THE MAN WHO COULDN'T SEE CHRISTMAS, Chapter Five

V.  Christmas Morning

            Petey didn't remember falling asleep.  In fact, he remembered that he couldn't fall asleep.  But now Sarah was leaning over him and shaking him and yelling, "Wake up, it's Christmas!"

            Christmas!  Petey jumped out of bed and ran downstairs, with Sarah right behind.  What would they see?   Did they really trade away all their Christmas presents for an old pair of glasses?

            No!  The Christmas tree stood grandly surrounded by shiny wrapped boxes …and two bicycles!  "Wow!"  Petey yelled.

            "Oooh!"  Sarah squealed.

            Mom and Dad stood across the room looking very pleased.  Grandpa Fred sat in his chair, looking sad.

            "Grandpa, we got you something special," Sarah said.

            "It's in your stocking," Petey added.  They each took one of Grandpa Fred's hands and pulled him across the room to the Christmas stockings. 

            "Glasses?"  Grandpa Fred looked confused.  Mom and Dad looked puzzled.

            "These are not ordinary glasses," Petey explained, pushing up his own ordinary glasses.

            "No, these are Christmas glasses," Sarah added.  "We got them for you so you could see Christmas again."

            Grandpa Fred sat back down in his chair and listened as Sarah and Petey told the whole story of how they had gotten Santa Claus' actual glasses, and how Dr. Chang had helped.

            "So, do they work, Grandpa?  Put them on!  Can you see Christmas now?" Sarah asked.

            Grandpa Fred took off his glasses and put on Santa's glasses.  He blinked a few times and then took the glasses off.  He took a handkerchief from his pocket and rubbed the glasses.  He quickly wiped the handkerchief across his eyes and loudly blew his nose.  Then he put Santa's glasses on again.

            "Well?" Petey said.  "Can you see Christmas?"

            Grandpa Fred stood up and looked all around the room.  "I see a grand Christmas tree with a beautiful star.  I see presents everywhere.  I see snowflakes taped to the windows and garland hanging around the doorways.  I see a little stable with wise men and shepherds and a little baby.  And I see the two best grandchildren that a man could ever have!  Yes, I believe I can see Christmas after all!"

            Sarah and Petey flew into Grandpa Fred's arms.

            "Merry Christmas, Sarah.  Merry Christmas, Petey."

            "Merry Christmas, Grandpa!"

THE MAN WHO COULDN'T SEE CHRISTMAS, Chapter Four

IV.  Santa Visits Dr. Chang

            "Petey, we're running out of time. Tomorrow is Christmas Eve."  Sarah wrapped and unwrapped her doll's blanket.

            "What is Santa going to do?"  Petey wondered.  "Is he going to bring the glasses or not?"

            "And can we wait 'til Christmas morning to find out?"  Sarah worried.  "If he doesn't bring them, Grandpa will miss Christmas!"

            "We'd better go see him again."

            Sarah wrapped the baby doll back up and put it in its cradle.  She followed Petey downstairs.

            Mom was home early from work.  "Where are you two off to?"

            "Can we walk up town?" Sarah asked. "We need to get one more Christmas present."

            "For Grandpa," Petey added.

            Mom frowned a little.  "I don't think Grandpa is . . . enjoying Christmas much this year without Grandma Susie.  I don't want you to be…disappointed if he is not excited about your present."

            "It's okay, Mom," Sarah said.  "We understand."

            "All right, then.  Don't be long."

 *     *     *

            "Look!  There he is!"  Petey said.  Santa Claus was right where he was supposed to be--in front of the bakery, ringing his bell.  Petey and Sarah ran over.  Sarah put a dime in the kettle.

            "Santa?"  she said.  "Did you decide about the glasses?"

            "Huh?  What's that?"  He stopped ringing his bell.  "Oh, it's you two again, the children that want my glasses."

            "Well?"  Petey asked.

            "Well, it's like this, kids.  Santa is an old man.  He needs his glasses.  How can he see to fly the sleigh?  Why, without his glasses, he might mix up the toys and give a little fella like you a baby doll!"

            "I told you so!"  Sarah whispered.  She looked away so Santa wouldn't see the tears in her eyes.  She looked across the street… at Dr. Chang's Optical Shop.

            "Santa, what if you got new glasses?  Could Grandpa Fred have your old glasses then?  Come with us over to Dr. Chang's!"

            "What--what's that?  No, I can't leave the kettle."  He started ringing the bell again. 

            Just then a woman in a blue skirt, jacket and hat walked over.  "Hey, Santa," she said.  "It's time for your break.  I'll take over."

            Petey grinned at Sarah.  They each took one of Santa's hands and pulled him across the street.

            "Dr. Chang!  Dr. Chang!"  they called as they burst through the door. 

            "Hi, kids.  Santa Claus?"  Dr. Chang's assistant stood up.

            "We need to see Dr. Chang right away!"  Petey said.

            "She is leaving early today. She may have already left."

            "Oh, no!  We have to see her!"  said Sarah.

            "It's all right, I'm still here."  Dr. Chang came out of her office.  "Peter, Sarah…Santa Claus?  What's going on?"

            "Santa Claus needs new glasses…" began Sarah.

            “…so he can give his old glasses to Grandpa Fred,"  finished Petey.

            Dr. Chang looked puzzled.

            "Remember?  Christmas glasses 'cause Grandpa Fred can't see Christmas?  You said Grandpa Fred needed Christmas glasses," Petey reminded her.

            "Christmas glasses…oh, yes, Christmas glasses!  Well, what do you say, Santa?  When was the last time you had an eye examination and a new pair of glasses?"

            Santa Claus cleared his throat.  "Well, it's like this, Ma'am.  I left my checkbook and credit cards at the North Pole.  And I'm a little short of cash right now.  I'm afraid new glasses are not in the budget."

            "Santa, I wouldn't dream of making you pay for glasses!  You've brought me so many nice presents over the years.  Do you remember the doctor kit you gave me when I was eight years old?  I might not be a doctor today.”

            Dr. Chang took Santa to the examination room.  Sarah sat down and Petey walked over to the little Christmas tree.  Suddenly he thought of something, and he asked Dr. Chang's assistant, "How long will it take to get Santa's new glasses made?"  He remembered waiting a week for his glasses.

            "It usually takes at least a week, but I think Dr. Chang can work a little Christmas miracle."

            "She can do that?"  Sarah whispered.

            "Yes, I think she can.  Come back 1:00 tomorrow afternoon sharp--school is closed, right?"

            "Yes, it's Christmas Eve tomorrow," Sarah said.

            "Okay, then, at 1:00 tomorrow afternoon Dr. Chang will give Santa his new glasses, and…"

            “We can have Santa’s old glasses!” Petey finished.

Coming tomorrow:  Christmas Morning

THE MAN WHO COULDN'T SEE CHRISTMAS, Chapter Three

III.  A Visit With Santa Claus

            Petey couldn't sleep.  He was trying to think of something, but he couldn't think of what it was.  Something about the Santa Claus they had seen in town.  Suddenly he sat up straight.  "That's it!" he said aloud.

            "Sarah," he whispered as he tiptoed into Sarah's room.  "Sarah!" He leaned over his sister's bed.

            "What, what?" Sarah sat up suddenly and they bumped heads.  "Ow! What do you want?"

            "Ow! I've got it, Sarah, I know where we can get Christmas glasses for Grandpa."

            "Where?  How?" asked Sarah, rubbing her head.

            "From Santa Claus!" Petey said proudly. 

            "From Santa Claus?"

            "Yeah, didn't you see that Santa Claus was wearing glasses?”

            Sarah thought about that.  Maybe Petey was right.  "But Santa Claus is not gonna give up his glasses.  How could he see to fly his sleigh and bring our presents?"

            "But Santa Claus loves to give things away," Petey argued.  "Besides, he's our last hope."

            "Okay, then," Sarah yawned.  "We'll go see him tomorrow.  Goodnight."  She turned over and pulled her blanket over her shoulder.

            On the way home from school, Sarah and Petey stopped at the Salvation Army kettle.  "Santa Claus?" Sarah said.  Santa Claus stopped ringing his bell. 

            "Yes?" Santa asked.

            "We have a problem.  Our grandpa needs glasses," Petey said.

            "Christmas glasses," Sarah added.

            "Your glasses," Petey finished.

            Santa laughed.  "Well, now, why does your grandpa need my glasses?"

            "Can you see Christmas, Santa Claus?" Petey asked.

            Santa laughed again and turned slowly in a circle, looking up and down Main Street.  Sarah and Petey looked where Santa was looking.  They saw big green wreaths and bright red bows.  They saw tiny twinkling lights around doorways.  They saw Christmas trees and angels with golden wings in shop windows.  In front of First Church they saw a small wooden stable with shepherds, wise men and Baby Jesus.

            Santa nodded his head.  "I see Christmas everywhere!"

            "Well, Grandpa Fred can't see Christmas at all," Sarah said sadly.  "We know it's asking a lot, but if you could give him your glasses..."

            "…you wouldn't need to bring us anything at all," Petey said bravely.

            It seemed a long time before Santa spoke again.  "I'll see what I can do," he said.

            Petey and Sarah hurried on home.  They didn't want Grandpa Fred to worry because they were late coming home from school.  They also didn't want him to ask where they had been.

            "What does that mean--I'll see what I can do?" Petey asked.

            "I'm not sure," Sarah replied.  "When Mom says it, it usually means she hopes I'll forget what I asked for."

Coming tomorrow:  Santa Visits Dr. Chang