Storytime Tapestry Newsletter

The newsletter devoted to spreading love and cultural awareness throughout the world.

Special Treat Christmas Contest - Dan Myers

December 21, 2006

Today we welcome again another new writer for Storytime Tapestry whose first entry is a contest entry.  Dan Meyers is now writer #385.  Please email him and welcome him to our wonderful newsletter.

NOEL  (THE STORY OF  LEON THE DYSLEXIC CHRISTMAS ANGEL)

Dan Myers

   The Christmas season has started for little Leon, as he spent the day
helping his Grandma decorate for the holiday. All the decorating was making
him even more excited that Christmas was on the way... which was an
improvement since he didn't have a whole lot to be excited about now in
days. Grandma was getting older and starting to show her age. His grades
in school were getting worse. It wasn't his fault, he just didn't seem to
understand the assignments.
Earlier in the day, he had overheard his grandma and mom talking about him.
They kept using words like "different" and "special" and other big
confusing words. Since he didn't understand what they were saying, he
decided that going and unpacking the next box of decorations would be a lot
more entertaining.
As he was unpacking the new box, he stumbled upon a porcelain knick-knack
adorned with angels. One of the angels was even holding a sign with his
name on it....
He wasn't shocked at all by this discovery, as he had noticed before that
his name was common on decorations this time of year. As he stared at the
angel's sign he wondered if maybe he wasn't reading it right. A lot of
times he would try to read things, but it seemed that the letters would just
be all mixed up and none of it would make any sense. This time, he could
easily read it, and it made sense to him.
Leon sat and pondered about his name being so commonly associated with such
a special holiday and the words his grandma and mom were using earlier to
describe him. All at once, it all clicked together and made perfect sense
to him. He was different and special because he must be an angel... Leon
the Christmas angel!

The following day in school, Leon eagerly told all of his classmates his
startling discovery. He didn't understand why the kids laughed and taunted
him over it. He asked himself, "why would they laugh at such good news?"
Maybe they were just jealous they weren't special? Maybe they were too
naive to understand how special he was. Either way, it has still hurt his
feelings. He sat on the bus alone with teary eyes and wondered if maybe
they were right. If I'm an angel, wouldn't I at least know it, wouldn't I
have wings? And what am I suppose to do to help people like a good angel?
he thought to himself. He wondered if anyone out there would ever be able
to answer his questions. If he couldn't ask his classmates, and his mom and
grandma didn't know... who else could he ask? A smile spread across his
face as it dawned on him. SANTA! Yeah, he would know! The thought put a
little more spring in his step as he walked home from the bus stop.

The week has blown past and Saturday was finally here! Leon and his mom
were heading downtown to do some Christmas shopping. A huge grin graced his
face as he peered into the big depratment store window full of toys and a
large sign that annouced that Santa had arrived. Finally Santa would be
able to answer his questions!
Finally it was Leon's turn to sit on Santa's lap. He hopped up on Santa's
knee and Santa asked him what he would like for Christmas.
Leon has told Santa the story about how he discovered he was Leon, the
Christmas angel and that people had called him special and different. He
contined to tell Santa that he wasn't worried about the presents, he just
wanted to know how he could get his wings and how could he help other
people, because that's what he thought and angel was suppose to do.
Little did Leon know that that wasn't the real Santa, but instead a man
named Mike who was just helping the Santa out (and happened to live down the
street from Leon). Mike was touched by Leon's story, because he was also
dyslexic and knew how Leon felt. That evening, Mike walked to Leon's house
and knocked on the door. He told Leon's mom what had happened and in a loud
voice for Leon to hear, told her that Santa had sent him to ask Leon for
help. Leon rushed to the door to, eager to hear how he could help. Mike
asked Leon if he would like to help him on tomorrow to help other people.
Leon jumped up and down and shouting yes. Mike looked to his mother who
smiled and gave a nod to okay it.
The next day, Mike arrived early to pick Leon up. The spent the morning
passing out blankets, coats, gloves, and bagged lunches to those who were
less fortunate. Then they spent the entire afternoon working at the area
soup kitchen cooking and serving food. As evening rolled around, Leon
was exhausted. Mike smiled at him and said "we're not done yet". They then
headed to the local church and passed out presents to children who weren't
as lucky as him. That was the best part! He sang Christmas carols with
them and drank hot chocolate and made some new friends who didn't laugh and
tease him. A news reporter who was doing a story on helping those in need
was touched by a little boy doing such a big part in helping people out that
he made Leon the star of his report on the evening news.
Monday morning at school, an exhausted Leon dragged his way on to the bus
to a standing ovation. He wasn't laughed at anymore. People patted him on
the back and congratulated him now. He had felt good about himself, and
what he had done. They called him an angel on the news the night before, so
now he'd truly believed it! But he still didn't have his wings....
As Mike was enjoying Christmas Eve with his family, he decided to share
Leon's tale with them. He told them how they had helped out all those
people, but he still didn't feel like an angel without his wings. Mike's
brother, who was in the Air Force and had just arrived back home and was
still in uniform, stood up, removed the wings from his lapel and handed them
to Mike.
"No angel should be without his wings. Make sure Leon gets his wings."
The next morning, a sleepy Leon bolts down the stairs to see what Santa had
brought him. Standing there, to Leon's surprise, was Santa Claus waiting
for him! Santa removed a small box from his pocket and handed it to him.
"Leon, you deserve these," Santa said as Leon undid the ribbon and opened
the box. Inside was a shimmering set of USAF wings. Leon remember all his
hard work and started to tear up. He turned to thank Santa, but he was
already gone.
Now, Twenty-five years later, Little Leon, or Col. Leon Sparks of the
United States Air Force, still proudly wears his wings.

Dan Myers

chevroletkid@msn.com