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Show By TOM GRIFFITHS ' James Jennings was middle aged. He was not a happy man. His wife, whom he loved dearly, had died two years previously and he had become a lonely and somewhat bitter man. To make matters worse, he and his wife were childless, so he had no one to help with his loneliness. Two weeks before Christmas, a neighbor about Jim's age, came to see him. "Jim," he said, "I have something for you to do. In fact it is something for both of us to do." - James Jennings was silent as his neighbor continued. "We have been invited by the Institute for Retarded Children to become Daddies to some of the children during the Christmas season. You see, Jim, the parents of some of the children never come to see them and they are very lonely." And he added. "Especially at Christmas." "I appreciate the thought, Ted, but you know that I don't know a thing about children." "You don't have to know anything about children. The attendants will tell us what to do. Tomorrow evening there will be a get-together party for the volunteer Dads and the children. Come and go with me. then, if you wish to withdraw from the program, you can without any embarrassment." So the next evening James Jennings Jen-nings went with his neighbor, Ted, to the big building that was home for the handicapped children. Needless to say, Jim Jennings was extremely nervous and wondered how he would act in the presence of the children. The children were brought in and the first thought that came to him was they looked like a flock of lost sheep that had strayed from the fold. Then suddenly an attendant came toward him with a little girl who appeared to be about 10 years old. "This is Marcie," said the attendant. at-tendant. "She is your partner for the evening." And after a little hesitation, she continued, "and longer if you wish." Childless James Jennings looked down at this little girl, lie saw a child with hair (hat fell in ringlets about her shoulders. Hair that was the color of ripe ehesnuts like the ones he picked in the woods as a boy. Her eyes were greenish in color, large and luminous, but there was something about her eyes that was upsetting. They were sad eyes and she gave the appearance of staring into the distance trying to find something that was lost. Her dress and shoes were plain and did nothing to bring out (lie beauty of this little girl. As Jim looked down at her he experienced an emotion that he had never known before, like a tear without sadness. ; He went down on his knees so his face could be on a level with hers, then in a voice that was mellow with emotion, he said, "Marcie, can I be your Christmas Daddy?" She did not utter a word. Instead she put her hand in his -- a little hand that was soft and warm. Alter the cake and ice cream, the attendant came to take Marcie to her bed. Before she left, Jim took her hands in his and said, "Goodnight "Good-night Marcie, I would love to be your Christinas Daddy." On the way home Ted asked, "Well Jim, what do you think?" Jim was silent for a few moments then he answered. "If I was a praying 'man I would say a prayer for little Marcie." Ted, who was a religious man, spoke quietly to his neighbor. "Perhaps that would be a good way to start the Christmas holiday." One can only wonder what stirs a man's emotion. That night a childless man lay awake in his bed. Once again he looked into the eyes of a little girl named Marcie. He wondered what she tried to see at the end of that far away look, and what could he do to bring a different look into her eyes. The next day he called the institute in-stitute and talked to Marcie's attendant. at-tendant. He asked for Marcie's dress and shoe sizes and the following day he went shopping. He bought two dresses, one was white and frilly, and the other was of Christmas colors. Red and green with a skirt that billowed out when she turned around. He bought the under things to go with the dresses. Then he purchased shoes, little shiny oxfords and socks to match. His next purchase was a doll. How does a man choose a doll for a little girl? He looked at a dozen or so then settled on what that looked like Marcie except the eyes were bright and laughing. It had a string on the back that when you pulled it, it would say, "I love you!" The next day was Christmas Eve and James Jennings made his way to the institute with his gifts wrapped in bright holiday paper. There was a Christmas tree all bright with twinkling lights and ornaments. The attendant told Jim the children would open the gifts the next morning at 9 o'clock. She explained that if they opened them this evening they would be too excited to sleep. If Mr. Jennings desired he could be there when the gifts were opened James Jennings stitute before the lnaS al Uk next morning'tK'S chair looking at u,. V? '"8 lights he experieS d he had never known k? lh children ere h' ' anxious ifc When she approached and was given the gJv he-s, he felt his heart h.? within him. He ?,? fascination as Marcie t H 8 ! Then she cam g'fts in her arms. GonjN eyes was the lost fa, "' Now there were dan ,Wayl( --adehereyestwS?' She came to James inn. looked up at him w h h Si!; childish eyes. The J -not from Marcie. They we m? man who had un,& terness n his heart and re JL Eught '0Ve thatC: |
