Page 3 of Unwrapped

“Everyone!” Roger’s voice booms, “This is Dare! Welcome him!”

“Hey kid,” a bunch of men wearing leather cuts nod as Rog gives me a seat at a table. Another huge man slides a plate full of pancakes and bacon in front of me. “I’m John. I have a boy, Duke, who’s around here somewhere. How old are you?”

“Eight.”

“He’s thirteen. He’ll show ya’ around.”

I dug into the hot food and ate as much as I could. I didn’t know if I’d ever eat like this again. The men said nothing just let me.

When I was done, we hung out and played cards. Rog taught me how to play Texas hold ‘em. The fire cracked and popped. It was the best damn Christmas I’d ever had, and I didn’t spend it with anyone who was blood.

“Here, kid.”

Rog, the big man, John and another giant, Colin all gather around me holding brightly wrapped gifts.

“What’s this?” I exclaimed as they shoved them in my arms.

“They must’ve fallen of Santa’s sleigh. They all have your name on it. Rog found them out back when he was having a smoke.”

“I brushed the snow off them myself,” he boasted.

I swallowed hard. Could it be true? Did Santa really have gifts for me every year that somehow fell from his sleigh?

My hands tore at the paper. Comic books! A Nintendo game set?! Books and match box cars? It was more than I had ever gotten from anybody my whole life.

In that moment, I felt the magic of Christmas. It had eluded me for eight years and I finally had felt it. Christmas hope was real. Magic was too. And instead of fairy god mother’s, I had a group of giants watching over me.

“I better get you home.”

My shoulders slumped. But Roger was right. I had to go back. The sky had turned gray. A few snowflakes starting to fall. I pressed my face to the widow of Roger’s truck as we drove away, looking back at the old wooden building until I couldn’t see it anymore.

“You gonna be all right?” Roger asked as he pulled up outside my house.

I shrugged and tried to act tough, like my throat wasn’t about to close up at the thought of going inside.

“Here.” Rog said gruffly, handing over a crumpled piece of paper. It’s my number. If you ever get in real trouble use it. You hear me?”

I nodded thickly and pushed the door open. “Thank you. For everything. Merry Christmas.”

“Merry Christmas, kid.”

I watched until his taillights disappeared before slowly turning the door and sneaking in. The lights were off. No one was home. No one even noticed I was gone all day. Ma probably forget Gran wasn’t here. Gran is the one who usually watches me anyway.

I made my way to my room and carefully took out my gifts. I was young but I wasn’t dumb. I knew Jim would take them just because he could, and it would give him great pleasure to hurt me.

I hid them all. Finding the perfect spots around my room. The phone rang in the kitchen and went to answer it.

“Darren? Is your mother there?”

“No. It’s just me Gran. I dunno where she went.”

She pauses. “I-I’m not coming back. I’m sorry.”

“What do you mean? I don’t understand.”

“I eloped. It means…I got married. I’m staying in Reno.”

“Can I come? Please!”

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