This is one of three Christmas gifts that I have written for the Retrogaming Roundtable forum. I hope you enjoy them. If you make comments about them, then just remember, like the days of renting VHS and BetaMax video cassette tapes, to "Be kind, please rewind!"
The Biggest Gift
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It wasn't long until Christmas
When they had given me their lists
I had bought many expensive lots
I had gone online and to the shops
Until my wallet threw on the stops
The spouse and the children had gotten so much
Asking for a few things for myself and such
Surely wouldn't have been a financial crutch
But now the day before Christmas
Something seemed to just be amiss
No one was talking to me
All they were interested in was TV
Or their cell phones and online glee
(Sitting in a room full of people
can be so very lonely)
I tried to make conversation
Hoping that someone would chime in
But the conversation died as soon
As my sentence found its end
(Were they strangers, family, or friend?)
No one had stopped by
It was just the core family
No Great-Aunt Gertrude
No little Bernie
Nor any of my friends did I see
Now it is Christmas day
But my spouse and kids might as well
Be a million miles away
The tree's shadow is filled with gifts
At least three dozen presents there stay
But the room seems cold to me
(And I don't mean the icy scenery)
The kids only want to chat online
With Kelly, Don, or Brad
There's not even board games to be had!
Look at those gifts under the tree
If only they could possibly see
The pricey things worth so much money
I bought them the shiny and new
All of the major consoles too
For my dear I bought a new PC
But scanning the name tags
I just don't spot anything for me
Did they forget or can I just not see?
I am starting to get angry!
Could anyone blame me for being upset?
I mean would it have killed them to get
Me just a few presents or some fun kit?
I work all of the year to keep them warm and snug
To find myself at the end of the year getting snubbed?
I married this person for better or worse
But I'm starting to wonder if it was a curse
I look and I look yet all that I see
Is a room full of indifference
And disinterested apathy
These children whom I raised
From before they were wee little toddlers
Seem completely unaware of their
Mother or father
Like they can't even notice
Or simply can't bother
My significant other looked up
Time to store these feelings in my gut
(Discretion for others is so sublime)
I guess it is finally gift-giving time
I suppose my emotions are only mine
That is OK; do not worry; it is fine
After all, it is Christmas time
And selfishness is a bit of a crime
Perhaps a little happiness I'll find?
Supper has been eaten
Dessert, as always, was sweet
But a little human kindness
Would be the nicest treat
Though gift opening is the next feat
My spouse has decreed
That present time is now
My children dash for
their gifts and how!
All I could think to myself was, "Wow!"
The youngest began to separate
Each of the gifts according to name plate
The others moved presents like shipping freight
Working through the entire yuletide spate
Every one to find out its festive fate
But what was this? I could hardly believe
There were presents for everyone
(That includes neighbor Steve!)
But as for my somber and moody self
I couldn't find any "gift from an elf!"
Yes, I was glad that their electronics
No longer consumed their eyes and their thoughts
As their individual gift piles grew into great big lots
But while everyone got a nice pile of swag
I felt like I was the town's most unwanted hag!
I know that Christmas is more than what you get
But not a single present? I call forfeit!
They even got fancy things for our pet!
Just look - just look at all the gift paper fly
But no one, not any one, spared a thought for this guy?
I asked the youngest if there was anything for me
But he couldn't hear as he kept diving under the tree
Everyone else was simply too busy
To glance up or pay attention really
But how and why could this ever be?
Oh, what does it matter? Every day is the same
Today might be Christmas but it is only in name
I shouldn't be selfish; I should think of the rest
But sometimes retreating to my own little world seems best
(Ironically they treat me worst than a guest)
Sure, now that the phones are gone
A different focus found a new dawn
Perhaps I should retire with a feigned yawn
Nobody has a single thought about myself
I guess I could see what's good on the old game shelf
"Hey there, lost in thought?"
It was the voice of my youngest tot
Wow, this year he grew like a shot
I guess next year he'll be at the
Middle School's lot.
"Sorry, I was a bit out of it."
"Well it is present time, so quit!"
"Say aren't you just a fire spit?!"
"Sorry about that, but I have something for you!"
What? Really? Could this possibly be true?
It was small so it was no wonder I couldn't see
"I found it all the way at the back of the tree."
I was nearly in tears - I hadn't been forgotten by my family!
"Go ahead, open it and see!"
"Yes, dear, it's from the kids and me."
As I looked around at them and their new game stations,
Two Xboxes, four Nintendos, and two PlayStations
And my dear spouse with a souvenir from our last vacation
I remained dumbstruck and stood at my station
Hardly able to believe the changed situation
"If you're not going to open it, I could give you a hand."
How could they know? How could they understand?
For being so self-absorbed I felt like a big ham.
"I guess I should open it instead of just stand."
"Hurry up, you silly goose, Christmas ain't planned."
I tore open the paper once I was past the bow
And I hate to admit it, but wouldn't you know?
When I saw what I held tears filled up my eyes
Those crazy folks had been telling little white lies
Hidden behind their dresses and Christmas ties
"Oh my gosh, how could you afford such bliss?"
"If we hadn't gotten you something for the holiday,
then that would have been terribly amiss!"
"Yes, but it's too expensive, I can't accept this!"
"Don't worry, don't worry, I chipped in with the kids."
But this? This? This was the Nintendo World Championships!
The fabled N.E.S. gray cartridge worth a fortune in bids!
My mind raced as one is wont to do
How much money must they have flown through?
A few thousand dollars at least must be true!
Wait, I know. I couldn't be dumber.
They must have bought some reproduction or another.
"Oh, I say: You must have bought this repro on eBay."
"Oh ho ho ho - no how, no way!"
"What, no, you can't say-"
"We worked part time jobs this past summer."
"I acted as a grocery runner."
"Our band got a few gigs with me as drummer."
"I was a movie extra in Storms of Thunder."
"I worked as an apprentice plumber."
"Plus I managed to sell our old Hummer."
I was shocked. I was stunned. I couldn't believe it.
And here earlier I was throwing such a spoiled fit.
Here they were, all united as one
To buy me something significant and fun
But what mattered most to me wasn't the cost of the prize
Which had managed to bring the beginning of water-works to my eyes
Nor its rarity nor the nostalgia I had;
My family's kindness is what made me glad
And so my Christmas was merry, not sad
"Get over here! It's time for a group hug!"
"Yes, you too, Josh, don't be a bug!"
"You are the best family I know!"
"Hey Dad, look: It's beginning to snow."
"Well, gosh, kids, look at it go!"
So that's how our Christmas went this year
What started out bleak ended with cheer
I still can't believe they got me that rich game,
My collection won't ever again be the same.
But truly the warm heart was the best thing to claim!
~ THE END ~