Based on my IRL as a child: Edited slightly for my privacy etc.
Another year had gone by, it was December, and a 13yr old boy sat in his small room, a shared child-stay house, looking around he looked at his sad little tree in the corner, the only thing in the house that showed it was Christmas time, house rules prevented the house being decorated, they would state safety issues after he pestered them, pity showing in their eyes, some of their indifference, the job is just a paycheck.
Lying down, he fell into a troubled sleep as was normal, often sleep would elude him, even at a young age, he grew up faster mentally than was normal, and his life had been one troubled time after another. 7 am on the dot his door opened and the care worked strolled in to roughly shake him awake "School time, let's go" and stormed out, he got dressed, the school was attached as part of the children's home, so no uniform, he didn't have much to choose from, two draws of clothes. Quickly dressing he went downstairs and ate his bland breakfast as he did every morning and then got into the car.
Arriving at the school, a man he did not know and a lady he did took him upstairs to the offices. Sitting down they pulled out paperwork and explained that, they had found him a foster home, that could lead to adoption if things went well, the boy burst into tears put his head onto the table and sobbed quietly whilst the two looked on, used to seeing such things, he raised his head finally, his face streaked with tears "who" he asked in a hoarse voice. The Lady smiled and said "Me, this is why I took you out with my family, to see if you could get along with them, it's me who will be taking you home" he stared at her, not wanting to believe, only uttering one word "when" she smiled and said, "your things are being packed now, we are leaving now".
He arrived at their house, her husband was a successful builder and owned his own company, the house was a five-bedroom house, she led him upstairs to a very large room and opened the door, a new bed, transformers bedding, an empty desk, on his be was his belongings, a single black bag of clothes and five toy cars, his life story.
She turned to him and said "It won't be like where you were, you come and go around the house as you please, help yourself" She took a step forward and took his hands in hers "This is your home now, remember that" he nodded, trying to hold back tears, she left the room closing the door, he looked around, sat on the bed and began to cry.
The next morning his new foster brother knocked on the door and knocked and knocked, to boy sat waiting for him to enter the room but he didn't and then his new foster mum opened the door and explained that I wasn't used to privacy, he nodded and said to the boy "Do you want to go Christmas shopping with me?" he nodded, but had never done any such thing, so he said "but I don't have money, how will I shop?" his foster brother burst out laughing "it's fine, I do, come on, get dressed, let's eat and go"
Fast Forward 4 days, 20th December.
The boy sat, wrapping presents, a smile on his face, feeling for the first time, like part of a family, they had, had days of going to relatives houses, being treated nicely and making new friends with family members his own age. For once, he faced Christmas with a happy heart, not with the dread of waking up with nothing and it just being another day. He knew the large pile of presents to the right of the tree where his, his new mum had said "It's too close to Christmas to go on a spending spree, so just wait a few days for your new things".
Five Days Later - Christmas Day
He awoke early, the house was quiet, and dawn was just coming, he paced his room, and then sat with his cars, pushing them around, a short while later there was a knock at the door and his new mum opened the door with a smile "Merry Christmas Handsome, come on, let's go get breakfast and then open your presents" he bolted out the room and downstairs, wolfing down his food, he sat quietly, trying to be patient whilst she smiled at him, he said Merry Christmas to everyone as they came down, she said "okay, come on, let's do presents" he raced into the front room and saw his presents had been put next to one of the sofa's, she told him to go ahead and he started opening his gifts and was soon overcome with emotion. he was surrounded by people smiling at him, gifts around him, things he saw on TV but didn't think he would ever own himself, a big stereo, Hot Wheels garages with new cars, new books to read, music cd's, a portable cd player, so many new clothes.
For the first time in his life, he saw hope on the horizon, he saw family, he felt secure and he felt, like life was worth living, whilst still part of the system, he had a family a home and soon a new school, and new friends. Even though that boy is all grow up now, married with children, he is still the son of the woman and her husband, who took him in and made his life, what it is today, who gave him, his first happy Christmas in his life to that point and many more after that.
