of them had to crouch yet they both had to crick their
necks to look at most people. Likewise, they were thin. “Why, just the
band? That would be made of platinum with inlaid gold. It would cost
$80.00 to fit your wrist.” This response caused Sean to cringe. “More
than you have boy?” “Just a little.” The shopkeeper leaned in, looked both
ways, and spoke softly. “I’ll tell you what I can do. I can knock off
$5.00, but that is it. I can go no lower.” Sean carefully considered this
offer. How he could get $35.00 was beyond him. “Thanks mister. I don’t
have that, but I’ll see what I can turn up.” This watch has been stared at
and gawked after every time the couple passed this building. It wasn’t the
watch, it was the band. It was so close to the original that is was an
exact replica. Sean sulked out of the door. He had no idea where he would
come up with it. The snow gathered on his coat as he walked. Fate drew
him to look up, there in front of him was a hanging sign. “Pawn Shop.” He
knew what he had to do. He walked into the shop and pulled out his
necklace. Well, it wasn’t really a necklace. More like a charm on dental
string. The charm, however, was the important part. It was passed down
from his grandmother when she died. Sean hated to part with it, but for
the love of his life, he would do anything. He walked into the shop
with a new sense of ambition. He approached the behind the
counter. “What can I help you with man?” the croaked. Without a
voice Sean pulled out the charm and set it on the counter. Sean looked
pleadingly at the wrinkly-faced man. “What can I get,” he squeaked. “hmm,
for a Christmas gift?” “Yea.” “How much you need?” “$35.00. Sean looked
down at his feet.” “Son, look up,” he did so, “I’ll give you that for this
charm.” “Thanks.” Sean accepted the bills and took one last look at his,
no, their charm, and walked out the store. On his way back to the jeweler,
he contemplated his reasoning for doing what he just did. ‘Jake is my
one. He will love this. It is a gift of love.’ That was the only
reasoning he needed. Sean held his head high. He walked out with a box.
That box held the band for the watch. Sean was very happy with his
purchase. Christmas came and Sean stood in front of Jake with his box.
Jake stood with his. “You first,” they said in unison. The both laughed
at that. With a flip of a coin Sean was decided to go first. He handed
Jake his gift. Jake pulled out the band and looked at it with a smile on
his face. That full smile turned to a thin drawn out smile. “You don’t
like it?” Sean asked. “I love it,” Jake said with a smile, “I pawned the
watch to buy your present. Now open it.” Sean, a bit taken aback by this
revelation, opened the box. There was a chain, an expensive chain.
Obviously for his charm. Sean smiled and looked at Jake. “I pawned that
to afford that band.” “Lets set the gifts aside for another day. Let us
celebrate the true gift.” Jake pulled Sean into his arms and hugged him.
“I love you Sean.” Sean’s eyes were misty. “I love you too.” They pulled
back and gently pressed lips together. The true Magi were not the wise but those who love and accept the true gift of love. Simplicity is the
life without blinders. With simplicity, one can see the truth easily.
Sean and Jake saw the truth of their love. Each gave up something precious
to them for the benefit of the other.
http://www.omicrontheta.org Copyright © 2001 omicrontheta, all rights
reserved
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