LUNCHBOX STORIES
by john rustywire

The sound of fighting filled the small Indian boys
ears, the sounds from the next room usually came with the holidays.
Everything would start out nice and then someone would pull out a bottle of booze. He knew what was coming later in the evening. The laughter was loud, the jokes and later insults would fly, accusations and hard words made to one another. Then it would grow quiet and the fighting would start, but maybe not this time.

His father got chased out just after Halloween and had not been home, so he started to sell newspapers for a dime each and got to keep a nickel. His mother worked cleaning rooms and he and little sister helped since the money was short.

It was near Christmas when he heard the familiar sound of stamping feet on the porch and squeek of the screen door. The Old Man was home.
He peeked out at him and saw that he was bringing in wood. No one spoke to him since he was chased out drunk and arguing months ago. No one knew where he had gone to. He brought in a bag and put it by the wash basin. When Mom got home they spoke quietly. It was Christmas Eve and the boy was worried and prayed there would be no fights this time.

He closed his eyes and wished hard that it would be a "good Christmas".

Times were hard and to avoid staying home he took his little sister
sledding on an inner tube dragging her around in the snow up the hill and back down. It was cold and they played all afternoon. He saw the Old Man come to the bottom of the hill and there started a small bonfire for everyone there. He watched him from afar and thought this is how it is supposed to be, to have fun without that "stuff" around.

He went to the fire to warm up and the Old Man did not say much but added wood to the fire and then went home. The boy took his sister up the hill one more time and they went really fast down hill. It was fun, but they had to go home.

He walked slowly to the small house they rented in the city. It was next to the forest and they walked by many nice houses. He could see the Christmas lights and the trees and the families in their living rooms. I wish just once we could have a Christmas like that.

When they got back to the little house, there was a wreath on the door with Christmas lights and ornaments on it and it brightened the place a little bit. He went in and took off his coat, it was cold and wet and put them by the stove to dry off. He took off his shoes and looked at the table, supper was ready to eat. He helped his sister with her coat and made sure to put them so they could get them quickly in case they had to run out of the house later.

He went to the room where they slept on mattresses put on the floor, no bed frames. He stepped into the room and there was a bed, with a wooden frame and some dresser drawers with a mirror. Usually his clothes were in boxes all mixed together but they were all in drawere. He opened the top drawer and found his favorite toys there.

How could this be? I don't believe this and went to find his mother. They were there at the table, the Old Man, his mother and sister. She had bed too. "Mom, how did..." His mother interrupted him and said sit down, he found his place. Just then, knock, knock, the sound came from the door. The Old Man got up and answered it. The boy could see it was the ones who like to party, his heart fell.

The Old Man, said, "I can't go with you guys, I quit that stuff, can't do it any more.." The one with Red Eyes said, "You must be on the wagon", he laughed, "why don't you fall off the wagon and let it run over you...." The Old Man said, "No, got to stay home, it's Christmas."

The boy looked at the Old Man with wonder. He said, "Daddy, did you stop drinking?" His father, Old Man, turned and looked at him and said with steady clear eyes, "Yes son, I was in treatment and got a job at the thrift store the last two weeks and with luck got some things for you and your sister." The boys heart lept for joy, and he turned to go back to the table. It was a simple Christmas just off the rez, but it was the best one he ever had, cuz the Old Man never made him wish he lived somewhere else anymore. It was home and a Christmas like any child should have.

The next day they all went sledding, the Old Man, Mom and his sister with him and it was a good day for such things....