The WWF was in New York to do a Smackdown taping as it was to be the final show of the year. All the wrestlers were excited as Vince had just announced the company was going to take a couple of weeks off for Christmas and New Years. Everyone was making arrangements to spend time with their families and loved ones. All, except Glen.

This was the only time of year he dreaded as he usually spent the holidays alone. Several times Mark had asked him to come with him, but Glen always turned him down. It wasn't because he didn't like Christmas. He loved it, seeing everybody with happy faces, especially the children, who were laughing and giggling, excited at what Santa would bring them. He loved seeing the twinkling lights and the shiny tinsel on the trees. He dreaded it because it brought back times from his childhood when his mom and him were together.

Glen had grown up without a real father so his mother took on the added role of being father as well as mother. She worked as a hotel maid which didn't pay a whole lot. Although they didn't have much during the year, somehow when Christmas rolled around, she always managed to have something extra, and there was always a small decorated tree in the living room of their small apartment.

He passed a small bakery, the smell of freshly baked gingerbread permeated the air. The aroma had him remembering when his mother would bake and decorate gingerbread men to decorate the tree. He smiled as he remembered he would sneak one of them off the tree to eat, hoping his mother wouldn't see him.

"Now, Glen, you know you can't have those till Christmas!"

"Ah, mom, please, can't I have one? They smell so good!"

She would give him a stern look, but one look in those soft hazel eyes always melted her resolve. "Okay, you can have one, but only one."

He would hug her tightly then pick one where no one could tell. His mother, when he wasn't looking, Would shed a tear, wanting so bad to give him the kind of presents she knew he wanted and deserved, but Glen never complained. He was always happy with whatever was under the tree, even if it was only one present.

He thought back to when he would look under the tree on Christmas for a present for his mom. "Where's Your present?" he would ask innocently. His mom would smile. "Momma told Santa she didn't want anything, that she already had her present?"

"What present?"

"You, son. You're the best present anyone could have."

Glen would threw his arms around her neck, the both of them hugging tightly. He would look in her eyes, "One day, momma, I'll make a lot of money and buy you everything you want. Then you'll never have to tell Santa not to bring you anything."

Her eyes would get misty and she hugged him even tighter. "Thank you, son."

Glen came out of his daydream. He hurriedly wiped the tears from his face. How he missed her. He went on further down the street and stopped in front of a department store. He looked in the display window and saw a beautiful fur coat.

Memories came back of the times they would walk down the street whenever she had a free day. There was a store they always walked past and they would stop and look at the display window. One particularly cold winter, she had bought him a badly needed coat. It had been expensive and took most of the money she had managed to save. She had so hoped to get herself a new one but didn't have enough. He saw how she longed for the coat in the store. It was a beautiful beige coat with a dark brown fur collar. He remembered her staring at the coat for a long time, then sigh and continue on, her eyes sad knowing she could never afford it.

"Momma, why are you sad? Is it because you want the coat?" He had looked at the coat she bought him. "We can take this back and get me something else so you can buy it."

"No, son. You needed a new coat more than me. I'll be alright. Momma can make do with the one she has."

"One of these days, momma..."

"I know, son. Thank you." She bent and kissed his cheek.

Glen walked on till he reached a large department store and decided to go inside to look around. He saw a long line of adults and children, then heard the children squeal with delight. "Santa's here!"

He saw a plump man in a red and white velvet suit come in and sit in a huge red chair. He smiled when The man laughed, seeing his stomach shake. He watched the children climb on his lap, his mind thinking back to the day when he met Santa for the first time.

It was on one of her rare days off that she told him they were going to see a very special person. After cleaning up and dressing, they took the bus to the store. They entered and went straight to the toy department.

"Look, Glen. There's Santa!"

Glen's eyes became big as saucers. The whole time in line he stared. As they got closer, he started to shake and took hold of her hand. "Honey, don't be scared. Santa won't hurt you. When your turn comes, just sit on his lap and tell him what you want." Glen looked up at her. "Okay," he said nervously.

Glen shook his head remembering how he slowly walked up to Santa, his eyes still as big as saucers.

"Well, young man, do you want to sit on Santa's lap?" The voice was reassuring and there was a gleam in the man's eyes. He climbed on the man's lap, noting he smelled of peppermint.

"What can Santa get you for Christmas?" A big smile on his face.

Glen smiled back, feeling safer now. "I don't want anything for me, Santa. I want you to bring my momma something."

The man was touched by the sincerity in Glen's voice. "Is she here?" he asked. Glen pointed to her. The man saw she was wearing a coat that had seen better days. "I want you to bring my momma a new coat for Christmas. See, Santa, she bought me a new coat. It cost a lot and she didn't have enough to get her one. Could you leave it under the tree so she could see it Christmas?"

The man smiled and said he would try and gave Glen a couple of candy canes. Glen hugged him then climbed down and ran to her. "Well, what did you ask Santa to bring you?"

"I can't tell; it's a surprise. Do you want some of my candy?"

Glen gave her one of the canes. She took it and broke a piece off and put it in her mouth. "MMMM, this Is good," she said.

They left the store and went straight home as the weather was turning colder. She went to work the next day, feeling feverish but didn't want Glen to know. She came home that evening, her body tired and aching as they had worked hard to get rooms ready for the holidays.

"Momma, are you okay?" He touched her arm and found it warm to the touch.

"I'm fine, son. Just a little tired as we had to work extra hard today. I'll fix you some soup, then I think I'll lay down for a while."

Glen was beginning to get cold. He spotted a small coffee shop across the street, going inside to warm himself and get a cup of coffee to take the chill off. After the waitress had brought his coffee, he took a sip and looked out the window. It was beginning to snow. His mind went back to the next morning. He had gotten up, noticing his mother was not up yet. He tiptoed into her room, hearing her wheeze heavily as she slept. He touched her forehead and found her burning up. "Momma, wake up!" shaking her gently.

She didn't move. Again he shook her. Getting scared, he ran to the neighbors and banged on the door. "Please, Mrs. Kyle! Open the door!"

The door opened slightly. Seeing who it was she opened it wider. "Glen, what's wrong?"

"It's momma! She won't wake up and she feels hot! Please, you got to come with me!"

"Wait there." Mrs. Kyle came out the door a minute later in her housecoat and followed Glen into the apartment. He took her to his momma's room. Mrs. Kyle felt her forehead. "Oh my! She's burning up! We have to get her to the hospital right away! Stay here while I call for an ambulance."

It seemed to take an eternity before it arrived. When they put her in the ambulance, Mrs. Kyle and Glen rode in the back. At the emergency room, she was rushed to an examining room. Glen and Mrs. Kyle waited in the lobby. Twenty minutes later the doctor came out, his head shaking back and forth.

Glen remembered how the ttears ran down his face upon seeing the doctor. Mrs. Kyle asked how she was. The doctor said his mother had a bad case of advanced walking pneumonia. He said he wasn't sure how long she had it. Glen remembered wanting to go and see her, trying to run past the doctor, who held him back. Mrs. Kyle asked couldn't he let Glen go in and see his mother. He slowly nodded and took him to her room.

Glen stared into the cup. The room had seemed cold and barren. He had hesitantly tiptoed over to The bed, not wanting to wake her. The myriad of tubes in her had him mesmerized; an oxygen tent covered her from the chest up. He took her hand and put it to his face. His mother slowly opened her eyes and smiled.

"Doctor says you're very sick. Please get well, momma. You have to be there when Santa brings you your present."

Mrs. Kyle was standing behind Glen. The doctor had told her the worst, that she was not expected to make it through Christmas. "I'll take care of him till you get better."

His mother slightly nodded her head, then closed her eyes.

Mrs. Kyle took Glen's hand. "Come, Glen. Your momma is tired and needs to rest."

That was the last time he saw her. She died just before midnight Christmas Eve, two days later.

"You never got your new coat," Glen sadly said to himself.

The waitress came over and poured another cup. "Would you care for anything else?" Glen shook his head.

Life was empty after that. Over the years he had been placed in several foster homes, never quite fitting in with the families of those he stayed with.

Glen remembered the struggle to survive till he was discovered by a local wrestling scout, who was amazed at Glen's size and who had seen potential in him. It had taken seven years of hard, ackbreaking training and wrestling local matches before being discovered by a scout for the WWF. Now he was a big star, famous all over the world and making lots of money. "If you could see me now," he thought sadly. "I could get you your new coat like I had promised."

He paid the bill and left the restaurant. He heard someone calling his name. He turned to see Mark getting out of a cab. "I've been looking for you."

"I was just remembering old times."

He looked across the street to see a woman staring at the display window. From the back, the tattered coat she wore looked exactly like the one his mother used to wear. Thinking he was seeing things, he told Mark to wait, that he would be back in a few minutes. He crossed the street and went in the store.

The woman had been staring at the coat for quite some time. When she saw it disappear from the window, she turned to leave, her eyes sad.

Glen came out of the store and rushed up to her. "Wait!"

The women turned. Her eyes became wide at seeing the young giant. He slipped the coat around her shoulders. "Merry Christmas," he said, and kissed her on the cheek.

The woman was shocked to say the least. Then tears welled up in her eyes as a smile came across her lips.

He went back across the street, turning to see the woman had disappeared. A voice whispered, "Thank you, son." He felt something warm touch his cheek.

Tears came in his eyes as he got in. "You all right?" Mark asked.

Glen nodded, a feeling of completeness coming over him. "Is it too late to accept your invitation For Christmas?"

"No. We can leave right after the taping to fly home. I know the boys will be tickled to see you."

Glen sat back in the seat. As they rode to the arena, he smiled. He had kept his promise.

The End

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