The Great Popcorn Ball Christmas

     Hello everyone! Joe was suddenly inspired to write a little story about popcorn balls. We had been at the store and I remembered that it was the one that always had those little prepackaged popcorn balls we all love to eat this time of year.  To his dismay, they were completely out of stock. He tried another store only to find they were out, too. The lesson we learned this year was that we need to get them right after Thanksgiving. But something triggered an idea for a story in his mind and he wrote this up, with a little help with editing from me. So, here you go. Enjoy this little story called, The Great Popcorn Ball Christmas. 

      Snow fell outside the living room window as David and Esther decorated their seven-foot tall tree with lights and ornaments.  Abigail, their four-year-old daughter danced, in joy as she watched the large flakes quickly cover the yard. Her long curly hair bounced in her excitement as she hopped over to where they worked. 
     “You’re like a little bunny today!” Esther, her mother laughed. 
     Abigail’s nose wrinkled as she grinned. “Can we make a snowman? Can we? Can we?”
     Esther could not help but smile back. “I’d love to, but I need to make cookies for Daddy’s work party. Maybe Daddy can take you outside after we’re finished here.” 
     David looked at Abigail, glanced at the clock, and then looked back at his bouncy daughter. How could he say no to that adorable smiling face with the wrinkle in the nose?    
     “Well, in a half hour the snow should be deep enough, and we should be done with the tree. Then we can go out to play.”
     “Yay!” replied Abigail excitedly. “We’re gonna build a snowman! We’re gonna build a snowman!” 
     Abigail bounded over to Elliot her brother, who was sitting on the floor in front of the television playing on the gaming console. In a loud voice she asked him, “Wanna build a snowman?”
     Elliot rolled his eyes without even looking up from his game, “No, I have to beat this level before Eric does.  Otherwise I’ll owe him my dessert from my lunch bag when we go back to school.”
     “Maybe I will have to pack you two desserts next time,” Esther said as she passed the two children on her way to the kitchen. 
     Abigail grew bored watching her brother play and went back to David. “Can I help decorate?”
     David had just placed the star on tree, but noticed it was leaning to the side. “Sure, Abby. I can use your help fixing the star.” He lifted Abigail and put her on his shoulders. “Just push the star toward the kitchen.” 
      Abigail gently pushed the star in the direction her father instructed. “Like that?” 
​     “Yes!That’s perfect!!” He set Abigail back on the floor and glanced out the window. “Hey, Abby, look! The snow is much deeper now! Let’s get ready to go outside!”
     With an excited gasp, Abigail cheered as she twirled around before racing to get her snowclothes on. The two quickly bundled up and hurried outside into the winter wonderland. They made what Abigail called “a huge” snowman, because it was taller than her. They played outside for a couple of hours, and were soaked to the skin from the wet snow.
     When they finally tired of their outdoor antics, they both came inside dripping from the melting snow. After hanging up their wet outerwear, they went to the kitchen to make some hot chocolate so they could warm up their cold bones. The rest of the family joined in  as they sat at the kitchen island, drinking their hot drinks and sampling Esther’s fresh baked cookies. 
     Suddenly David’s phone rang. He glanced at the caller id and saw that it was his sister,  Brianna. He answered and discussed the events of the week as he sipped his hot chocolate. Brianna confirmed she would be arriving in the afternoon on Christmas Eve. David was very excited about seeing his sister and her family. It had been almost ten years since they had been able to spend Christmas together. He and Brianna talked about their favorite Christmas experiences and traditions. 
     “Do you remember getting popcorn balls in our stockings?” she asked him. 
     David exclaimed, “Oh, yes! I loved those! I had forgotten all about them because I haven’t seen them in the stores for years!”
     Brianna responded, “Yes, they are really difficult to find.”
     For about twenty more minutes, they continued to reminisce over Christmases gone by, but at the back of David’s mind was a plan to get popcorn balls for everyone. It would put the finishing touches on what was already starting to be a perfect holiday.
     The busy work week flew by as David was preoccupied with getting the year end details straightened out before his vacation. It was not until December 23rd that David suddenly remembered his plan - to search for popcorn balls. After looking at the clock, which read 5:45am, he quickly went in the shower to get ready for his noble quest.
     When he was ready, he left a note for Esther and kissed her cheek while she was asleep. He then went outside to warm up the car, dusted the snow off, and then shoveled the driveway enough to pull out into the road. 
     So, David excitedly began his quest. He went from store to store, only to find that they had all sold out of stock since the week after Thanksgiving. Yet, he still felt hopeful his efforts would be fruitful.
     David decided to try a small family grocery store. He saw the owner picking up a broken jar in an aisle. As if he knew David had a question, he peered up at him over the top of his glasses. “Can I help you find something?”
     David replied sheepishly, “Um, do you have any popcorn balls in stock?”
     The owner began to laugh. “If I had a dollar for everytime someone asked me that this week, I could take my wife on a trip to Hawaii.”
     Dejected, David politely thanked the man and left. Would he ever find them?
     At the next store he noticed another man also asking about popcorn balls. It seemed they both had the same idea. After making five more stops and seeing the same man at each stop, David decided it was time to bring up their mutual quest. 
     David introduced himself to the man and found out his name was Tyrell. They discussed their lack of success during the day, and the fact they both used to love getting popcorn balls in their stockings every Christmas growing up. David noted a look of discouragement in his eyes that went beyond their search for popcorn balls. 
     In an effort to give it one more try, Tyrell suggested a more efficient way to search for the popcorn balls. If  they each took a side of town, they could search faster and more efficiently, alerting the other if they discovered a place with popcorn balls in stock. They exchanged phone numbers and then continued on their journey with their hope in their quest renewed.
     David tried eight more stores that day and then gave up. His dream of giving his family the perfect Christmas had been dashed. Defeated, he drove home.
     In his driveway he texted Tyrell, “Any success?”
     Tyrell replied, “None. You?”
     “No. But I hope you and your family still have a great Christmas.”
     After what seemed like a very long pause Tyrell responded, “You too. God bless you and your family with health and happiness.”
     “Thanks. You too.”
     That was the last response from Tyrell. The nagging desperation in his eyes haunted David. It was as if Tyrrell had the weight of the world on his shoulders. 
     Trying to muster some semblance of holiday cheer, David went into the house. Esther met him at the door and saw the frustration on his face and his empty hands.  
     “ No luck in finding the popcorn balls?” she asked. 
     He shook his head. “I looked everywhere! I guess everyone and their brother wanted them too! I just waited too long.” 
     Esther gave him a hug. “Why don’t you join the kids and I in the living room as we watch a Christmas movie. It might take your mind off of the long day.”
     By the time David’s head hit the pillow, he had almost forgotten about his failed search and drifted off into a dreamless sleep. 
     The next day his sister Brianna arrived with her husband Walter, and three children, twins Charlene and Darlene, and Nancy. They arrived in an airport limousine, which pulled up in front of the driveway. David was excited that their long awaited Christmas holiday could begin and he was going to enjoy every minute with them. Even though there were no popcorn balls, it would still be like the holidays he and his sister remembered.
     Christmas morning arrived. It was everything he had hoped for, and they had a great time opening their stockings and presents, and ate doughnuts that Grandpa and Grandma had brought over when they came to join in the festivities. 
     David’s dad set a wrapped box next to David and smirked. “Your sister told me to get this for you.”
    David slowly opened the present with a sense of anticipation. As he opened the top flap, a plastic bag fell at his feet. As if in slow motion, he reached down to pick up the bag to discover it was a popcorn ball. 
     David was so excited! All he could say was, “Yes!” Upon further investigation, he found the entire box was filled to the brim with popcorn balls. 
     After marveling at the treasure before him, he looked around and said, “I can't eat them all, anyone want one?”
     One by one, David tossed one to everyone in the room who wanted one until half of the box was empty. But there was a nagging feeling that tugged on David's heart strings as he stared at the remaining treats in the box in front of him. 
     David grabbed his phone to text Tyrell, “I found them. I have about fifteen popcorn balls I can bring you.”
     Tyrell responded with one word to start,  “WOW!”
     Then he texted, “Hold on a second. Let me ask my wife if it’s okay.”
     David waited and then another text popped up. “She said sure. And I will give you money for gas and pay you for them as well.”
     David replied, “Just text me your address and we’ll discuss that later.”
     David told his family the story of the man he had met at one of the stores. Although his family found the entire situation a bit unusual, it seemed like it had the “Christmas spirit” about it, so they waved to David as he loaded the box of popcorn balls into the car and left to drive to Tyrell’s house.
     Tyrell met David outside and was happy to see him, but he didn't ask about the popcorn balls right away. Tyrell invited David in and introduced David to his wife and his four children. David noticed that their little boy, who’s name was Tyrell Jr, was obviously having cancer treatments, having had lost all his hair and looked very frail. 
     David approached the young boy, who was about the same age as his son Elliot. He smiled at him and asked him if he had enjoyed his Christmas. Tyrell, who was not shy, began talking his ear off and told him about all the things he had received that day. David wondered how Tyrell Jr could be so happy for someone obviously so ill. If his family was to go through what this family was going through, it would be a miserable time. Yet this family seemed so happy!
     Tyrell interrupted his son’s conversation and pulled David into his home office to talk privately. “I can’t thank you enough for bringing these.” He held up one of the popcorn ball bags. “I had wanted to give my family the best Christmas ever and felt like I had failed. I’m sorry if I seemed down and out the day you met me. We had just received a disturbing diagnosis for Ty Jr. and it had upset me.”
     Tyrell cleared his throat and his eyes grew glassy, “This may be his last Christmas with us. I thought it might help if I kept myself busy going from store to store searching for popcorn balls. I should have been here with my family, treasuring each moment with them because it might never come again.”
     David choked back tears at the revelation. There was peace in this house, one he could not explain. It was a peace he didn't have in his home. Although his family was happy, and he had a good career, he didn't have this same peace in his life. He could not help asking, “Why do you seem so happy when you have such difficulties in your life?”
        Tyrell shared with David his faith in Jesus, and led him to a salvation experience in Christ. 
     Back at home, David related the events to his family. They had mixed reactions, but were largely positive. Yet, no matter what the others said, David now felt the peace in his own heart and knew that his life was forever changed.   
     In the coming weeks and months, David developed a close friendship with Tyrell, and the two became like brothers. David’s family began attending services at Tyrell’s church, and one by one his family accepted Christ as their Savior. Both families grew close together and were there for each other through the tough times and good times. 
     Decades later, David and Esther stood outside the door, arms full of Christmas presents, as they said goodbye to Tyrell and his wife. Tyrell Jr, who had beaten the odds of cancer, also stood in the entryway, with his son close beside him. 
      “This was one of my favorite Christmases,” David commented as he began to head down the steps. 
     Tyrell Sr. tipped his head. “One of them? Which one was your favorite?”
      David smiled, "My favorite was the great popcorn ball Christmas.”
     “Yes, mine too! And don’t forget that was also the Christmas when we met and became brothers!” Tyrell Sr reminded him.
     Tyrell Jr turned to his dad. “That was also the time I prayed for God to give you a miracle for Christmas. I thought the miracle would be Him healing me, which He did later, but God gave you  a best friend, saved his family, and gave us some popcorn balls.”
     Tyrell Sr. hugged his son, and said, “God has truly blessed me. I love you, son.”
     His son responded, “I love you, too, Dad.”
     David smiled at the show of emotion in front of him. “This is a fine way to end a great day, but if I don’t get home soon I will be falling asleep at the wheel.” 
     Esther nodded in agreement. “And I want to get home in one piece, please!”
    With that, they all said goodnight and got into their car to head home. When they reached the house, David opened the trunk to bring in all the gifts, and at the bottom found a strange looking box that he knew he had not put in there. On the top of the box was a note that said, “I found them.” Upon opening it he saw a pile of popcorn balls ready for eating. 
     Tears filled David’s eyes. He was grateful for all that God had done for him in his noble quest because he had found so much more than popcorn balls….he had found everlasting life, and a remarkable friendship that lasted a lifetime.  

                                                                                        The End