December 20, 2013

Christmas Memories

Shop owner’s kindness leads to a memorable Christmas Eve

By Cecelia Kiley (Special to The Criterion)

My youngest daughter was 4 years old, and highest on her Christmas list was for Santa to bring her a little table and chairs.

At this time (the late 1970’s), there was a popular Toy and Hobby Shop in town, Ed Schock’s.

I had found the perfect table set and put it in the layaway. About three days before Christmas, I made the final payment and took the table home.

It was Christmas Eve. The kids were now in bed (around 8 p.m.), and it was time for parents to get things ready. As my husband and I began to assemble the table, we realized with horror that the legs were missing!

Good Grief! What do we do now? How can Santa deliver a table without legs? I got out the phone book and was able to find the personal phone number of Mr. Schock.

I explained my dilemma and that the legs must surely be back at the store and could he please get them for me! He met me at the store a little before 9 p.m. and, sure enough, the legs were still in storage!

This store owner was an example of the true Spirit of Christmas that night long ago … to me he was an angel in disguise.
 

(Cecelia Kiley is a member of Holy Trinity Parish in Indianapolis) †

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