發表評論-兒歌薈萃-萬維博客-萬維讀者網（電腦版）

Snow drifted in flurries down the dark December morning. Large flakes of ice rolled across the landscape like a scene from a Christmas commercial. The sun extended its bright holiday lights over the horizon, marking the beginning of gifts and cheer. However, my focus was directed toward the growing emptiness inside me.

"Mama, I thought you said I would get a Christmas present."

"Sorry, sweetie. Santa won't be coming this year."

"But he promised last year…"

I stared at the space underneath the toy Christmas tree. "Was I naughty?"

"No, sweetie. You were excellent this year. Santa—he was taking a break and said he would return next year."

My vision blurred. I sniffed. "Promise?"

"Promise… hey, you want some breakfast? We still have those Twinkies from last week."

"No. I'm not hungry."

"Ok, I'll save one for you." Lifting the blankets off the couch, Mama walks to the fridge. "We have some milk too—wait, never mind." She grabbed two cups from the drying rack and filled them with tap water. "Here, sweetie. It's good to drink some water when you wake up early."

She handed me the cup. I wiped my eyes. "Thanks." I took a sip of the cold water.

"How is it?" Mama prompted.

"Fine."

"Oh, sweetie…" Mama sat down next to me. "I'm so sorry for all of this. I know that this will all get better soon. Mommy needs this next job to…" She stopped.

My breath frosted in front of my face. "Mama, will we have warm air today?"

"Maybe. I don't know if the air will be heated, though." She fidgeted with some buttons on the wall. The vents remained coldly silent. "I guess not. Let me see if Mommy can find more blankets for us here." She walked to the other side of the apartment and rummaged through a pile of laundry.

I stared out into the snowy sunrise. The neighborhood across the street began to stir, lights flickering in bedrooms and living rooms. Through the windows, I watched children jump around in the well-lit halls, wearing their pajamas. I watched a mother and father greet each other with kisses and bright smiles, and brothers hug their sisters in the comforting warmth of a fireplace. I watched a family gather around a real, living Christmas tree, exchanging presents wrapped in red and green.

"Oh, would you look at that!" Mama waltzed over to the couch. "Look what I found!" It was a tattered wool sweater with a faint image of Rudolph embedded on the front.

Mama looked out the window and saw the neighbors. Her feigned enthusiasm died. "Oh, darling… things will be better next year, I'll be sure of it."

I didn't say anything.

Mama continued. "You know what? I just gave Santa a call yesterday. He said to me '—*in a scruffy old man's voice*—' Ho-ho-ho! I am sorry I can't be here this year, but I will save up a BIG present for Aiden next Christmas. You wait!"

【紅霞譯】

十二月昏暗的早晨雪花飄舞，厚厚的冰層像聖誕節廣告場景那樣覆蓋大地，太陽將節日的光芒撒向地平線上，標誌着拆看禮物與驚喜雀躍的開始。然而，我的注意力卻集中在自身日趨空虛的內心世界。

"媽，我以為您說過我會收到聖誕禮物。"

"對不起，寶寶，今年聖誕老人來不了啦。"

"但他去年發誓……"

我盯着玩具聖誕樹下那塊空地， “我調皮嗎？”

“不，寶寶，今年你真得很棒，聖誕老人——剛好休假，說是明年再來。”

我眼眶濕潤， "保證？"

“保證……嘿，你想吃早餐嗎？家裡還有上周剩的夾心蛋糕。”

"算了，我不餓。"

“那好，我給你留一個。” 媽把毯子扔到沙發上，走到冰箱。“我們還有牛奶—慢着，沒事。” 她拿出兩個空製冰盒，灌滿水：“這樣吧，寶寶，早上最好喝點水。”

她遞給我一個杯子，我擦乾眼睛。“謝謝。”我啜了一口，水太涼。