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As dusk set in , more lights went up, and more bellies were filled. It seemed like everyone
from the "nice neighborhood" were coming down the road to visit us, instead of us visiting
them.

"Ohhhhhhh," moaned Nicholas, as he grabbed his stomach. Christopher and I began to
giggle. "He's going to explode," shrieked Jordan. I felt like I was going to blow up myself.

"Hey!" yelled Derrick. "The news people are here!" Christopher and I exchanged glances.
"News People?" we both said in wonder. "Woo-hoo! I'm going to be famous!" said
Sommer. "Me too!" said Jordan. They were both very excited. Christopher managed to
pull Nicholas to his feet, and then two of them ran over to where the news team from Channel
5 were setting up.

"It's just about six, will we make tonights news cast?" asked Jordan's mother. "We will if its
live," answered Derrick. "Oh my goodness...Live TV! How does my hair look? Is it all
right? She ran her fingers quickly through her hair. "It looks fine Becky," my mother soothed.

"Here they come!" shouted Derrick. A busy looking woman in a red suit came walking over
in our direction. Before I knew it , her microphone was pushed in my direction. She wanted
to know how all of this happened. "Well," I stammered. "It was Jordan's idea. We were all
bored and wanted to find something to do" She asked a bunch of other questions. She was
just amazed that we had done this. It didn't seem amazing to us.

The reporter spoke back into the camera. "It is just an extraordinary example of the
Christmas Spirit Tom," she said. "These people have nothing but each other, and have
managed not only to survive, but to create something here today that rival's even the richest of
atmosphere's. Reporting live for Channel 5, I'm Rhonda North. Back to you Tom. The
camera man signaled that they were off the air. The reporter sighed, and then turned back to
us. "Thank you for your interview, " she said to me. "It just seems so unbelievable that this
has happened." She gestured with her arm toward the hundreds of people at the party going
on around us. By this time it was fully dark, and strings of white, blue, red, green, and pink
lights were everywhere. It was truly an amazing sight.

"We were just going to decorate," I said quietly. "We didn't have much, but money doesn't
grow on trees you know." The reporter looked silently back at me for a moment and
seemed to grow very thoughtful. Finally she tore her eyes away from mine and stepped up
to this now overly decorated Christmas Tree. Her hand slipped into her coat pocket and
when it came out it held several dollar bills. She pinned them to the colored paper
ornaments. "It does now." she said. Rhonda North from Channel 5 turned, and walked
back to her news truck.

In the wake of her departure, several other people stepped up to the tree with money in their
hands. Strangers who had seen the live news cast only moments ago, were walking into the
very crowded court yard. Trucks rolled up to the curb, and toys and other presents were
unloaded for us. A grocery store representative brought bags of groceries for all of our
empty cupboards. A music store manager brought a shiny new keyboard for Andrew, and
an ambulance arrived with a wheel chair for Jordan.

"All of our dreams are coming true," cried my mother with tears rolling down her face.
"Yeah," agreed Nicholas. "We have the most expensive Christmas Tree on the block!"
Everyone howled with laughter, and the singing started up again. This time the song was, O
Christmas Tree.

We had the most amazing Christmas that year, and it changed all of our lives. Mrs.
Hubbard and her husband moved shortly after that Winter because Mr. Hubbard got a
brand new job as an ad executive in New York City. They have four grandchildren now,
and two on the way.

Andrew and Derrick also enjoyed good fortune later in life. Derrick started his own body
shop business, and is now the most successful body shop in L.A.

Andrew was "discovered" by a talent scout who happened to see the news broadcast that
night. His songs are always on the radio.

Ms. Lynn's granddaughter also watched the news that night, and shortly after came to live
with her. Ms. Lynn was never lonely ever again. She died later that year, and we all attended
her funeral.

Jordan ended up playing basketball in the special Olympics for years. Now she is a youth
leader, and a basketball coach for disabled children.

Sommer also became a basketball player, and now plays in the WNBA.

Christopher is a firefighter and Nicholas became a policeman, both were decorated recently
for bravery.

And for me, well, I think it's obvious what happened to me. I became a writer.

Merry Christmas and Goodnight.

But if money really did grow on trees, I would end world hunger and have peace on
earth. It could happen - if we all pitch in.

~Robert L. McCarter 1986