The Homeless Christmas tree.

Once upon, long ago, the city streets were deserted on that cold an wintery night. The weather forecasters were talking about the chances of a white Christmas and for once the outlook was very promising. But for now, it was cold, very cold, or to describe the situation better: it was actually freezing cold! Most people stayed indoors, nicely tucked away in their houses. They were sitting around their fireplace, enjoying the preparations for Christmas. Some were decorating their Christmas tree, making strings of popcorn. Others were hanging their fairy lights, writing their Christmas cards by candlelight or picking out recipes for a grand Christmas dinner. All in all it all looked very cosy.

As I said most people stayed indoors, but there were still people who had to do some last minute shopping and they were brave enough to face the cold weather. Among them was this 20something couple. They were wrapped in thick winter coats, shawls, hats and gloves. This was going be their first Christmas together and it was going to be a very special one. They couldn’t afford to buy a tree or presents, but the fact that they would be together this Christmas was the biggest gift ever. They bought a lot of candles and now it was time to get the groceries in. Armed with a shopping list, a great bag and each other they walked to the nearby store. While walking, they secretly looked into the houses; it all looked so comfy and warm. Just looking at it, made them feel all warm and fussy. This was going to be a perfect Christmas, with or without a tree and presents.

They came to a side street, looked left, right and left before crossing the street and then they looked simultaneous right again. What they saw couldn’t be real? Their eyes were deceiving them, right? Just across the street was a potted Christmas tree standing next to a lamp-post. How weird was that? They crossed the street to inspect the tree up-close. It was still wrapped for transport. Strange! Probably someone just put it there for a second, while they were looking for a parking space. The couple looked around, but there was nobody there. No cars riding around, no people walking, the street was absolutely deserted. This was like a things you see in movies, not in real life. They couldn’t take this tree now, could they? Doubt! Questions…… but they decided to leave the tree behind. After all they were going to the supermarket; you can’t do your grocery shopping with a tree stuck under your arm or in your shopping card.

They decided to forget about the tree and focused on the shopping. They had a long list and of course some of things were already sold-out, but this was their last shopping opportunity before Christmas, so they needed to make the most of it. Walking around, altering the menu, deciding on new things was fun, but somehow the tree was still lingering in the back of their minds. Who would leave a perfectly good tree out on the street? This thing was dug out for Christmas and now it was standing on a very cold street corner; cold, lonely and desolate a bit like a homeless person. The couple, they just couldn’t help it, started talking about the tree again. It was so sad, the tree out there, it seemed like such a waste. So they agreed on this: If the tree was still there when they walked home, they would give the tree the best Christmas ever. They would take it home with them, they would decorated it and even replant it in the garden after Christmas. They felt relieved now that they had reached a decision. The rest of the shopping went very swiftly. There wasn’t even a queue at check-out. Time for the walk home.

They felt a bit anxious. Would the tree still be there? No, of course not!. The owner probably took the tree home with him by now. Who in his right mind would leave a tree on a big city street corner for hours …… no one! Much to the couples surprise the tree was still there. They could see it clearly from miles away. While they were getting closer, they checked their surroundings once more. The streets were still deserted. The guy handed one of the shopping bags to the girl, he needed one free arm. In one swift move he grabbed the tree, he didn’t even stop to lift it, and just kept on walking. The girl was flabbergasted, were they really doing this? As it turned out, they did! Was this stealing? Or was it just inviting a homeless thing into your home? It was exiting, fun and worrying, all at the same time. They walked a bit faster. It would be really embarrassing if someone would yell: ‘Hey, what are you doing with my tree? Give it back, that is my tree!’ Surprisingly no one yelled, no doors were opened, no one came running after them. Somewhat more relaxed the arrived home, with their shopping and a tree as a bonus! Santa had just given them a Christmas tree ;) This Christmas just couldn’t go wrong! And it didn’t, they decorated the tree, had the best Christmas ever and planted the tree in the garden after the New Year started.

The tree is still there, as beautiful as ever, growing taller each year. And it still gets decorated with lights, year, after year. No longer by the same couple, they are not together anymore, but by other people who will never know the story behind that lovely (once homeless) Christmas tree.

*The End*