Storytime with P. Meggy "The Biggest Present"

"Mommy?"
"Yes, sweetie?" I said, as I handed D.J. another cloth ornament to hang. There would be nothing breakable on our little tree this year. I sighed, Danny and I had always loved the little glass ones. Love the little glass ones. It's not past tense. At least, not yet.
"Where's Daddy?" He asked, as he examined the little sock monkey on its hook.
 "He's off saving the world, I guess."
"Will he be home for Christmas? which is tomorrow?"
"Honey, I know it's tomorrow." I smiled at him, "I don't think he'll be home tomorrow, D.J., but maybe someday soon."
"Oh." He said, pondering for a moment as he hung the little monkey. "Is Daddy a superhero? Like Batman?"
I couldn't help but laugh. "No. Daddy's a marine."
"Oh....are marines kind of like superheroes?"
I was stumped by this question. It was kind of like the ones all little kids ask. 'Why is the sky blue?' I had to think about it for a minute. "Yes, sweetie, I guess marines kind of are like superheroes..."
"Mommy, can you make some cookies so we can give some to Santa?"
"And so you can eat one, too, I'm sure." The little boy giggled, and I had to smile again, I love my son with all my heart. I just wish I could do everything for him..."You keep hanging up these ornaments, and I'll get them started."
When I came back, to ask D.J. if he wanted to lick the spoon, I found him gone from the living room; the little pile of ornaments still sat underneath the tree, waiting to be hung up.
"D.J.?" I called, poking my head in his room.
He sat at the little desk his grandfather, my father-in-law, had made him not so long ago, with a crayon and a sheet of computer paper. "I'm writing a letter to Santa." He explained.
"Oh, really?" I said, crouching down so I could be about eye level with him. "Can I see?"
"No." He said, covering the paper with his hands. "It's for Santa to read."
"Well, you know, it is Christmas Eve, I don't know if Santa'll get it in time to get everything on your list."
"That's okay. I just asked for one thing."
"Just one?"
"Yes, Mommy, just one."
Later that night, after I had tucked him into bed, I read his letter. He had asked Santa to bring Daddy home so he and Mommy could have him for Christmas. I cried on Christmas Eve, because Santa couldn't get what D.J. wanted.
The next morning, I woke up to D.J. bouncing up and down on my bed, singing "We Wish You a Merry Christmas" But the only words he could remember were 'Merry Christmas.'
"Merry Christmas, Mommy!!!"
"Merry Christmas, D.J."
"Can we open presents now? There's a really big one from Santa! I bet it's the biggest, most bestest present ever!"
"I bet it is." I said, thinking it was either the Transformers set or the Thomas the Tank Engine railroad I had gotten him. "We can open presents, just let me get some coffee, okay, sweetie?"
"Okay..." He said, looking a little down. However, that changed. As soon as I walked into the kitchen, he was running back and forth between there and the living room, excitedly asking if the coffee was ready yet. "I want to open the big one first, Mommy! Are you ready yet?"
"I'm coming, D.J. go ahead and start opening the big one, I'll be there in a sec."
"Yay!"
I heard him start tearing off the wrapping paper, and I smiled, and took the coffee with me into the living room. 
I nearly dropped the mug.
It wasn't a Transformer.
"Mommy, Santa did get my letter!!!"
My marine was home for Christmas.