A Christmas Gift

By Cafar

“Heyes, I’m going out. Heyes!! I’m going out!”

“Huh? What?”

I was nicely settled in Silky’s library reading - The Prince and the Pauper – interesting plot - poor boy pretending to be a rich boy and a rich boy pretending to be a poor boy. Twain sure has a lot of imagination.  Kid, however, was starting to feel hemmed in – I could read the signs, so I guess I’m about to hear what he is thinking.

“I’m going out.”

“Okay, Kid I hear you.  Where are you going?”

“Don’t know Heyes, just tired of being inside these last few days.”

“All right…are you going to be back for dinner?  You should let Mrs. Carlin know so she can plan. “

“Not sure, I’ll tell her not to plan on me. I think I may just grab something to eat at a restaurant, but I’ll let Ellen know it has nothing to do with her cooking.  She is a great cook.”

I smiled. “Yea I think she knows you appreciate her.”

###########################

We were at Silky’s for Christmas.  Just happened that we actually had some cash – delivery jobs for two big shot ranchers in north Colorado who were working on some kind of joint project about transporting their beef north.  There was a lot of paperwork involved, and their lawyers paid well for the back-and-forth delivery.  I decided we should telegraph Soapy and invite ourselves for the holiday.  I wanted to spend some time in a place we were least likely to have to saddled up and avoid a posse.  Guess I never really asked Kid how he felt about it, but he didn’t seem to mind, at least at first.  He and Silky had an iffy relationship, at least on Kid’s end.  He is convinced Silky doesn’t like him - not sure why.  I need to have a conversation with Silky on that subject.

Ellen and Barney Carlin had been with Silky for at least 15 years, Ellen as housekeeper and cook and Barney as general handy man taking care of the property. Ellen lost Barney about two years ago, so she has almost become a daughter to Silky taking care of him and the house.                                                      

“Heyes, I know you’re happy to be here and I’m kinda happy too.  Having a Christmas without worrying about being chased…well it’s been a long time since we had a real Christmas but I’m still not sure Silky is happy I’m here.”

“Kid, you need to get over that.  Silky doesn’t like guns but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t like you.”

“Ain’t I just a gun?”

Sometimes…”Come on Kid, you’re talking to me.”

“I know, didn’t mean you. That’s just the impression I get from Silky….”

Sigh. Yep. I definitely need to talk with Silky.

“Ok, go out, Christmas is two days away.  I know you can find an great gift for me in the shops in town.”

“Yea, well not sure you’ve been a good boy this year, but I’ll consider it.”

##########################

Kid had been gone for a couple of hours when Silky walked into the library for a brandy. He poured us each a drink, then sat down in his big leather chair near the fireplace where I was still reading that book.

“Ellen told me Kid wouldn’t be here for dinner?”

“Yea Silky, he sometimes needs to get out in nature, which I’m sure he’ll not find in the streets of San Francisco and tomorrow he’ll complain that his dinner wasn’t as delicious as he would have here.

Silky uttered his high-pitched chuckle. “You read that boy as well as you read that book.”

I smiled, then closed the book and leaned forward in my chair. “Silky we need to talk…, Kid thinks you don’t like him, that you just see him as a gunny..”

“Well not sure I’d say he’s a gunny, but he never            seems to have that gun off.  You know how I feel about guns, and you know what I really think of the Kid. I just don’t like him wearing the gun in the house.”

“He wears the gun cuz he feels he has to be on the mark to protect me and anyone he cares about. He’s on the watch twenty-four hours a day, every day.”

“Um, given the situation the two of you are in, I suppose I can understand that. I’ll talk with him.”

##########################

It was kinda unusual weather for the time I’ve spent in San Francisco, not terribly foggy or wet, and not much breeze off the ocean. Christmas in the city is  magical with all the stores decorated.  There’s a place called Union Square where a tree is up and decorated. Never saw one so pretty.  I was enjoying the walk.  I did take the time to look for Christmas gifts.  Han was easy   - a book….; Ellen a pair of really nice gloves.  Silky those expensive cigars he enjoys that put me back almost two dollars apiece. Was leaving the smoke shop when I heard what sounded like the sobs of a child that no one was consoling. I followed the sounds into the alley and found the child, maybe six or seven years old. He was huddled in a corner behind a dumpster and when he saw me, he cowered and I could see the fear in his eyes.

“Hey, what’s wrong?”

“Nothing, I’m just waiting for my pa…”

“It’s okay... I’m not going to hurt you. I want to help you. What’s your name?”

“Are you gonna help me?”

“I’m gonna try. Can I sit down beside you?”

He looked at me hard then shrugged his shoulders. “Okay.”

I crouched down so we were at eye level and stayed quiet for a spell, waiting for it to soak in that I wasn’t some kind of threat.

“My Pa gave me a letter.”

“He did?  What did he want you to do with the letter?”

The boy reached into his tattered coat pocket where he had stored the letter for safekeeping. Very slowly and very cautiously, he held it out to me.

“He told me to give it to the person who stopped to help me?”

I opened a wrinkled, stained envelope with one sheet inside.

My wife died 3 months ago – pneumonia, I’m about to die – pneumonia.  Please, please take care of my child.  His name is Matthew.

Please take care of my child!! Wait, leave your child to chance!  Why not take him to a church or a hospital or even an orphanage?  I know there are good ones, and not all are like the horror Heyes and I experienced!! Then, the man was ill - did he even know what he was doing? 

“Matthew. That’s a strong name… for a strong boy. I think your folks were right to name you Matthew.”

A glint of trust appeared in those eyes

“Do you remember when your Ma was sick?”

“Yea, she was really sick, went to heaven.”

“Your Pa got sick too, do you know what that means?

“Is he with my Ma?”

“Yes, I believe he is”

His eyes filled with tears, and the sobs shook his little body.  Then he wiped his nose with the sleeve of his coat and straightened himself up and sniffled a few times. “I’ll be okay mister. Thanks for reading Pa’s letter.”

A little Heyes….Heyes was always trying to be the stoic one.

“My name’s Thaddeus and I’m staying with some friends just a few blocks from here. I can take you there and I promise you’ll be warm and well fed for the night. Would you like that?”

“I…I guess so.”

With that said we both stood up and I felt a pang of relief when he slipped his hand in mine for the walk back to Silky’s.

#######################

“Han, is dinner over?”

“Welcome back. Yep, we had dinner about 2 hours ago…How’s was your time in the city?”

“Well, I need to talk with you.”

I looked across the room at Kid just as a young, timid boy stepped out from behind my towering partner. A hesitant but knowing sigh. Jed always did have a penchant for bringing home stray dogs or cats. I guess he just upped the ante.

A flurry of activity, Ellen hovering over the child, Silky standing back but concerned and Jed looking at me like well, what else could I do?

#######################

We got Matthew settled in; Ellen was in her element and Matthew was being well fed. I think the boy’s appetite riveled that of the Kid, and that’s saying something.

I saw Silky motion to Kid and lead him into the library. Would have loved to listen to that conversation. I stayed in the dining room to keep an eye on the boy.

“I’ve got a couple of things to discuss with you…”

“I’m sorry Silky but I couldn’t just leave that child alone in the streets…”

“That boy ain’t my main concern right now. You are.”

“I am? Why?”

“Kid, I’ve been told you’re not sure I like you and that you’re of the opinion that I just think of you as a gunny.

“Well, I know you don’t like guns and so ….”

“I don’t like guns, will never have one but I’ve been educated on your need to have one at the ready.  I’m hoping that you will find a time when you can relax at my home without needing to have a gun strapped to you. I want you to feel home here and comfortable.”

“Well, I need to make sure that my family – Heyes- is okay, even in what seems to be a safe place.”

“Understand, just wanted to make sure that you feel as welcome here as Heyes and that you think of the folks here as your family.

“Thanks, Silky.

“Now, the subject of that young urchin.”

“Orphan Silky, not urchin.”

“You sure he’s an orphan?”

“He’s got a letter on him explainin’ his situation. I’m sure he’s an orphan.”

“Well, there’s ways of improving that situation. He does have a way of charming the snakes.”

“Snakes?”

“The adults in this house.”

Silky came out of the library and looked my way with a wink and a smile.  Kid followed looking content. Conversation seems to have gone well.

#######################     

Christmas Eve…unexpected shopping for a 7-year-old, finishing the tree, which Matthew was astonished with and then the direction…Santa doesn’t come till you’re asleep.  Sad thing was that Matthew knew nothing of this and if we hadn’t done anything he would never have known.

“Heyes, Ellen is going to Midnight Mass, thought I’d tag along, how about you?”

Midnight Mass, Christmas at home with family, a painful memory but maybe time to replace it with a joyful memory.

“Good idea Kid, let’s go”

#######################

Santa did stop by and Matthew was excited and a little overwhelmed with the presents under the massive tree.  At first, he didn’t seem to realize that some of those packages were for him, but he caught on pretty quick.  Winning toy seemed to be the hobby horse Silky had come up with.  Don’t know how he got one so fast, but there it was.  I looked at Kid and smiled.  He was having as much fun as Matthew.  He also had taken his gun belt off. Silky noticed right away and he draped his arm about Kid’s shoulders and gave him a smile and a nod.

By midafternoon all the excitement had tired the boy. Silky had settled into an overstuffed and oversized chair near the fireplace and Matthew climbed into a bit of free space between Silky and the armrest, then closed his eyes and slept with his head resting against Silky’s shoulder. Good to see Mathew had already figured out that Silky is basically all bark and no bite.

#######################

So, just a few days later we were getting ready to move on.  I knew Jed’s tolerance for city life was at its breaking point and really, so was mine.  Silky was using his contacts to see if anything could be found concerning Matthew’s father or any other relatives.  If he was still with us, the plan was to see how he could be helped and perhaps reunite father and son.  The likely outcome would be finding out where he had died and making sure that he had a proper burial and that would lead to the process for adoption.   Kid had a long conversation with Matthew, explaining why we were moving on and telling him that he would be taken care of and not to worry.  Matthew teared up but Kid assured him they would keep in touch and would be back to visit soon.

Ellen had a child to care for, Silky had the possibility of the grandchild he never thought would be, and Matthew was safe and healing.

“Thanks for the holiday Silky, you made this one memorable.”

“Heyes, you are always welcome here and Kid, I hope you feel welcome too.”

“I do Silky. You saw to that.”

“We’ll see you again soon, Silky.”

“Kid, thank you for the gift and the fact that the two of you decided to spend Christmas with me well, that means a lot to a crusty old man.”

“You’re welcome, I know you like those cigars.”

“Those too but, I’m referring to the gift of Matthew. He’ll keep this tired old coot spry and if things pan out in our favor, we’ll be starting legal adoption the first of the year.”

“That’s good to hear, Silky. Nothin’ better for a growing boy than having a place to root and call home, and that’s comin’ from the voice of experience. Thank you for the gift of Matthew’s home…”

We reached the station just as the train was pulling out and had to scramble to our seats. Once settled, I could see Kid was mulling over the past few days.

“Well Kid, I think this is a Christmas we’ll all remember thanks to you and Mathew. So, how do you feel being Lancelot?”

“Whose Lancelot”?

Heavy sigh. “Read a book Kid, read a book”

Yep, got the “look”.

“It was a good Christmas, Heyes.”

“Yes, it was.”

“Kinda reminds me of……”

“Christmas at home? With the folks?”

“Yea.”

I didn’t want to have this time end on a sad note.

“It will happen Kid, you’ll have a wife, children and a family Christmas.”

Now the smile.

“You too, Heyes, you too!”