The Parking Lot was Empty – A Christmas Story by Maxine Flam, hot cocoa

The parking lot was empty. Seriously? They were supposed to be open until 6 p.m. Did they sell out of Christmas trees, so they packed up and left?  I just drove by this lot this morning and they were there. The sign is still up. I’ll pull in and check it out. Oscar and Sons’ Christmas Tree Lot – sold out said the small letters.

That’s what I get for waiting until Christmas Eve to buy a tree. I don’t understand why the family can’t just put up a fake tree like the neighbors do. It saves money in the long run. ‘Oh, no, I want a real tree. I want to smell the pine scent,’ my wife says. Well, with the costs of trees going up every year. I’m surprised he sold out.  So now, what am I going to do? 

I sat there for a long while. I was the only vehicle in the lot. Then another pulled in, and another. I got out of my truck and said to one guy, ‘You know of a lot selling trees around here?’

He shrugged his shoulders and didn’t say anything. The third guy said there was a church on Riverside Drive and Colfax Avenue that had some yesterday. ‘Great,’ I said. I thanked him and the three of us got in our respective vehicles and proceeded to the church’s parking lot.

Way in the corner near the lighted manger was the tree lot. They didn’t have many but they did have trees. The profits from the sale of the trees went to charity so I actually didn’t feel bad buying one. I picked a six-foot evergreen, opened the tailgate of my truck, and took it home.

When I got there, the kids were asleep and the wife half-expected I was going to disappoint her. She was excited to see the tree. She got the tree stand out with a pan of water and put the tree in it. We decorated it until after 1 a.m. when we put the presents under it. When the kids went to bed, there was nothing in the corner but when they woke up Christmas Day, they found a beautiful tree and an assortment of presents. This Christmas Eve made a believer out of me. Next Christmas, I’m going back to the same church lot, only earlier, to buy another live tree. 

About the author

Since becoming disabled in 2015, Maxine took up her passion for writing. She has been published several times in the Los Angeles Daily News, The Epoch Times, Nail Polish Stories, DarkWinterLit, BrightFlashLiteraryReview, OtherwiseEngagedLit, CafeLit, Maudlin House, and TheMetaworker.com. 

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This story was first published by Bright Flash Literary Review.