Chapter 10 - The True Meaning of Christmas
Barbara inspected the check, folded it neatly, and placed it into her purse. She didn't say another word to her parents or her sister. They weren't worth the breath.
She turned around and knelt back down next to Alina, who was still holding the broken plastic doll and her tissue-wrapped ornament.
"Come on, sweetie," Barbara smiled warmly, her voice entirely completely softening as she spoke to her daughter. "We're going to go to the big toy store downtown. Grandma in Ohio sent you a very special surprise, and we're going to go pick it out together."
Alina’s eyes lit up with pure joy. She dropped the broken plastic doll directly into the trash can by the door.
Barbara picked up the two heavy bags of beautifully wrapped presents. As she opened the front door to leave, she turned around one last time.
"By the way," Barbara said casually, looking at Clara’s two sons. "These bags are full of the newest video game consoles and tablets. It's a shame you guys have to play with bicycles in the snow."
Clara let out a shriek of absolute devastation as Barbara walked out the door, tossing the expensive gift bags directly into the trunk of her car to return to the store tomorrow.
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Barbara drove away from the toxic house, her daughter singing happily in the backseat. She had protected her child, exposed a massive betrayal, and secured her family's peace forever. They spent the rest of Christmas morning building a massive wooden dollhouse in their own living room, surrounded only by people who truly loved them.
If your family stole from your child, would you have the courage to call the police on them?
