AMY'S MAGIC CHRISTMAS
Joe DeMonte
Smashwords Edition
Copyright 2009 Joe DeMonte
Electronic
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Coverpage
dragon copyright
Loreena Lee
www.dragonwing.bc.ca
CHAPTER ONE
Snowflakes began to fall from the gray sky above Amy Clayton, just as she was about to enter the downtown mall. She was glad she had decided to wear her jacket with the hood today. It would probably be snowing heavily by the time she finished her business here and was ready to head for home. Once inside the mall, she took refuge away from the numerous holiday shoppers and stuck her right hand into the pocket of her jacket. She withdrew the small news ad and viewed it again.
Helper wanted for holiday season. Part time only. 4 to 6 week days, 9 to 6 Saturdays and Sundays. Must be neat, courteous and reliable . Apply in person at Jensen's Toy Shoppe in the downtown mall.
Amy slipped the news ad back in her pocket, brushed a few wet snow spots from her jacket, and then looked around. She spotted the Jensen Toy Shoppe on the tier to her left. With a slight feeling of fear, she nonetheless gathered up all the strength she could muster, and headed for the escalator that would take her to the upper tier. It was no wonder Amy was experiencing just a little bit of fear, perhaps mixed with some anxiety and apprehension. After all, she was only ten years of age, and this would be her first try at applying for a job.
She exited the escalator, almost bumping into an older woman, whose hands were filled with shopping bags. After excusing herself, she headed with unsure feet to the toyshop. The shop was crowded and, for a moment, Amy almost forgot why she was there, as her brilliant blue eyes scanned all the wonderful new toys the shop offered for sale. She was looking longingly at a beautiful stuffed animal when a dark haired sales lady approached her from behind.
“Can I help you?” the lady spoke out.
Amy turned and looked at her, and tried to smile.
“That's one of our finest bears,” the lady said. “And he is only twenty-five dollars. Shall I wrap it up for you, young lady?“
“Oh, no,” Amy murmured, a bit nervously. “I was just looking at him. He is nice though, but I am not here to buy anything.“
“Oh?” came the saleslady's response. “So, you are just window shopping, is that it?“
“Uh, no,” Amy replied awkwardly. “I'm not doing that either. I'm here about the job.“
“The job?” the lady said, looking puzzled.
“Yes,” Amy said quickly. “The helper's job. Is it already taken?”
Then Amy withdrew the now crumpled news ad from her jacket pocket and handed it to the woman. The woman read it quickly, then looked down and smiled at Amy.
“How old are you, dear?” the sales lady asked her politely.
“Ten,” Amy said truthfully.
The woman smiled again.
“Well, you are much too young, I'm afraid,” she explained in a soothing voice. “You see, state laws forbid us from hiring anyone under the age of sixteen.“
“But I'm a good worker,” Amy told her. “My teacher, Mrs. Evans, says I am the best worker in her class, and I help my mom at home, too. I can do lots of things. I can clean, sweep, do dishes, and lots of other things. Sometimes, I even help my mom with cooking meals.“
“I'm sure you do, dear,” the saleslady said, admiring this young girl's attitude and determination. “And I'll bet you would make a truly fine and capable employee, but the law is very clear on that sort of thing. You wouldn't want to get us, or yourself, in any trouble, would you?“
“Oh, no,” Amy stated honestly. “I wouldn't want to do that. I just want a job. You see, my dad lost his job at the insurance company where he worked, and my mom has to stay home because I have a new baby sister that she has to take care of. I have a smaller brother, too, but he's seven now, and not so much trouble any more. I thought if I could get a job, like after school and on weekends, I could help my mom and dad pay some bills, and maybe we could even have a nice Christmas this year.“
“Well, that certainly is very admirable and unselfish of you, but we just could not hire you because of your age, you see?“
“I -- I guess so,” Amy responded, a look of sorrow crossing her pretty face. “I didn't know there was any law against working.”
“If you come back and see us when you are sixteen, I am sure we could find a spot here for you,“ the woman told her sympathetically.
The woman extended her hand and Amy shook it.
“I'm sorry we can't hire you,” she told Amy, “and I hope things work out for you and your family. Everyone should be able to have a nice Christmas.“
“That's what I think, too,” Amy said. “That's why I was trying to get this job.”
The woman nodded her head in comprehension, and then walked with Amy to the entrance of the store. A tear formed in Amy's left eye as she departed the Toy Shoppe and headed to the escalator.
Now she would have to go home unemployed, she was thinking, and there would be no toys for Justin or baby Nicole this Christmas, or for herself either. There might not even be a turkey or ham, she pondered, as she crashed into a well-dressed older chubby man in his sixties.
“Ooops, I'm sorry,” Amy announced, looking up at the man.
The man, clad in a dark blue suit, expensive blue topcoat, and the shiniest black shoes Amy had ever seen, smiled down at her.
“Oh, no problem, my child,” the man told her. “I think it was my fault anyway. I apparently wasn't looking where I was going. You see, my eyes were busy gazing at that elegant doll in the window over there. That is some spectacular doll, isn't it?“
Amy turned her head in the direction the man was indicating, and she saw the doll he was referring to.
“Oh, yes,” Amy said with a sigh. “That's a very pretty doll.”
“Do you think a four year old girl would like that doll?“ he asked Amy.
Amy gave him her opinion swiftly.
“Yes,” Amy replied. “I'm sure any four year old girl would love to have that doll.“
The man smiled as his eyes looked over at the doll in the storefront window more intently. As he did this, Amy's own eyes focused in on his face. She could not believe how much this man looked like her late grandfather, who had died of a heart attack just last year. His hair was as white as her grandfather's had been, and he even had a somewhat ruddy complexion, and blue eyes, which seemed to twinkle when he smiled, just like her grandfather's used to.
“Well, thank you, young lady, for your help,” the man said. “I think I shall purchase that doll for my granddaughter. It will be my gift to her this Christmas.“
“I'm sure she will like it,” Amy commented. “Well, I have to be going now. I have to get home.”
“Doesn't look like you did much shopping today,” the man said to her, noting that her arms were minus shopping bags.
“Oh, no,” Amy informed him. “I didn't. I came here for a job, not to shop.”
“A job?” the man chuckled. “Why on earth would someone as young as you be seeking employment, may I ask?“
“Well,” Amy sighed long and hard, “my dad lost his job at the insurance company, and my mom has to stay home to care for my baby sister, so there isn't much money anymore. I thought if I could get a job after school and on weekends, I could help a little.“
The man nodded his head in affirmation, contemplating what Amy had just explained.
“I see,” the man said at last. “It sounds like you and your little family are in quite a fix.“
“That's for sure,” Amy rapidly agreed. “I just wanted us all to at least have a nice Christmas this year, you know?“
“Yes, yes of course,” the man stated.
“But I didn't get the job,” Amy said, pouting a bit. “The lady there was real nice, but she said I was too young.“
“Yes, I would think so,” the man responded.
Again, the man seemed lost in thought, and Amy was about to go when he spoke again.
“Tell me, child,” he went on, “how old are you?“
Amy knew she was never to reveal any personal information about herself to strangers, much less talk with them, but telling this man, who looked so much like her deceased grandfather, her age, did not seem so terrible, so she decided to tell him she was ten.
“Ah, ten,” he sighed. “That is a wonderful age. Tell me, have you ever heard of The Wishing Well, child?“
“No,” Amy said, somewhat curious. “What's The Wishing Well?”
“It's a very special place,” he informed her. “Quite magical, so some say. Let me give you a card.“
Amy waited impatiently as he pulled out his wallet, took a white business card from it, and handed it to her.
“Go there soon, dear child, and tell them Mr. White sent you. That, and this card will get you inside,“ he explained.
“Thank you,” Amy said, tucking the card in her jacket pocket, without reading it. “It was nice talking with you, sir, but I really have to be going now. My parents don't know I came here for a job, and they will be worried if I don't get home soon.“
“Of course,” the man said, flashing her a broad smile once more. “Be sure to go to The Wishing Well soon. It could just prove to be the answer to all your problems.“
Amy smiled in return, then scooted rapidly down the escalator stairwell, two steps at a time, not even waiting for the electronic stairway to transport her to the main floor.
* * *