Timmy Tree(P.S. Winn) Timmy Tree

In a small town there lived a little golden haired girl whose name was Missy. Her family was very poor and lucky that they had enough food for Missy, her parents and her brother Matthew.
Still Missy was usually happy. She had a few books to read and she and Matthew played a lot of games they made up.
Sometimes they would be pirates and climb the big tree in their back yard and pretend it was a look out on their pirate ship. Other times they found cardboard boxes and sat in them and pretended they were race car drivers.
When the weather got cold like it was now, they waited for snow and then they built snowmen and snow forts.
The cold weather meant Christmas was coming. Missy and Matthew knew that their parents couldn’t afford to buy them much for Christmas. Both Missy and Matthew were waiting on Santa to bring them something special.
The one thing that bothered Missy was that the family didn’t have a Christmas tree. She wanted one more than anything in the world. Not just for putting presents under, but because they were so pretty.

* * * *

In a small parking lot across town a man was selling Christmas trees. He had tall trees and fat trees. He had green trees and white trees. Some of the trees even came with decorations on them.
At the back of the lot one tree stood all alone. No one wanted him. Timmy was so small that all the buyers just ignored him.
Every day Timmy watched the people come and go. He wished someone would see him and pick him. He knew he wasn't the tallest tree. He knew he wasn't the fattest tree. He even knew he wasn't the prettiest tree, but Timmy knew that he wanted a home more than any of those other trees. So every day he watched and waited for someone to take him home.

* * * *

Missy and Matthew sat in the room that they shared. Matthew was worried about Missy. She looked so sad. He looked at his sister.
“What’s the matter Missy? How come you are so down?”
Missy had been crying and when she looked at Matthew her green eyes were red.
“Promise you won’t tell Mom and Dad?”
Matthew crossed his chest with his fingers. “I promise Missy, cross my heart. Now tell me what is wrong.”
Missy nodded, sniffing back her tears. “Okay, it will probably sound dumb, but I want a Christmas tree. A beautiful Christmas tree to have in the house.”
Matthew shook his head, “They cost money Missy.”
Nodding at Matthew, Missy tried to smile. “I know, that’s why you can’t tell Mom and Dad, they’ll feel bad if they know.”
Matthew was silent a minute thinking. Finally he looked at his sister. “You know what we should do?”
Missy shook her head. “No, what should we do?”
Matthew stood up and put an arm around his sister. “We should take a walk across the town and go look at the trees.”
Missy smiled. “I’d like that. But Mom and Dad won’t let us do that.”
Matthew smiled. “We’ll just say we are taking a walk. They don’t have to know where. It won’t take us that long and at least you can go look at the trees. You can have the memory in your mind and maybe that will help.”
Missy nodded. “Oh, thank you Matthew. I would love to do that.”

Missy and Matthew got dressed in their old coats and found some mittens and hats to wear to protect them from the cold. They got an okay from their mom and dad and started off on their walk.
It took almost an hour, but they finally made it to the other side of town where the Christmas trees were all displayed.
Melissa’s eyes danced merrily as she looked at all the tall trees. She laughed at the fat trees. Melissa was so excited as she and Matthew walked through and studied each tree.
When they got to the very back of the lot, Melissa squealed with delight.
“Oh look Matthew, this tree is perfect.”
Matthew frowned and rolled his brown eyes at his sister. “Melissa, how can you say that? Look at that tree. It’s so tiny and thin. Some of the branches are bare.”
Missy knelt down in front of the tree. “That’s what makes it so perfect. This tree just needs love and care, that’s all.”
Matthew touched his sister’s shoulder and shook his head. “Missy, we can’t even afford a scrawny tree like that.”
Melissa nodded and felt like crying, but knew the tears would freeze on her cheeks. “I know Matthew, but I will always think about how special this tree is.”

* * * *

Timmy heard the girl’s words and felt ten feet tall. He tried to stand straighter and taller so this girl would love him even more. He slumped a little when the girl stood and turned away. He was never going to get a home.
As Missy and Matthew turned to go, the owner of the Christmas tree lot smiled and walked over. He had heard the girl’s sad words.
“Hey you two kids, come here.”
Matthew wanted to run, thinking they would be in trouble for walking around this place with no money for a tree. Melissa had seen the man’s smile and knew it was okay.
She smiled back at the man and walked toward him.
The man looked from Missy to Matthew and smiled again. “I heard you talking over by that scrawny tree over there. Now, I usually get good money for my trees, but that one there…Well, no one seems to want it. If you two would like to sweep up my lot, I think I could pay you by giving you that tree.”
Missy laughed. “Just give me a broom.”
Matthew and Missy each got a broom and in no time at all they swept up the lot and were headed home with Matthew carrying the tree.
Matthew was looking at the tree as he carried it. “Good thing this tree is so scrawny or I couldn't carry it.”
Melissa laughed. “I can’t believe I got my tree. This is going to be best Christmas ever.”
Matthew and Melissa hurried home.
When they got inside and explained to their parents, they got a talking to for going so far from home. But once their mom and dad saw how happy Missy was they too loved the little tree.
That night they found decorations to put on Timmy Tree and he stood as proud and as straight as he could, glad to have a home.

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