• Glen pulled his jacket closer around him as a shiver ran down his spine. The snow slowly fell over his head, peppering his brown ponytail with white flakes. This would be the first year he was away from home for Christmas. He missed Canada so much. He paused under a streetlight, and leaned against the cold metal as he gazed up at the gently falling snow.

    His father was a translator working for a video game company, and got transferred to Japan when they needed someone to work on a new title. They were rushing to release by Christmas, but ended up pushing it until late February. Still His father had more games lined up so the stay was looking to be permanent.

    Glen continued on in the cold night air. His father always worked late and today was no exception. At least he didn’t have to face him after getting detention and being late for dinner. There usually wasn’t any dinner besides leftover take out. He was used to eating alone. He wasn’t neglected though. His father provided for him and bought him whatever he wanted. His iPod in his pocket and new cell phone were proof of that. His friends seemed to want him around only when they needed someone to foot the bill for something. He just felt, for lack of a better word, lonely.

    He passed the park on the way, noticing someone sitting on a bench. He recognized her hair, an odd shade of grey, almost silver. She was in his class. A very quiet girl who wore rather ragged clothes and always doused herself with strawberry perfume. Glen noticed her staring at him one day, and she turned away embarrassed when he glanced in her direction. No one else in class paid her any attention, so he did the same. Snow crunched under his shoe and he saw her head turn to look at him, her tears shining brightly in the light from an overhead streetlight. Glen didn’t want to get involved, so he forced himself to keep walking, leaving her alone.

    Leftover pizza and flat soda greeted him on the table when he got home. At least winter vacation was the day after tomorrow. Maybe he would get to see his Father Christmas day, if he wasn’t too far into his ‘Christmas Cheer’. He grabbed a slice of pizza and a glass of soda then settled in front of the T.V. Before he knew it, the empty plate and glass lay on the coffee table, and he was asleep on the couch.

    His dreams drifted to the sad girl in the park. She still sat in the falling snow, her grey hair dampened by resting flakes and shivering alone. He felt bad for leaving her, but he was too afraid to talk to her. He was nervous talking to most girls, but there was something about her bright blue eyes that made him nervous to approach her. Something he couldn’t explain.
    The next morning he woke to a text message from his father, saying that he had to stay at the office until the work was done, and for him to fend for himself. He now sat at his desk, with his head in his arms, as his classmates excitedly chatted about their plans for the holidays. Christmas in Japan was more of a romantic event for some people, and the holiday revolved more around giving presents and the children. Today was the last day before the break, and tomorrow was Christmas Eve, so most of the students were exchanging gifts. Glen wasn’t expecting anything anyway. His friends got together and gave him a Christmas card the day before, and some of the girls had bought him some rather expensive chocolates. He didn’t bother to buy anyone anything either. He just wished the season would get over and he could get back to the norm of going to school every day.
    He sighed, and noticed the smell of strawberries drifting into his nostrils. The class seemed to hush and the roar of chatter died. Glen turned his head to see a ragged skirt, and he sat up noticing most of the class was looking in their direction. The grey haired girl was standing before him, wearing a nervous smile. She held out her band-aid covered hand, handing him a small paper crane. The folds were expertly done, the creases were sharp, and the paper was as white as the purest snow.

    “M-Merry Christmas!” She squeaked as she slightly bowed. He heard a few students behind them giggle at the inadequate present. They all received expensive things from their friends. Most displayed new shirts or jackets, along with pretty jewelry or cell phone charms. Several began whispering to each other as she stood nearly shaking with embarrassment.

    “I doubt he’s going to keep that.” Someone whispered, “What a loser. She can’t even afford a cheap box of chocolates!”

    “Thanks.” Glen muttered. He faked a smile and stuck the crane in his novel he usually carried around in his bag. When he sat up again, she was gone and the scent of strawberries slowly faded from his nose.

    The whole day he was distracted as most of his friends urged him to come out to Karaoke. He knew why. They had all spent their money on Christmas gifts and wanted him to pay for it all. They even promised him a few drinks that they were going to sneak in. He stared out the window as the teacher tried to teach, but everyone was too excited for the holidays to pay attention. Before long, school was finally let out, and he walked home alone, dismissing his friends as they insisted he come.

    Once he got home, he settled on the couch and took out his novel to read a couple of chapters, when the paper crane fell into his lap. He had forgotten all about it, and examined it more closely. It really was perfect. At the time, he thought of it as nothing special, but he thought of how much work it would take to make something so perfect, and felt bad about how quickly he had dismissed her. Dropping his book and losing his page, he pulled on his jacket and went out into the snowy evening.

    He couldn’t let this go. He had to return the sentiment. He felt he just had to. He spent the rest of the evening wandering the area, looking for her house, asking shop owners and passersby if they had seen the girl, but no one seemed to know her. It hit him far after nightfall that he didn’t even know her name.

    He returned home late that night, his endeavors unfruitful. He slept on the couch again that night, staring at the paper crane on the coffee table. The more he stared at it, the more he admired the craftsmanship. He felt worried that he would be unable to find the perfect gift for her and find her in time to return the sentiment.

    He slept in the next morning, and found his Christmas present on the kitchen table. They usually opened their gifts on Christmas morning, but for his father to drop it off and leave again, usually meant he wouldn’t be there the next morning. Glen wasn’t concerned about that massive box on the table. He was dressed and out the door before he even realized.
    Christmas Eve was crunch time for buying that perfect present. Needless to say, the shops and malls were packed, and he couldn’t find anything suitable. As the day wore on and light began to fade, he became desperate. Then, passing a clothing store he saw a pair if winter shoes, with a hat, scarf, and gloves to complete the set. He glanced down at the price and smiled as it was well inside his price range. Several minutes later, he exited the shop with a bulging bag, but it was getting late and the shop owner turned the open sign over behind him.

    Glen found himself heading towards that same park. His steps became quicker as he walked, the gently falling snow melting on his warm cheeks. She had to be there this time. She had to. As he turned the corner, he saw the bench vacant again and silently cursed to himself. He turned to leave, but heard a sniff and stopped. When he turned back, he saw her sitting up from a lying position on the bench, tears still staining her face.

    “Glen?” she asked. Glen heard a rattle and saw a bottle fall from her lap, “What are you doing here?” Glen found himself staring at the bottle and she traced his gaze back to it, turning red as she stammered, “I- I…”

    “I wanted to thank you for the Crane.” He said. He glanced over to a nearby trash can. There had to be close to a hundred paper cranes inside, soaked by the snow and mashed together. At the top, the empty cover of a girl’s diary, “Did you do all of this?”

    “Oh, yes.” She muttered, “I tried to make a perfect one, but my fingers kept shaking so much from the cold.” She paused, turning away and hiding her bandaged hand, “Do you like it?”

    “It is perfect.” He said, eyeing the bottle again, “I love it.”

    “Great!” she said with a smile, “I’m glad.”

    “I got you something too.” He said, holding out the bag.

    “Oh you didn’t have to.” She said shyly. Glen could see her blush under her grey hair.

    “I wanted to.” He said. He took a seat next to her on the bench, setting the bag beside her. She rummaged through it and her blue eyes lit up as she pulled out the gloves and tried them on.

    Oh wow! I love it!” She said, “But this must have been expensive! I don’t deserve this!”

    “That’s what Christmas is all about.” He said, “You share what you have with others. It doesn’t have to be much.” He paused and turned to look in her blue eyes. Again, tears stained her face, but she was smiling this time.

    “Thank you Glen!” she cried. She embraced him in a warm hug which he returned and he still eyed the bottle of pills in the snow.

    “I feel bad though. You were so nice to me, and I don’t even know your name.” he said, “I’m sorry.”

    “It’s alright. The name is Sana.” She said, “Does this mean, um, we’re friends?” she turned red and stared at her feet.

    “Of course!” he said. There was a long pause and he couldn’t help but stare at the pills. He had to know.

    “Why were you here tonight?” he asked, “Where do you live?”

    “Oh, I, um…” she stammered, “Well, I live in a dorm down the street.” Glen knew full well that building was an orphanage, but he didn’t say anything. Still his question went unanswered.

    “And those?” he asked, gesturing towards the bottle. Her smile faded and she got up to leave, but Glen grabbed her wrist. It felt scrawny and bony in his hand. She tried to pull away, but she didn’t have the strength a girl her size should have. She finally stopped and fell to her knees in the snow as tears fell from her face and dripped into the snow. Her ragged school uniform darkened as the snow soaked her clothes.

    “I didn’t know what else to do.” She cried, “I’m sick of living like this! I tried the other night but I saw you, and….” She coughed and wiped her eyes. Glen knelt in the snow next to her.

    “What?” he asked.

    “I saw you and figured it would be alright if I could be friends with you.” she said, “You’re so nice to everyone! I thought I could at least try and get you to notice me. Then if I had someone to lean on, I could make it. I need help…..” Glen smiled as he hugged her close. His eyes were welling now. He felt so selfish to ignore her as his friends did. He just tried to fit in and he went along with what the others did.

    “I’ll be your friend, Sana.” He said, “You can count on me.” Glen’s watch beeped midnight, signaling the official beginning of Christmas morning. She smiled and stood up with him.

    “Thank you Glen.” She said, “Thank you so much!”

    “Let’s go home. You’ll catch cold in those wet clothes.” He said.
    The next day, Glen woke to the smell of coffee. He remembered walking Sana home the night before and coming home, but he was alone when he went to bed. He came from the living room to find his father sitting at the table.

    “Good morning. Merry Christmas.” He said with a smile, “You didn’t open your gift.”

    “Why are you home?” he asked. His father set his coffee on the table.

    “They wouldn’t make me work on Christmas day, Glen. I’ve been working hard to get ahead enough to take today off.”

    “And who is this?” he asked, gesturing to the woman sitting across from his father.

    “My name is Keiko.” She said, holding out her hand. Glen awkwardly shook it as she continued, “Your father is working hard. Not only is he getting ahead on his work, but he’s taken up a side project, rather, this.” She slid a paper towards him, and Glen picked it up and read it. It was an adoption form.

    “What is this?” he asked. His father smiled as he sipped his coffee.

    “This, means you’re getting a sister.” He said, “This job is bringing in quite a bit. I can afford to support another child and I don’t have time to be dating and marrying other women, Glen. I wanted more kids, but your mother, god rest her soul, only had you before she passed. This way, I feel like I’m not dishonoring her memory. She would like for me to do this.”

    “I’m getting a sister?” he stammered, letting the paper fall to the table. The woman giggled at the utter shock across his face. Only the sound of the doorbell made him snap out of his trance.

    “That would be her now.” The woman said. Glen ran to the door and pulled it open, finding a very shy Sana standing with a small suitcase. His father appeared over his shoulder and smiled at him.

    “Merry Christmas.” He said.