So, I ran into this elderly lady, Edie. She was struggling through the snow, dragging a heavy suitcase, and all by herself. Turns out Edie was trying to get to her daughter’s place for Thanksgiving. She didn’t remember the way very well, kept getting confused, and walking was hard for her, so she really needed some help. Meanwhile, my boss kept blowing up my phone, even though the workday was over. I ignored all the calls — helping Edie was way more important. After what felt like forever, we finally made it. Edie’s hands were shaking, and she had this weird, grim look on her face — I thought it was just nerves. We rang the doorbell, and a young woman opened the door. She: “Uh, can I help you?” Edie: “Melody, dear! It’s Mom! I’ve come to surprise you for Thanksgiving.” She, with a heavy sigh: “Oh… I’m so sorry to say this.”

Thanksgiving is the most genuine representation of the most wonderful time of the year. The holiday is all about family, friends, and being surrounded by loved ones, which sadly isn’t everyone’s reality.

As I was walking the busy roads on Thanksgiving day, recalling all those wonderful celebrations I had with my mom, I noticed an elderly woman dragging a suitcase through the snow. I was about to sit at the near coffee shop and have some hot cocoa, but I felt sorry for the lady and offered to help her.

She was glad someone was there to give her a helping hand with the heavy suitcase. She explained that she lived in the near city but hadn’t seen her daughter in quite some time, so she was there to pay her a surprising visit. I smiled because I believed that was the true magic of the holiday, parents and their children reuniting to spend the day together.

Just as I took the suitcase, my phone started ringing. It was my boss, Albert, who was the most demanding person there was. I decided to ignore his call because I knew he would give me a bunch of commitments although the work day was already over.

The elderly lady, who introduced herself as Edie, asked if I could help her pick a gift for her daughter Melody.

Since I was nowhere else to be, I thought I could at least be someone’s reason to smile on Thanksgiving so I was quick to agree.

On the corner of the street, there was the most magical shop in town. It sell ornaments and a bunch of other things.

After looking around for quite some time, Edie chose a hand-painted glass ornament. I told her she made the perfect choice. That ornament reminded me of my mother, who loved the holidays and decorating around the house. Hearing this, Edie decided to get two, one for her daughter and one for me.

My phone rang again, it was Albert again, but once again, I decided to ignore his call.

Edie seemed to have a hard time remembering where her daughter lived, and when she finally recalled the house, we knocked on the door and a beautiful young lady opened it.

But instead of putting a smile on her face for seeing her mom, she looked at us with a strange expression before she asked, “How can I help you?”

Edie said, “Melody, it’s me, your mom…I’m here to spend Thanksgiving with you…” But the woman said she confused her with someone else as her mom was already inside the house with her.

Edie felt ashamed. It was then that I realized her daughter didn’t even live in the town.

However, looking at how devastated she was, I decided not to say anything.

Albert called for the third time, and this time I picked up my phone. As always, he was loud and started yelling, demanding that I returned to the office right away.

I took Edie with me and headed to the office. There, Albert yelled again and when I tried to explain to him why I hadn’t answered his calls right away, he said his firm wasn’t a charity and that he didn’t care about the elderly lady I was helping. He then told me I had been sacked from my job. “Take your belongings and leave right away,” he said.

I was so disappointed. Although I hated my job at times, it paid my bills, and losing it was Edie’s fault. She tricked me into believing her daughter was expecting her, and that was away from the truth.

I told Edie to grab a taxi and leave home. She was looking at me with eyes filed with regret, but I didn’t care.

When the night rolled in, I figured out this would be yet another Thanksgiving I would be spending all by myself. The thought was a painful one. I wish I didn’t get to upset with Edie. I realized she was just trying to find someone for the holiday. Why couldn’t I be that person.

I barely set up the table, when someone rang the doorbell. I didn’t expect anyone, but I still opened the door.

To my surprise, it was Albert. Holding the ornament Edie bought earlier that day he said someone had left it in his office, and it brought nostalgia. He realized he was harsh to me and asked if I needed company. I said, “Sure,” and welcomed him in, but the thought of Edie wouldn’t give me peace.

When I told Albert what bothered me, he said we should go to Edie’s place. I already knew her address, I hear it when she was telling it to the taxi driver.

Albert drove to the near city where Edie resided and finding her house wasn’t much trouble.

When she saw both of us, a huge smile landed on her face. It felt like the three of us have finally found what was missing.

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