A WARM ROOM, A WARM MEMORY

When I lived in Atlanta, our local newspaper, the ATLANTA JOURNAL & CONSTITUTION, had a contest in Dec.1995, in which kids were asked to submit a story (real or make-believe) about Chritmas memories. The prize was $50.00. Darned if my son, Brett, didn't win 1st place and so when we picked up our morning paper on Dec. 25th, guess who's "story" was on the front page? They had also illustrated it and what the artist drew, looked EXACTLY as we'd seen (stranger's face and body as well as his dog).


The following is his story, nothing changed, altered, deleted or added.


"A WARM ROOM, A WARM MEMORY"

A TRUE STORY
BY BRETT MUNDELL SHORT
14, WHEELER HIGH SCHOOL

One Christmas, when I was 10 years old, my mom and I drove from our home here in Marietta, GA. to Texas, where my Aunt Phyllis lived.

Just before we left, there was a big fire in our complex. About eight families lost their condo's and everything inside. We were not too happy when we began the long ride to Texas in freezing temperatures, at dawn. We didn't have much money, either.

We drove all day and stayed that blustery night at a motel halfway, maybe Louisiana, I can't remember. When we got up very early, our white Camaro was all frozen over as it was bitter cold. We went inside the warm motel to pay and to eat in their restaurant. We both had hot breakfasts and hot drinks.

Through the ice and snow, we could see a thin man and his scrawny dog walking from the dark main highway toward our motel. No one else was out that early----6 a.m.---and we thought they must have hitchhiked that far. the weather had turned blustery and frigid, only about 10F.

The man came inside and filled a can with water to give to his dog, tied outside. They both looked so cold, hungry and pitiful. Then the man came inside and sat down to order; he only asked for coffee. He tried to warm his hands around the cup.

It was time for us to go so my mom paid for our food. When we got outside, the man was patting his trembling dog.

Suddenly, my mom went back inside and I followed. She asked for the motel manager. Then she explained that even though we had checked out earlier, didn't we pay for our room until noon? He replied "yes". Then she asked if we could let a homeless man use it until then? He asked if we knew the man and she replied "no, but he looks like he could use some warmth, sleep and a hot shower." (She never mentioned the dog).

The nice manager agreed! She thanked him, wished him a very Merry Christmas and as we left the motel, she told the stranger that he was more than welcome to use our room until 12 noon. His face lit up like a Christmas tree! SIX WHOLE HOURS inside a warm, private room! He smiled broadly and shyly said "Thank you, Ma'am. I sure do thank you!"

We defrosted our windows and warmed our car for the long ride to my aunt's house. When we pulled out of the parking lot, the man and his dog were using the door key to enter our motel room. He turned to watch us leave, and, at that moment, my mom and I both thought he looked just like Jesus!

We went down the highway, happy and laughing, imagining him and his best friend all warm and cuddled in their two, big, soft beds. I wished later I had given him my five dollar allowance I had in my pocket but I wanted to buy my mother something for Christmas. Perhaps God would feed them?

It is my all-time favourite Christmas memory and I'm 14 years old now.