A good deed

A good deed.1

By Ayesha Raees2

They say that one act of kindness can melt a cold heart. That it could leave an impression that would never fade. A blow from which a person will not recover. Something that the other person will thank you until the day he will die.3

And keeping that in mind, I pressed my lips together, determined at what I was going to do. 4

I looked at my parents who were staring at me in silence.5

“Mom, dad, can I invite a lonely friend of mine for Christmas dinner?” I asked, timidly.6

Every Christmas, we had the biggest party ever. The banners were hung, the tree was decorated, the dinner was made and the spirit was high and mighty. Neighbors, old friends, relatives… all attended Christmas dinner. It was an event to celebrate. 7

My mom smiled sweetly and nodded, saying that I could invite as many as I wanted. But I shook my head and said simply.8

“Only one,” I said.9

The next day, on Christmas, I woke up before sun rise and quickly went into the kitchen. I took out the flour, the eggs, butter, sugar and cocoa and started to make chocolate chips cookies. Though I was thirteen, I knew how to cook very well. 10

After an hour, the house was filled with a delicious aroma of chocolate cookies and I quickly put half of them in a big basket. I put the rest on the kitchen table as I surprise for my family.11

It was Christmas after all.12

I picked up the basket, took my coat from the hinges and went outside. It was snowing lightly. I sighed loudly before running down the lane, sniffing the fresh air happily and trying to spot the familiar mass of red hair.13

I had met him when I was taking my morning walk on Saturdays. He was a delivery boy who worked in a dairy shop across the street. He joined me for a walk and I, being friendly, started a conversation with him.14

And then my morning walks became more frequent and I began to see him regularly.15

He was a great guy. He was only two years older than me and he had already suffered so much in his life. He was an orphan who lived alone in a small shack in the poorer areas of the town. He said that his parents died when he was eight and ever since, he had been living by himself. He went to a common school and worked three times a day to fulfill his needs.16

But he had no friends as everybody thought him as weird. He had no idea what were birthday parties and he had no idea of the word “fun”. He was always left alone and hurt… wishing that how his life would be if his parents were alive.17

I skipped on a few lumps of snow and waved at the red-head who was shoving some snow on somebody’s porch. I scowled.18

I ran towards him and stopped, panting lightly, my hazel eyes staring at his green ones.19

“Alex, you promised you won’t work on Christmas,” I said.20

He chuckled.21

“I know I did but this family was paying big so I thought_”22

“Alex,”23

He stopped before looking at me and smiled weakly.24

“Last house, I promise,” he said, giving a peace sign.25

I smiled at him and put the basket of cookies on the bench that was located not far away. I bent down and grabbed a shovel and started to help him. He stared at me.26

“What?” I managed to snap between my heavy pants.27

He smiled again and started to dig.28

With two of us working together, the porch was cleaned of all the snow and we were free to talk. Alex got the money from the owner of the house and I grabbed the cookie basket and we both walked down the street.29

“I don’t know what people do on Christmas,” Alex wondered allowed. 30

I stopped and looked at him.31

“Christmas is a day on which all the family gathers around together and exchange presents. Then they have a huge dinner and have fun but basically Christmas is not all about presents, it’s more than that. It’s about love and warmth,” I explained.32

Alex eyed me sorrowfully and sighed loudly, looking at the blue sky.33

“Wish I had a family,” 34

I grinned to myself.35

“You already have a family,” I said, slowly.36

He jerked his head straight and looked at me in total surprise.37

I gave him the cookie basket. 38

“These are for you… I baked them especially for you,” 39

He blushed as he took the basket. 40

I turned towards my house.41

“Remember to come to the Christmas dinner tonight at seven Alex! And don’t be late… I would be waiting for you,” I said cheerfully as I waved at him and disappeared through the door.42

He stared at the closed door for a second in surprise before a smile broke his features. He lifted up the cloth and sniffed the aroma of the cookies before taking one in his hand and biting into its sweetness.43

“Don’t worry, Sam, I will be there,” he muttered to himself as he walked towards his home.44

**********45

It was already seven-fifteen and he wasn’t there. All the guests had arrived and were waiting impatiently for the dinner to start. The soft music was playing at the background a soft murmur of voices echoed through the hallway.46

“Samantha honey, your friend is late,” her mother whispered.47

I smoothed the black and blue dress I was wearing and I got the hint in my mother’s voice. I turned around to face her.48

“Please mom, I want him to be here. He…” I stopped and bit my bottom lip. 49

My mother looked at me, telling me to go on.50

“He is an orphan; he doesn’t know what Christmas is like. I said that he had a family… me! I want him to come… please mom! Cant we just wait for some time?” I pleaded my eyes full of tears and I know that I would cry if my mother refused.51

My mom looked at me in surprise before smiling at me, proudly.52

“We will wait. Samantha, you did a wonderful thing telling your friend to come for dinner,” she said before kissing me on my forehead. My father called for her and she turned around, with another small smile, and walked away, leaving me behind, staring at the door.53

It was half past seven and the guests were getting restless. Suddenly the door bell rang and I ran towards the door, yanking it open. I gasped in surprise.54

He was dressed in a black tux; his untidy red hair combed neatly, his green eyes looking at me, nervously. 55

“You came,” I whispered, taking his hand and dragging him inside.56

He smiled at me.57

“Sorry, I am late. You must have finished with your dinner already,” he said as he looked around at the guests who glanced at us. 58

“Actually no, we were all waiting for you,” a voice said. 59

He looked up to see my mom smiling at him, kindly. He glanced at all the people around him and saw them smiling at him openly.60

“But why?” he asked slowly, staring at my mother’s blue eyes.61

“Because we are family,” my mother said. 62

I yanked him towards the table and at once my father opened the wine, the cork flew in the air, almost hitting a person.63

“And a dinner is nothing without a missing family member,” I said loudly so he could hear me above the cheering guests.64

We looked at the scene in front of us in silence. My mother and my aunt carried the turkey and the food onto the table and everybody took their places. 65

“Merry Christmas,” Alex said as he sat down on one of the seats.66

“Merry Christmas,” I replied as I sat next to him with a small smile.67