The notice on the bulletin board at Fuller's Warehouse stated that the receiving department will work the three days of Christmas vacation. A list of three names was posted, with Howard Landers, Ginger Brown, and Clyde Dover each working one day respectively. First announcements had been contrary to that; therefore, plans were made for Christmas by employees who anticipated three days with families and friends. Howard Landers, along with the two other designated employees, stood with eyes fixed on the bulletin board as if the message was suddenly going to disappear.
"I can't believe this," he said scornfully.
"I had plans, "Howard Landers pouted.
"Tell me about it," Ginger Brown said as she looked at the message on the board.
“Man...I was going out of state,” Clyde Dover stated.
After a few more moments of mourning the loss of their three day vacation, groaning and grumbling, they returned to their work areas.
Billy Sands walked past the bulletin board noticing he was not scheduled to work. Feeling a bit disappointed, he returned to his work area in the Receiving Dept. As he climbed onto the forklift and started the engine he noticed Ginger Brown walking up toward him. A feeling of dread came upon him as she neared. She never said anything nice to him; it was always a joke or a demeaning remark. He didn’t like her or any of the employees talking to him. They almost always badgered him in a domineering, belittling manner. He was their punching bag , and they seemed to never let up on him.
Ginger was upset about working on Christmas and Billy knew that she was probably going to take it out on him. As she drew nearer to him, Billy saw that she had a sour look on her face.
" Hey Chester'' Ginger said. Billy hated the nickname and the connection to the character 'Chester' on the TV show . . . Gunsmoke.
"My name is Billy, not Chester,” he said trying to sound direct as possible.
"Whatever?” Ginger said mockingly.
"Did you see the notice on the bulletin board?”
"Yes," Billy said, wishing she would just go away and leave him alone.
“We have to work during Christmas vacation," she said, “and you get off"
Billy was silent. He just looked at her, trying not to stir up her contempt of him, hoping she would leave.
"That’s right . . . you don't have any family or friends to spend Christmas with.” Ginger said scornfully, "Well, I do but I have to give up one day to come in to work and I had plans for three days."
"Well, I had plans to work, but I won’t get to do that either" he said with a chuckle.
" Dork," she said as she walked away. Billy managed a smile and went about his work day. It was true he didn't have any family. He didn't have a lot of friends because he expected that people were somewhat repelled by him because of his limp, and the thick glasses, and that they didn't know how to deal with him in that regard. 'Dork'? , he said to himself, maybe . . . but I guess God made dorks like me to make others look good.
Brad Larking, the warehouse supervisor, spoke to each employee about their work schedule. All three expressed opposition to having to work.
"I'm sorry, we need someone here all three days. You will at least get two days out of three" he told them.
"What about Chester, he gets three days off" Ginger said with anger.
"Who's Chester?”
"Billy, Billy Landers"
"Why did you call him Chester?”
"Because he walks like Chester, you know . . . the limping dude on Gunsmoke”
Brad was unaware of the nickname the employees had for Billy. He gave Ginger a serious look. He tried to use his authority to make a point.
“Listen to me,” he said, "I don't want to hear Billy referred to by that name again, especially in his presence, are you clear on that?" he said.
Ginger just lowered her head and twitched her mouth in a clumsy manner.
“That is a bit condescending coming from a fellow employee. Billy had polio as a child, he survived obviously however not without compilations with his legs. His eye sight, unrelated to polio, was just something in his genes to cause that. He walks with a limp but he walks, he gets around good enough to do his job. His glasses may make his eyes seem magnified, but he can see well enough to drive a car and do his job. He is in fact a great guy. I like him a lot and I see no reason for you not to show him some respect.”
Ginger and the others kept silent as Brad finished his lecture. They didn’t seem to be moved nor did their attitude about Billy seem to be altered.
“Now as far as having to work this week end, Brad continued, “you will get two days off. I only need one employee each day to work in receiving. We will be doing no shipping. It's just a matter of unloading and signing for the shipments that come in''.
"What about Chest"---Ginger stopped abruptly. " I mean . . . Billy, why is he off all three days.”
"Billy works long extra hours as it is, he's got a lot of compensatory time off coming to him."
Ginger never said anything else. She just turned away in a huff, displaying contempt for Billy Sands and Fullers Warehouse.
This day was the last day before the start of vacation. At the end of the work shift Brad called everyone to the break room to discuss who would be working what day. ‘
“This will be a twelve-hour shift each day. 7:00 A.M -7:00 P.M." he said. “We will be having shipments coming into the warehouse all day long. We only need to decide who is working what day. Understand this is the best I could do in splitting up your work load, and I hate to issue an ultimatum, but take it or leave it"
They were unresponsive as they looked at him with a cold stare. Billy walked into the break room and took a seat. Ginger turned toward and gave him a mean- spirited look. Billy expected her to say something to him, but she didn't.
"I'll come in,” Billy said loudly . . .. all three days."
They were all stunned by Billy's statement. They didn't believe what they heard.
"Billy, are you sure you want to do this?” Brad asked.
"Yes, I'll come in, you can let the others off," Billy answered. Brad was as puzzled as much as the others were.
" You’re willing to give up your time off?
"Sure, I have no where to go. I will do it for them since they all had plans for Christmas.”
Brad shrugged his shoulders and shook his head.
“OK, if you’re sure you want to do it”
“I do” Billy said.
" I hope you all appreciate Billy doing this for you,” Brad said to the others. No one said anything they were still dazed from Billy's stunning announcement. As Brad dismissed the group, they each felt a strange sense of remorse about their harassment of Billy, but not one of them could summon the courage to thank him for his generous offer to work in their place.They all left quickly as if fearing Billy would change his mind.
When Billy came to work the next morning, he was prepared to stay at work the entire three days because of predicted snow. Living far out in the country in a cul-de-sac, he felt it best to camp out at the warehouse; getting out of his drive in snow was a task. Bringing clothes, and some food with him, he was prepared for a blizzard. The warehouse had shower facilities also, all the comforts of home.
The first day, he had a total of 10 deliveries. There was not a lot of stock with each and were easily unloaded and logged and stored.
Billy loved the feeling of being along in the warehouse no one when there was no one to annoy him; he savored every moment knowing that soon the others will be back getting on his nerves again. Saturday was a slow delivery day. He had four in the morning hours and only two in the afternoon. Easy work easy money he told himself . . . and holiday pay he laughed softly.
The overhead lights in the break room were dimmed and the radio was set on a Christmas music station. A small Christmas tree was blinking its lights seemingly to the rhythm of the music. Looking out the big picture window in the break room, Billy noticed that it was snowing and everything was turning white fast. Almost hypnotized by the blinking tree lights and the beautiful Christmas music and watching the snow, he dozed off to sleep. Suddenly he was awakened, by the sound of bellowing buzzer notifying him that he had a delivery. The buzzard roused him from his daydream, and he drove the forklift to the dock door.
Raising the dock bay door, he saw an 18-wheeler backing up to the dock. The truck hit the dock bumper with a thud and Billy went to open the trailer door and saw it was loaded with pallets of canned goods. As the shipping door opened, he noticed a young girl entering along with some snow blowing in with her. ‘Is that the driver?’ he thought.’ Billy was not prepared for a lady truck driver. He had seen lady truck drivers before but none as young and as pretty as she. She wore jeans and an orange Tennessee Volunteers jacket. She had long black hair hanging down on her shoulders in waves. Billy tried not to stare at her, but he could not help but to admire her beauty. To him she was a girl that he could only dream about. A girl that he thought would never give him the time of day.
"Hello', she said slapping some snow off her shoulders and hair.
The girl smiled at Billy that he thought could melt an ice burg. 'Now that's a million-dollar smile he thought.
"Hello," Billy said timidly as he took in her beauty trying not to pay to much attention to her to avoid his admiration of her being misconstrued as something other than that. Billy was uncomfortable around pretty girls, but always maintained his respect for them priding himself in not being a philanderer. He watched some of the other guys at work talk up to the girls and how silly it seemed to him. It just wasn't his style he thought . . . “This load all goes off here. It's my last stop," she said.
"Ok,” Billy said, as he eased into the trailer with the forklift backed out with the first pallet of canned goods. He unloaded the truck in about 30 minutes. Parking the fork lift, he walked over to the girl.
He signed the invoice and the girl thanked him. As she open the shipping entrance door to leave Billy noticed that the snow had worsened. The traffic was at a stand still. The girl stood there watching the snow. She would not be able to drive in the increment weather. Billy walked over and looked out the door behind her. He didn't know what to say to her, lost for words he just stood there hoping she would say something first. The girl not noticing Billy behind her, turned to go back into the building and ran headlong into him. Billy poised himself as her arms went up to his chest and his went modestly around her shoulders. Both reacted to the abrupt physical contact; both embarrassed began apologizing.
" I'm sorry I didn't know you were there" the girl said. It was the first time Billy had ever had a girl of her caliber in his arms, and although it was an accident, it was something he often pondered about. He let her slowly drift out of his arms. Suddenly, he missed her being there.
"Excuse me, I guess I was too close . . . I should have let you know I was here"
"It's ok" she said, It looks like I am snowbound."
"Well could I buy you a cup of coffee"? Billy asked her.
"Have you got any hot cocoa?” she said?
"In the vending machine.”It’s not bad, tastes pretty good actually.”
“ Direct me to the hot cocoa, kind sir" she said as she took hold of his arm.
"My name's Brandy Bailey” she said offering him her hand and a million dollar smile.
"Billy....Billy Sands" he said, taking her hand in his. The girls soft dainty hand felt like silk and he didn't want to let it go, but he did.
. From the picture window in the break room they could see the snow had not let up. Billy began to wonder about Christmas dinner. The Home Front Restaurant, near the warehouse was serving Christmas dinner, and he thought he might invite Brandy to go over there and eat with him. Or maybe bring the meal back to the warehouse and eat in the break room.
“Wow what a view” she said looking out the big picture window .. She saw the interstate and the rolling hill in the background being covered with snow. It was almost dark. The street lights along with the Christmas decorations made a postcard picture.
Billy walked over to the Coco machine and got Brandy a cup of Coco. Handing it to her he almost tumbled it but retrieve it in time.
"Thank you kind sir," she said taking the cocoa from him.
"You’re welcome" he said. “I almost dropped it on you"
“Are you the only one working today”? She asked him.
“Yes, the others are off, they all had plans, but I didn’t, so I worked in their place.”
“Well, how commendable of you to do that.” She gave him that million dollar smile again, and he was suddenly lost for words.
As Brandy gazed out the window watching the world turn white, Billy was struggling for something to say to her to keep to keep their conversation alive.
"How would you like to join me for Christmas dinner?" Billy said, we could go over to the Home Front and bring it back over here and eat in the break room. That's what I was going to do anyway, my treat”
'Sounds good to me, lets do it" She said as she got up from the table, "I'm hungry as a bear." Both put on their coats and walked over to the restaurant which was across the street from the warehouse. They ordered two dinners to go. Walking back to the wear house, Billy noticed that Brandy's black hair was covered in snow. She reminded him of an Indian maiden he once saw on a painting.
As they ate their dinner, they learned a lot about each other. Casually sharing stories about their lives, goals and ambitions They discovered that they both loved country music and both were fond of reading and watching old movies. Billy told her about his polio as a child and how it left him with what his fellow employees called...''Walking like Chester on Gunsmoke''
Billy also learned that she had been married and had a little girl age 8. She didn’t have current boyfriend which didn't matter to him because if she didn't have a boyfriend now she would soon. 'Pretty girls always have boyfriends' he thought.
Brandy learned that Billy had been employed at the warehouse for three years. He told her of his fellow employees and how much they were in contempt of him. Brandy could not understand why they didn't like him.
"They must be a bunch of jerks," she told him," I'd be happy to work with you.”
Billy was spellbound by Brandy, somehow managing to hide his low self esteem enough to carry on a conversation with her..
He savored the moments with Brandy. This is something he would be able to tell his grand kids someday he thought; the Christmas I spent with an Angel...well I'm not sure about my grand kids he said to himself. ‘But I well tell someone’s kids for sure’.
As Brandy and Billy were eating, the snow seemed to be letting up; however, no traffic was moving. Now completely dark, the atmosphere outside, with the snow and the street lights, added to the serenity of the break room. This was a magical time for Billy. This is something he could only fantasize about; he didn't want the day to end, but he knew it would. Brandy would soon get in that big diesel truck and head off down the interstate out of his life and be just a memory..
After they finished their dinner they drank coffee and cocoa from the machine.
"Merry Christmas to you." Brandy said to Billy offering her cup of cocoa as a toast to him. Billy tipped his coffee cup to hers.
"Merry Christmas to you," he said.
Time seem to crawl for a while as Billy enjoyed her company but he realized it was getting late and he needed to find her somewhere to bunk..
"Do you need to call someone?" Billy asked her, "to let them know where you are"
."No, everyone is asleep or don't care where I am anyway." She answered.
"Well I can't believe a pretty girl like you don't have a lot of boyfriends"
" I got boyfriends alright, plenty of them, but they're just that...friends." she answered.
Learning that she was not tied to anyone gave his ego a boost; however, Billy decided to play it cool and not make any verbal advances to her that might indicate that he thought she was a pushover or that he was trying for physical connection with her.
Billy had been sleeping on a sofa in the shipping department office. He thought that he would offer it to Brandy.
'If you'd like to lay down and get some sleep they are a sofa in shipping" he said.
“Being that you are kinda stuck here”
"Where will you sleep"? she asked him.
"I don't sleep very well anyway." he answered."I'll find somewhere to take a nap later."
"Well ok, I am kind of exhausted, I really appreciate your hospitality"
"That's ok, you will be safe and warm in the office turn out the lights and sleep as long as you like"
Billy lead her to the shipping office and gave her a couple of shipping padding blankets for her to use as cover.
"I hope you get some rest, good night and I'll be here in the morning" he said.
"Good night Billy, and thank you for the food, it was so good.”
"Your very welcome" he said, I appreciate your company I would have had to eat alone if you weren’t here”
“Well...goodnight then,” she said as she smiled, turned and walked away. His first reaction to her calling him by his name surprised him. It sounded nice to hear his name spoken by such a unique girl like Brandy. He tried to keep from thinking that he could have her as a girlfriend. Then he thought of 'Chester' on Gunsmoke and it struck him...even Chester had girlfriends.
Billy slept in the reclining chair in the front office. The chair was more comfortable than he expected. He rested well and thought of Brandy as he was waking up. He decided to check on her, making a detour to shipping when he heard her yell at him.
"Good morning.' She was already in the break room sipping on a cup of coco.
"l'll buy you a cup," she said holding her coco up form him to see .Billy walked into the break room.
Black? she asked as she dropped a quarter down the slot.
"Yes" he said.
Brandy pushed the correct button and the coffee poured out but no cup fell.
"Oh no"..she laughed,” I lost that quarter”. She dropped another quarter down the slot and the coffee and cup were in accord and Billy got his coffee.
As they drank their drinks, they noticed the snow had stopped some time in the night. The sun was out and the snow plows were working.
"Looks like they will get the streets all cleared soon" Brandy said
Billy knew that this was true. He wished it would snow some more to keep his angel with him. But the sun was shining through the few remaining dark snow clouds. Billy felt an uneasiness inside but at the same time he was thankful to God for sending him an angel to spend his Christmas with.
. Brandy and Billy sit in the break room watching the salt trucks and snow plows outside. The dark clouds had disappeared and the sun was out. The traffic was moving about.
"Where are you going from here" Billy asked her
"Home, to Chattanooga, I am taking a few days off, then it's back on the road to wherever" she answered.
"Do you like driving a truck, what ever possessed you to be a trucker"?
"My Daddy was a truck driver he is retired now, I used to go on trips with him and somehow it got in my blood I guess.. I like seeing the country, keeping on the move, a different town everyday. I love it"
Billy sit there in awe of her. In awe of her existence. In awe of her beauty. He had no idea what love felt like. He wondered many times what love might feel like, but what he was feeling for Brandy was far above anything he could imagine in his fantasies.
"Well Billy I have enjoyed your company", Brandy said as she got up from the table. "But it is time for me to go now, thank you again for your kindness and your hospitality" Billy was struggling for something to say to her. He could only smile. She reached him her hand and Billy took it and they shook hands.
"I'll walk you to the door." Billy walked with her to the shipping entrance. They walked out on the dock.
“I’ll crank the truck and let her warm up," she said."I'll be back in a second."
Brandy got into the truck and he heard the diesel engine come to life. Some black smoke bellowed from the pipes and Billy watched it disappear into the atmosphere. Brandy got out of the truck and walked back to the dock.
"You take care Billy" she said offering him her hand again.
This time Billy took her hand and, and her arm with his other hand. He was tempted to hug her but he didn't until suddenly she was she fell forward into his arms and into his soul.
She looked up at him and smiled.
' I will never forget you,' is what Billy wanted to say to her, but it came out different.
"Be careful out there on the road, I hope you make it back this way soon."
"So long, you take care" she said. Billy thought he heard a tear in her voice, but dismissed it as something he only imagined or something he wanted to hear.
Brandy climbed back into the truck and pulled out onto the street and made a quick right toward the interstate. Standing there watching her move out of sight, Billy put up his hand and gave a wave even though she couldn’t see it. Just as quickly as she came...she was gone. Once he was back inside, the warehouse seemed like a tomb to him. He could hear Bramdy's laughter echoing among the walls and visualize her million dollar smile. He wondered why she embraced him the way she did. The embrace seemed to be much more than a friendly hug. Still mesmerized by Brandy’s appearance and sudden exit,.he sit down and touched the paper coffee cup she had been drinking from... it was still warm. Looking closer on the cup something caught his eye. It was Brandy’s address and phone number, circled was a footnote...I ALWAYS LIKED CHESTER...Call me anytime.
Epilogue:
Billy Sands the third., and his sister Gail came running into his house. They had been outside playing in the snow. Their grandfather had just arrived and both ran to him climbing into his lap.
"Hey Poppy', Gail said, "Tell us a story..."a Christmas story.'
"Yea about you and grandma getting snowbound....Billy the 3rd laughed. I like that story".
Billy hugged them both. and smiled as he began
"Ok, I’ll tell it again this is the story about the Christmas I spent with an angel... your grandma."
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