Four Out-of-Stock Stalked Stockings

I stare down the road from my window, admiring the effort of whoever decorated this park.

Christmas of 1942. Festive gold lights on forests of trees that instill hope in you as you drive past them. Evergreen trees on the mountains glazed with snowflakes. Smiling while sneezing at the dust of the Christmas tree because you know it'll be worth the fun. Its leaves are eyelashes batting at you as it smiles back at you with twinkling lights. Leave it to four-year-old Daniel Rosemont to ruin the vibe.

For the past three years, throughout the days before Christmas, Danny would keep pestering his family about the lack of gifts under the tree. He would also complain to the givers of his gifts saying that he wanted something different.

So this December, his dad, Kyle, wanted to cancel Christmas. But Danny and his older sister, Brianna, objected. So their mom, Emily, came up with a compromise.

All gifts will be given anonymously, and there will be no tree. Instead, everyone in the Rosemont household will give their gifts to me, their neighbor. And I will keep them hidden away until Christmas Day.

December 10th

Brianna is my ex-girlfriend, but we're not on bad terms. We're nothing more than acquaintances to wave to in the school hallway in order to not look like losers with no friends. I miss her, though. I wish she never broke up with me.

I hear the doorbell and run a comb through my hair before opening the door to see her.

"Hi, Cullen. What're you doing?"

"Hey. Just trying to scrape up some money to buy something for my mom. Did you bring a gift?"

Brianna sighs. "Actually, no. I just...can I confide in you about something?"

I'm surprised. We haven't talked in a while. "Sure. Wait, why didn't you call me to tell me you were coming? Last time you did that, my dad had to open the door for your mom while wearing a bathrobe with a head of shampoo."

"Sorry. We don't have your number. We're, like, the only family in this town without a phone book," she says.

"Oh. Don't worry about it. Anyway, what did you want to talk about?"

"I...lost my job at Coughee Drop. I was planning out what to get everyone for Christmas and got some really good ideas, but I can't afford it anymore. I'll be in debt if I don't get an income stream or stop spending so much. But I'm not giving up my music! I'd rather beg on the streets for cash while blasting The Andrews Sisters."

I snicker. "Really?"

"Well, no, but it's not out of the question."

"Are you asking me for money?" God, why did I ask that? I miss her so much that I might be foolish enough to give her some.

She smiles and shakes her head. "No. I just needed to tell someone, and I don't really want to tell my family yet."

"Oh. Makes sense. Wait, can you afford Christmas gifts at all?"

"Nope. I owe so much money on newspaper subscriptions and I can't stop buying stuff for my record player. I've also lost so many bets at school and owe more than I can afford to give while still doing Christmas."

"Damn."

We stand there in silence for a few seconds. "I'll go home," Brianna says. "Please don't tell anyone. About the Christmas money thing, I mean."

"I won't. Have a good night."

December 19th

No one has given me any gifts to stow away yet, and I'm starting to wonder if I misunderstood the plan. I grab my coat and head over to the Rosemont house.

Kyle opens the door. "Hey, kid," he says with his southern accent.

"Hi, Kyle. I just came to make sure I understood the plan. Y'all give me the gifts, and I hide them in my closet until Christmas, right?"

"Yeah. Why'd ya ask?"

I don't want to spoil anything, so I give him a partial truth. "I was just a little confused because you didn't give me anything to store away."

Kyle shakes his head. "Honestly, I've grown into a mighty firm atheist. I just really don't wanna celebrate because I'm strongly against the idea. I ain't giving 'em nothin'. Please don't tell no one."

"Wait, really?"

"Yeah."

Huh. I hope for their family's sake that Emily and Danny give a lot of gifts.

December 21st

Danny came to me with a gift to hide today. It was a cute little tracing of his hand colored sloppily in blue and black. He said it's for everyone so they'll "have his early life artifact that will be worth hundreds when he becomes famous."

I hear the doorbell ring and open it to find a fuming Emily with her eyes closed in her rage.

"I hate my life. I hate it. I work and I cook and I clean and I stay calm and I give birthday gifts with so much effort and I just get complaints, complaints, complaints! 'Oh Mommy the chocolates weren't sweet enough.' 'Oh Mom, Dad talks cooler than you. Please let Dad drive me to Mari's house.' 'Oh Emi, let me splurge on a three thousand dollar massage chair no one needs.' Well, they're all pissing me off. No one is getting anything from me this year. Not even the phone book we so badly need."

Emily opens her eyes and finally sees me. "Oh my God, I'm so sorry. I thought your mom was going to answer the door. I'll get out of your way. Please don't tell Kyle or Brianna."

"Or Danny," I add, laughing.

She smiles through her tears. "That's a given."

I stand in shock as she leaves.

No one in the Rosemont household is giving anyone Christmas gifts except Danny with his sad little handprint. They are all taking advantage of the fact that it's anonymous, hoping that one of the others will give more gifts to make it easier to blend in.

And I'm the only one who knows.

Emily is right about the phone book. They've come to my house at least ten times in the past month to borrow it.

I think I know what to do. This might even win me back Brianna.

I drive to the post office to buy a phone book for Arlington County.

On an index card, I write, "People we've never met don't keep their phone numbers secret from us, so we as a family should definitely stop keeping secrets from each other." I try to make my handwriting look like Brianna's. Then I wrap the phone book and slap a bow on it before taping the index card.

December 25th

I knock on the Rosemonts' door holding a Christmasy bag with red and green tissue paper covering Danny's drawing and the phone book.

Danny opens the door. "Hi, Cuwen! Do you have the pwesents?"

I hand him the bag nervously. He will not be happy, but at least Brianna and their parents will.

"Thank you! Wait, have you met Santa Cwaus?"

I think for a moment. "Yes, And he told me that if kids act chill and nice to their parents this Christmas no matter what, they will get sweet chocolates at the end of the day. Remember: Santa doesn't lie."

"Oh, cool. Bye, Cuwen!"

"Bye, kid."

Seven Hours Later

Brianna comes up to my door while I'm eating dinner with my family.

I get up to open the door. "Hey," I say smoothly.

She gives me a huge unexpected hug. "I'd ask you for your number, but thanks to you, we're got everyone's numbers plus peace in the family!"

She explains how the lack of gifts led to everyone confessing. Her parents supported her and helped her to look for jobs online. Everyone promised to be more grateful to Emily. Kyle confessed his strong atheism, but everyone else felt too guilty to be mad.

And Danny kept his promise to "Santa Cwaus." I hand Brianna a huge bag of Kit-Kats.

She smiles. "Aw, for me?"

"No, for Danny," I reply, laughing. Then I reach behind me and grab the bag of Ghiradelli my dad got for me. "But these are for you. Will you take me back?"

Brianna pauses, but the answer is on her face before she says it. "Hell yeah."