Chapter Three
Tane
The next day I took the car and drove to Hartsville to go shopping at the Target there.
I went in thinking I'd get a couple of festive supplies.
Instead, I went overboard.
Something about the conversation from the night before, thinking about being poor as kids, I just started stuffing things into the shopping cart.
Teddy bears, Christmas print super-soft blankets, Oodies, Christmas cookies and chocolates.
..I picked up some basics as well, new towels and socks, long johns and other warm layers.
I didn’t even know if Dillon or Aster needed them, I just grabbed them. Truth be told, I went a bit mad.
It was great fun and I had no trouble paying for it, whatever else was going on I had no shortage of money now.
Maybe I was honouring my young self, giving him everything he didn’t have back then. Well, whatever the reason, I enjoyed it.
When I got in the queue, there was a woman in front with a big stack of toys. She was frowning at her phone, and then at the total displayed on the screen.
“I’m sorry,” she said. “I thought some of these were on sale. I’ll have to put some of them back, but... which ones?”
The cashier rolled their eyes. “Okay, what do you want to remove?”
I didn’t need to hear any more.
“Nothing.” I sidled around my cart and offered my credit card. “I’ll pay.”
“Oh!” the woman’s eyes widened and she instantly teared up. “No, really it’s okay, you don’t have to—”
“It’s fine.” I pressed my card into the cashier’s hand. “I can afford it, and you need it. Use your money for a big dinner, okay?”
The cashier looked between us, as if waiting for her permission.
I could see her hand shaking as she held her phone. “You...” She looked behind me. “You have a big purchase as well...”
“Yes, and my last album did really well. Trust me, I’m in the music biz, I have money.
” She was wavering, I could tell. I figured I could be honest and lay it on thick at the same time.
“Christmas is a time for giving right? I’m away from home and I miss my Mum.
Please, let me do this for you? It’d make my mum really proud. ”
The woman swiped at her eyes and nodded. “Okay, fine. Yes, thank you that’s... that’s really wonderful of you.”
The cashier smiled and swiped the card. “That’s really something,” they said. “We don’t often see acts of kindness here.”
“You’re that singer, Whetu, right?” The cashier asked.
The woman gave me a wide-eyed look.
“Uh, yes. Semi-retired-ish.” I smiled, practically glowing as the receipt printed out. "Name's Tane."
The woman pushed her cart away.
I was halfway through my own purchase when she rushed back.
“Please, can I get your number or something? I just want to say thank you properly?”
“Oh, sure.” I gave her my number.
She tapped it into her phone and grinned. “I'm Kelly, thank you, once again. You’ve really... made my day. My whole Christmas really.” She kissed my cheek and then hurried off.
As I packed all my purchases into the car I remembered something from home. A big donation bin at The Warehouse — our version of a down-market Target, and how it would fill over the month of December, a collection for needy kids. Often going to women’s refuge centres, or similar charities.
I packed everything in and sat in the car, thinking it through, then I called Dillon.
He answered after five rings. He sounded out of breath.
“Hey, Tane, what’s up?”
“Hey sorry if you’re busy, I just had a bit of a brain wave,” I said.
“Oh yeah?”
“Do you think you could make space in the shop for like, a donation box? We could do a toy drive, a collection for families in need?”
“That’s perfect,” Dillon said. “I was already looking into something for food collection... I’ll make space, I’m sure we have some crates or pallets out back we could use to put it together. Want to come in and help?”
“Yeah, and I’ll put the first donations in, too.”
At the shop, I helped Dillon piece together four wooden pallets to make a box. He’d already cleared a space by the wall next to the checkout, so people could put their purchases directly into the box.
I made a sign and stuck it to the front, then unloaded some of my Target purchases into it. The towels, socks, all the Christmas bears and things I’d picked up on a whim. It looked better with things inside it, more inviting to add your own.
The sign I’d made, scribbling on pieces of butcher paper left a little to be desired though.
“I can make a nicer sign at home.”
Dillon looked over from stocking the shelves. “I think it’s fine, we just need to work out what charity it’s all going to.”
I sidled up to him and stole a kiss before giving it serious thought. “I guess there’s not enough population for a soup kitchen here?”
Dillon shook his head, but I could see he was thinking hard. “What if.... We host something?”
“Host something? Here in the shop?”
“No, somewhere bigger, a hall or something. We could make it a big event on Christmas Eve? People could turn up and get food parcels, toys, whatever they need. If it’s a big community thing, almost a party, maybe people wouldn’t feel shy about taking things, if we’re giving stuff to everyone who walks in the door, it wouldn’t be so awkward, you know? ”
I beamed, hugging him tight. “It’s the perfect solution, and you’re right it can be really hard to ask for what you need. Okay, so you let people know it’s for a special event and I’ll go looking for a place to hold it.”
I nodded, wondering how I was going to do that... I had rented small spaces for my music lessons, but none of them would be appropriate. I kissed Dillon and made to leave, but he grabbed my hand. “Start with the fire department, they have a hall that people use for community stuff.”
Relieved, I squeezed his hand and made my way out to talk to some fire fighters.
Oh, what a terrible chore...
***
“We love the idea,” the fire chief, who introduced himself as just Morris, shook my hand enthusiastically.
“You can have it on Christmas Eve, and the guys will be happy to pitch in with decorations and things, just let us know. You’ll perform, right?
Your concert at the store was so good, I think about it all the time. ”
I blinked and cleared my throat. I hadn’t realised he’d been there for that.
“I hadn’t thought... but yeah, of course I could. A Christmas sing-along would really set the mood, eh?”
“Yeah, I’ll give the hard word to the guys who are our so-called choir, they might actually practice if there’s an event to plan for.”
I couldn’t help but laugh.
After we exchanged numbers, I left, thanking him profusely.
My head spun, it was all coming together, and so fast too. I texted the people I’d been tutoring for music. If there were going to be live performances, I wanted everyone to have a chance at the microphone.
Tane (group text); Hi, I know you probably have plans for Christmas Eve, but Dillon and I are putting together a food drive/gifting event. There’s going to be space for live performances, and I’d love for you to be involved. Brush up some festive tunes and let me know if you’re in
I had replies within minutes.
When I got home, the online order of even more Christmas cheer had arrived, so I set about decorating our little apartment.
Some of the order, though, I set aside for donating.
I really had let the shopping high get to me, twice now.
I was like Scrooge after the ghosts had visited him, spreading my largesse and fortune around willy-nilly.
Well, there were worse things I could be doing.
It took an hour or so until I was happy with how the tree looked. I took a break for a snack and a cup of coffee.
Then I picked up my laptop and made an order from one of the New Zealand shopping websites of stuff to be delivered to my mum: books, bluetooth speakers, a new tablet for mum, toys for the kids, and some cakes and cookies as well.
Based on the estimated delivery date, it’d arrive nice and early so she could wrap stuff up and stick it under the tree.
Flying high on the Christmas spirit, I texted Ma for her best festive baking recipes. I bet I could make them just fine, right?
A text came through, assuming it was Ma, I flicked it open.
Unknown number: Hi, it’s Kelly here, you purchased my Christmas gifts for me? I’d like to send you some Christmas cookies, is there an address I could use?
I texted back, smiling.
Tane: Hey Kelly, good to hear from you. If you’re not up to anything on Christmas Eve, how about you come into Foggy Basin? We’re having a bit of a party and I’d love to see you and meet the kids.
Kelly: I think we can make that work! Send me the deets