The Christmas Dollar, Part Three

Joe Peterson dressed carefully and walked down the street to church. The money that nice young man had given him for Lucy's pearls crackled in his pocket.

Pastor Jones gave a good sermon about the widow's mite. "She has given all she had." It made Joe think of Lucy again. But then, everything did. He had an idea. "Pastor," he said at the door, "use this for the church for Christmas. Something special. Whatever you think."

"Well, thanks, Joe, but are you sure you can afford this?"

"Oh, yeah. It was a windfall." Joe waved it off.

In his study later, Pastor Jones looked into the envelope. It was more than he had expected. And he knew just how he wanted to use it. He got on the phone.

"Lou Halloran? Listen, could you possibly build a stable for a live nativity scene in front of the church? I'd pay you, of course."

Lou Halloran sounded suspicious. "This isn't charity, is it, Pastor?"

Pastor Jones laughed. "Are you kidding? Have you ever seen me with a hammer and nails?"

"Well, all right."

"And Lou? How about dressing up as a shepherd and playing your panpipes? People would love that!"

"I'll think about it."

Lou got off the phone feeling like a heel. He ought to be able to support his own family. The Salvation Army had even brought them a food basket, for pete's sake! He had wanted to refuse it, but the looks on his wife's and kids' faces stopped him.

Well, whatever jobs he got, he'd do right, anyway. He spent two days on the three-sided shelter for the nativity. He even let himself be talked into dressing up in a bathrobe and playing Christmas carols. His little Cindy made an adorable angel, and reveled in the thought of Daddy being a part of things.

Cindy was there when he counted the money. "Look Daddy! A funny one! I wish I had a dollar like that!"
Lou laughed. "Silly, that's a ripped one. Wouldn't you rather have a nice new dollar?"

"No, Daddy, I like that one. It makes the man look funny!"

Well, he could certainly afford to give his little girl a dollar if she wanted one! On Christmas Eve, Lou folded the dollar carefully and poked into Cindy's stocking.

Her excitement on Christmas morning would have been worthy of a million dollar bill. She jumped into his lap and hugged him, and Lou hid his wet eyes in her hair.