Dear Santa

Money: the route of all problems.  When it came to special occasions and holidays; Catherine and Brad had to count their pennies carefully.

They ran into some financial troubles in the past year when she was in a head on collision that caused her to be in the hospital for two weeks.  Shortly after the pricey bill arrived, Brad’s mother passed away suddenly, leaving them to pay for all the arrangements.

Christmas was nearly three weeks away and Catherine wanted nothing more than to give their daughter, Ava, what she wished for.  However, Ava wouldn’t show or tell them what was on her list for Santa Claus.  “It’s a secret” she’d tell them.  Catherine told her that in order for Santa to receive her letter in time, they’d have to seal it in an envelope and mail it to the North Pole after school that day.

Ava’s laundry was sitting in a basket in the hallway, and with thirty minutes to spare before needing to pick up her daughter, Catherine decided to put them in the proper place.  Maybe she’d find the letter hiding somewhere in her bedroom.  When nothing turned up in Ava’s dresser drawers or her closet, Catherine decided to check her bookshelf.  Between two Christmas books, there was the treasured letter folded in half.

Dear Santa,

          I really don’t want any gifts this year.  The thing that I want most in the whole wide world is for mommy and daddy to stop fighting.  I don’t know if you can make this happen, but it would make me happy.

          Love, always

          Ava

Catherine’s heart melted.  To know that their arguing was being heard by their seven year old daughter was foolish.  Were her and her husband bad parents for not realizing this was affecting Ava? 

“Honey?”  Her husband’s voice came from the hallway.

Catherine wiped away the tears from her eyes and cheeks before answering, “I’m in Ava’s room!”

Once Brad was visible in the doorway, she spoke, “We need to have a discussion on what our daughter wrote in her letter to Santa.”

He took the letter in his hand and let out a sigh of regret after reading it.  “We’ll make this right.”  Brad embraced her tightly.

Ava’s unhappiness would have continued to gone unnoticed if it wasn’t for the piece of paper with their daughter’s handwriting.  It was an eye opener.  Without it, they would have carried on their oblivious behavior. 

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A child writes a letter to Santa asking him for something other than toys.  What is it? Describe in 500 words or less. *406*