Sugar & Spice
The snowfall left a powder on the barren trees and gray buildings, breathing life back into the quiet town. With the cold weather came cold symptoms, shoveling an unforgiving slope of a driveway, wearing too many layers, sweating, stripping off a layer or two, shivering, and then you would be cold and sweaty at the same time. That’s how Melanie saw winter.
Melanie’s stepbrother saw things differently. He was ten, still believed in Santa, still insisted on putting the nativity scene on the mantle with all the animals close to baby Jesus. Mary, Joseph and the Wisemen had to wait outside. It was hard to relate to Isaac. Melanie was seventeen when her mother remarried. That was three years ago. She was starting college, thinking about a career – whereas Isaac, seven at the time, couldn’t think further into the future than dinner.
“Well, it’s almost Christmas. Maybe a cool gift would do the trick,” Josie suggested before scarfing down a sandwich.
Melanie slumped into her palms. “I guess…but what’s cool for ten-year-olds? What are kids into now-a-days? Pokemon?”
“Does he have a Switch?”
“Yeah…I’ve bought him games…he likes playing them, but it was never an Oh-my-god-you’re-the-best-Melanie kind of moment.”
Josie sipped her tea. “Does it need to be?”
“I just mean it’s never led to us getting closer. We’re still just…stepsiblings.”
“What’s wrong with that?”
“Nothing…except that Mom’s been getting after me to try and ‘connect’ with him.”
“Ah…parental expectations. Why am I not surprised?”
“Because your parents expect way too much of you?”
“You’re not wrong.” Josie glanced down at her smartwatch. “Ugh, gotta go. Just find out what makes the kid tick and get him that.”
Melanie pushed a few fries around her plate. “Yeah…I guess.”
When Melanie got home, Lisa was preparing dinner and Isaac was flopped in front of the TV, watching cartoons. Melanie deposited her bag on a chair and went into the kitchen.
“What’s for dinner?”
“Isaac’s favorite – homemade mac ‘n cheese.”
“Not sure why I asked.”
“What’s that?”
“Nevermind.” Melanie began setting the table. “I got my essay back.”
“And?”
“Got an A.”
“Keep up the good work and you’ll be starting graduate school before you know it.”
“About that…”
Isaac’s coughing from the living room cut Melanie off. Her mother’s gaze bypassed her and locked onto him.
“Would you get him a glass of water?”
Melanie grabbed a glass from the cabinet and went to fill it in the sink.
“Use the filtered water in the fridge.”
Melanie exhaled, “Right,” grabbed the Brita pitcher from the fridge, and poured the water into the glass. Glass half empty…or half full? She set it down next to Isaac; he was fixated on the screen. Melanie looked back at her mother, who in turn looked at her, then Isaac, then her again. Melanie grunted as she settled down onto the floor. “What are we watching?”
“Spongebob.”
“You still like this show?”
“Yeah.”
“Don’t you think you’re a little old for it?”
“You still watch Disney cartoons.”
He had a point. “Do you know what you want for Christmas?”
“Yeah…kind of.”
“Kind of? What is it?”
Isaac cast a nervous glance at his stepmother, then scooted towards Melanie until they were touching. “I want a puppy.”
“Why is it a secret?”
“I told Dad already…he said no. He said we don’t have time for a puppy.”
“Well…he’s kind of right. They aren’t home a lot, and you can’t walk the puppy alone. And puppies need a lot of walks.”
Isaac’s face lit up like a Christmas tree. “What if you helped me? You could walk with us! You’re old enough!”
“Thanks, kiddo, I’m aware. I can’t though – I’m really busy with classes and work.”
“Aww…” Isaac’s face fell.
“Sorry. We’re all busy right now. I’m sure you can get one once you’re older. What else do you want for Christmas?”
“I don’t know…it’s all I’ve thought about.”
Isaac’s dejected tone made Melanie uncomfortable. “I’m sure you’ll think of something. You’ve got some time.”
It was one week later when Melanie and Josie were walking into PETCO to grab fish food that Melanie was reminded of Isaac’s request. An adoption event was happening that weekend.
“Oh my god!” squealed Josie as they walked in. “They’re so cute I just want to die!”
Melanie peered into the crates and pens as they passed through the aisle. The last pen had two brown puppies, their butts wiggling with excitement.
Sugar and Spice – brother and sister, 5 mos. old, bonded pair.
She smiled then realized she had lost Josie. “Come on, Jos – I’ve got work later.”
Josie came running. “They’re-so-friggin’-cute!”
“I know…” She sighed as they made their way to the fish section. “But none of us have time for a puppy.”
Josie pushed out her lower lip in the biggest pout she could muster.
“It figures we came here today. You know what Isaac wants for Christmas?”
“Oh no…a puppy?”
“It’s not fun telling a kid they can’t get a puppy because you don’t have time for it.”
“Oof. Bet he didn’t like that. Does he want anything else?”
“He couldn’t think of anything. Christmas is a week away! I don’t know what to do.”
Josie patted her arm. “You’ll think of something.”
When Melanie arrived home, Lisa and Bill were sitting in the living room, TV off, Isaac nowhere to be seen. She closed the front door. Her mother turned towards the sound.
“Mom…?” Melanie called out. “Where’s Isaac?”
Her stepfather turned to her too. “Upstairs. Would you…please sit with us a moment?”
Melanie swallowed. The last time she had seen them like this was two years ago when Isaac had been diagnosed with Leukemia. She sat down on the sofa next to her mother. “Did…did someone die? Are Grandma and Grandpa OK?”
“They’re fine, honey.” Her mother reached for her hand. “It’s…it’s someone else.” She drew a shaky breath, but no words followed.
Her stepfather spoke. “Isaac had his last scan and…it’s back.”
“What?” Melanie blinked.
“The Leukemia is back. And it’s terminal.”
Melanie stared back in disbelief. “That can’t be…it was in remission!”
“The doctor explained that…although unusual, Leukemia can come back. He was surprised to see how advanced it was…”
Melanie felt her mother’s hand shaking in hers. “How…how long does he have?”
“Uncertain…but this might be his last Christmas with us.”
Melanie’s mother collapsed into tears.
Melanie hugged her numbly, then it dawned on her. “I have to go!” She snatched up her purse and rushed out the front door. “Please be there, please be there,” she muttered as she drove. She wrenched off her seatbelt and ran to the entrance, saw the shelter’s van parked off to the side with volunteers packing up the crates and pens. “Sorry, sorry – I was here earlier – I saw two puppies…”
“Do you remember their names?”
“Sugar and Spice. Do you still have them?”
“Let me see…” The volunteer began flipping through papers.
“It’s really important.”
“I don’t have their paperwork here, so they must have been adopted. We have some other puppies. I can give you the website – ”
“Do you know who adopted them?”
“I can’t really give out people’s information…oh! That’s the woman right there!”
Melanie sprinted after the woman leading Sugar and Spice away. “Wait! Please!” She was panting when she reached them.
The woman turned to her. “Are you alright?”
“I need…” She put her finger up. “I know this is going to sound weird…but I need those two puppies.” To her surprise, the woman smiled.
“Christmas present?”
“Uh…yeah…how did you know?”
“It’s a week before Christmas, and you felt the need to run after a complete stranger in a dark parking lot…so I figured it must be important. How old are they?”
“What?”
“This must be for a sibling.”
“My brother. He’s ten.”
“So young. I’m sorry. That must be very hard on you.”
Melanie frowned. “What must be?”
“You wouldn’t be so desperate to get these puppies unless it was very important. Will this be his last Christmas?”
Melanie’s jaw dropped. “Well…yes? How could you know all that?”
“Let’s just call it a mother’s – and grandmother’s – intuition. I’m very sorry about your brother. I lost a granddaughter to Leukemia.”
“That’s what my brother has. I’m so sorry about your granddaughter.”
“Thank you, dear. But I know she’s in a better place.” She smiled up at the night sky. “Because it’s so important, you can have the puppies.”
“Oh my god…thank you so much. How much do you want?”
“Oh, my dear, I don’t want money. But it would warm my heart to see your brother with the puppies. Could I come for a visit when he gets them?”
“I mean, yeah – he’s treated at Trinity Hospital. His name is Isaac Miller. Could you…I know I’m asking so much, and you don’t know me from Adam…it’s just, I want the puppies to be a surprise. Could you bring them to the hospital?”
“I would be happy to. Here’s my name and number.” She scribbled onto a piece of paper. “You just contact me to let me know when and what room.”
“Thank you…for everything…” Melanie looked down at the paper. “Mary.”
Melanie entered Isaac’s room at the hospital late Christmas morning, where her mother and stepfather were already settled down. Isaac’s face broke into a smile when he saw her.
“Hey, kiddo.” She ruffled his hair before sitting down on his bed. “Sorry I’m late. Did you get any cool toys?”
“Yeah!” Issac gathered up the toys in his lap. “No puppies, though…”
Melanie smiled. “I don’t know if they allow them in hospitals. What’s this thing do?”
Melanie let Isaac gush over his new gadgets as their parents looked on. He would have kept going if Melanie’s phone alarm hadn’t gone off.
“What did you have your alarm set for?” her mother asked. “Do you have to leave so soon?”
“No, actually…I have a surprise for Isaac.” She winked as she got up. “I’ll be right back.” She disappeared from the room, only to appear minutes later with an elderly woman and two bouncing puppies.
Isaac sat up, grinning from ear to ear. “Puppies!”
Melanie closed the door and plopped the puppies onto the bed. “This is Sugar and Spice. They’re brother and sister, just like us.”
Isaac was smothered in kisses. “Are they for me?”
“Yup – all for you.”
“I thought you said you didn’t have time for puppies. Where will they stay? I don’t think they’ll let me keep them here…”
“Don’t worry – they’ll come home with us. I’ll take care of them, and they’ll come with me whenever I visit. You said you wanted puppies for Christmas, right?”
Isaac laughed. “Best Christmas ever!”
Melanie turned to Mary. “Thank you again…you don’t know how much this means to us.”
Mary grasped her hands. “I think I do, dear…and that makes it mean the world to me too. If I can make a child happy…well, then my day’s work is done.”
“Wait – I just need to explain to my parents – ”
When Melanie turned back to Mary, she was no longer in the room. Melanie ducked outside and checked the hallway then walked down to the nurse’s station. “Excuse me…a woman named Mary was just here. She brought in the two puppies for my brother, Isaac Miller. Did she sign out?”
“Mary…do you know the last name?”
“I…I’m afraid I don’t.”
“Well, the visitor roster is right there on the counter if you want to take a look.”
“Thanks.” Melanie grabbed the clipboard and began flipping through the pages. Then she saw it, near the bottom of the last page. The signature read: “Mary Christmas.”
