A Christmas story to warm your heart.

Christmas at Mel’s
by CJ Heck

Sadie slumped in the chair at her favorite table at Mel's. Merry Christmas. Yeah, so what?

Six empty glasses were lined up in front of her on the chipped Formica. She studied the glass that was still in her hand with the same intensity a demented gypsy might exercise upon seeing her favorite crystal ball suddenly deflate before her eyes.

The lines in her face met in an intricate pattern just above her penciled brows as she pondered her situation through the booze fog. Damn Mel. Damn twinkle lights hurt my eyes. Damn barkeep had to put twinkle lights in here ... as if anyone wants to see the graffiti better, she cackled to herself. She watched the room with its new look blink first red, then green, then yellow through the gently swirling cigarette smoke. She threw back another drink. Made her want to puke, that's all it did.

Who cares if it's Christmas Eve? Every day is the same to me, she thought. I'm just a workin' woman tryin' to make a buck. Bad enough, everywhere you go bells are ringin' on corners, snow and slush in every step you take, and all that fancy decoratin' to remind you you're alone. Merry Christmas ... Mer-ry Christ-my-ass! Cash registers are ringin' big time, too, Sadie thought with a bitter smile.

Damn, business was slow this time of year. Every john she knew was home playing Santy Claus with the kiddies and Husband Of The Year with the wife. What a joke, she thought. What they really want, I give 'em. What they really need, I give 'em. They're all the same. What a friggin' joke, she thought ... yeah, only the joke's on me. I'm the one who's sittin' in a hellhole alone. She raised a finger at the barkeep for another drink.

A shadow fell through the swirling smoke to settle eerily on the table, blinking through the empty glasses in front of her. She looked up to see one of her regulars standing there.

Finally! She thought to herself. 'Bout time, too. Already a plan had formed in her mind to do him fast and then get some shut-eye. She gave him her best crimson smile.

The john leaned down and handed her a folded bill. With a sad smile he said, "Go home, Sadie. This one's on me, and ... and Merry Christmas to you."

Then he turned and walked back through the swirled and blinking smoke, back out into the street with Sadie staring slack-jawed at the closing door behind him.

Damn, if that don't beat all. As she unfolded the fifty dollar bill, Sadie pushed back her chair, got up from the table, and for the first time in years, Sadie's face softened into a genuine smile.