Delivery.(Kevin Hughes) Author's Note: This is Christmas Story number three. I don't know why I am ahead of schedule this year for writing them. But you can never have to many Christmas Stories. LOL

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“Are you sure we should be doing this?”

DeWayne looked over at his Cousin Marcus.

Trust me, Cuz. I have known the Widow Moses my whole life. That dog was everything to her.”

“Yeah, but she never got another dog. I heard her say she never will either. When Clara died she said that was enough.”

Dewayne stopped wrapping for a moment and put his hand on his Cousins shoulder. Turning him slightly so they could look eye to eye.

“Yeah, I heard that story too. She was sewing my new Letterman Jacket for me. She embroidered my name, my number, and: “Go Raptors” on the back. I couldn’t have afforded that jacket. She told me to just pick out a jacket from the School Supplier and she would do the work. When she got done, everyone thought I was rich to buy the most expensive - and best looking- Letterman Jacket. She never asked for a Penny.

While she worked on my jacket with the big “24” on the front and my nickname: Fast D, over the pocket she rattled on like old people do:

“I miss Clara. I miss my husband too. (She put her hands down on her lap, the needle shaking a bit as she went back in time). Melvin bought me Clara as a pup, back when the last of our children moved out. I had Clara for twenty one years. When she left, a part of me went with her. (She wiped her eyes) “I’m sorry DeWayne, us old people get lost in our past once in a while. Now…what was your nickname again? You wan’t it over the side pocket, or the top pocket?”

“Well then you know she doesn’t want another dog!”

His hand still on his cousins shoulder, DeWayne spoke again:

“No, I am telling you she would love another dog. She is just afraid of losing another dog…or of her dying and leaving the dog alone. Old people worry about stuff like that.”

“But why are we wrapping all this other stuff?”

Marcus waved his hand around to include the table and chairs, all loaded up with dog food bags, puppy beds, assorted toys, collars, leashes and even heart worm medicine.

“You need all this to take care and feed a puppy. She can’t afford it. All the Widow Moses has is her Social Security and she gives half that away to homeless people, kids like you and I were, and single Moms. Plus she tithes at Church. Reverend Wilson told me she never misses a tithe.”

“Oh, yeah. I remember her buying me that calculator for Calculus. She said I would be a fine Engineer someday. I bet that darn thing cost her most of her check.”

“Yeah, and without it you wouldn’t have gotten into Purdue. And don’t forget the Candy!”

They both smiled. The Widow Moses would have them pass out Candy on Halloween, and the two boys got to keep what was left. They had enough left over, every year, to last the two boys a month. It wasn’t until Marcus was a Sophomore at Purdue that he figured out the Widow always bought to much candy.”

And so they continued to wrap everything. On a towel stuffed in a box near the stove, the small puppy watched with interest as the Humans fiddled around. Once in a while it would let a huff that counted as a bark. They would scratch it until it rolled over showing its belly, and then give it a treat.

“Tomorrow, little buddy, we deliver you to your new home. And your new owner.”

The Widow Moses sat in her big overstuffed chair. On the little table next to her sat a picture of her husband and her, holding Clara, while smiling at the camera. On her lap sat the cutest little fluff ball of fur. A tiny pink tongue came out to lick her fingers again and again. Every once in a while, the little ball of white fur would extend its full length and lick her cheek. She let it.

Her eyes were shiny at she looked at the two boys who were now both Men. Men with good jobs. Her heart had told her they were good boys back when they were only six and eight. Her heart was right. Now they were in their late twenties…and were good men. She giggled as the puppy snuck up for another lick of her neck.

Marcus spoke up:

“Mrs. Moses, what are you going to call her?”

DeWayne echoed his cousin.

“Yeah, I mean you can’t keep calling her the cutest thing ever, that’s to long a name.”

They all laughed.

The Widow Moses held the puppy up in front of her eyes, all four legs dangling as that cute little pink tongue tried to reach out to lick her face. She held the squirming puppy like a new mother holds her first child…with awe, love, and inspection of feet and hands. Or, in this case, paws and ears. She thought hard. Names have power.

“I think I shall call her Lilly. Yes. Yes, that will be fine. “

The two cousins exchanged glances.

“Then Lilly it is.”

“Hello Lilly!”

The puppy turned to look at the Widow Moses. Her face was aglow. The puppy had turned to look up at her as soon as she said:

“Hello, Lilly.”

“Look! She already knows her name.”

The cousins fist bumped each other.

The Widow Moses gently petted the over excited puppy, who, just like a child, collapsed in place and went sound to sleep on her lap.

The boys (now men) gently made their escape when the Widow Moses leaned back, closed her eyes, and stroked the sleeping puppy.

As they closed the door they heard a faint voice call out:

“Merry Christmas you two. Thank you.”

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