“Isaac, honey, what are you doing?” Mrs. Hanson questioned her voice slightly worried.

Isaac looked up form the phone book, and the phone he was holding. “I gotta find someone at a hospital.” He stated as he flipped another page over hastily.

“Well what’s their name, and what hospital are they at?” She asked as she picked up some of the toys left in the front room by the other kids.

“Joey, and I don’t know.” Isaac replied as he picked up the phone in his left hand; while his right hand fingered the number he was about to dial next.

Mrs. Hanson eyed him for a moment. “What’s his last name?”

He shrugged his shoulders warily. “I don’t know.”

Isaac had covered the mouthpiece, and was about to say more when he removed his hand and started speaking. “Yes, I have a question. Do you have any patients with the first name Joey, on the list for operations on Christmas day?”

“No, no I’m not immediate family. No, I’m not a relative either. Just please, just tell me if he is or not?” Isaac asked emotionally. He had to see this boy again. This boy touched his heart and was now disturbing his sleep.

The towheaded, big brown-eyed boy was on his mind so much, he just couldn’t brush him aside. He needed to see this boy again. He wanted to.

The nurse sighed, and answered him then. Yes, there was a boy named Joey. A Joey Harrison was scheduled for the operating room on Christmas morning, seven o’clock.

Isaac smiled to himself and thanked the lady a dozen times before finally hanging up the phone. Jumping up from his seat he hugged his mother tightly.

“Can I borrow the car for a little while?” He asked after he released her.

Mrs. Hanson started eyeing him again. “Are you going to be back before eight? It is Christmas Eve after all, and you really shouldn’t be out."

He rolled his eyes playfully. “I should only be gone no more than two hours, I swear. It’s my Christmas wish.” He pleaded.

“Okay then.” She caved smiling.

“Great, thanks, Mom.” Isaac said as he kissed her cheek and ran for the door.

Isaac slowly paced himself as he walked inside the hospital. He never really liked them. He’d been so many times. Each time when he got a new sibling, which was a lot, when Zac broke his nose, when he sprained his ankle, when Taylor broke his arm, when they’re grandma got sick… just a lot of times he had been to them.

The plastic bag in his hand rustled, and he looked down at it. It wasn’t much, but he couldn’t think of anything else to do really. He had done this so many times for his grandma, so why wouldn’t he do this for Joey too?

“Hi,” He said nervously.

The nurse looked up from the screen, and stopped typing. “May I help you?” She asked cheerfully, her smile bright.

Isaac smiled back. “Yes, I was wondering if you could tell me the room where Joey Harrison is staying, please?”

Smiling even more, the nurse went to back to her computer and punched a few keys, and a new layout appeared. “Okay,” She said nodding. “Or you immediate family or a relative?”

Shifting his feet, Isaac nodded his head quickly. “I’m his cousin. My father is his father’s brother.” He lied.

“Oh okay.” She said smiling again. “Then he’s in room three fifteen. The fifth floor.”

“Thank you.” He said as he walked quickly over to the elevators.

A man dressed as Santa Claus walked inside too.

Shifting again, and fidgeting with the zipper on his jacket, Isaac smiled nervously over at the jolly fat man.

The Santa nodded his head, and got off the floor before his.

The elevators closed again, and Isaac felt it beginning to rise again. And then it stopped, and the doors opened.

He stepped out, and started walking down the brightly-lit hallway. Counting the rooms as he went down.

‘Finally.’ He thought as he reached his destination. He poked his head inside and looked around. He noticed that no one was there. Except for a small form in the narrow bed.

Walking in quietly, he could hear the tiny snores that were coming from the tiny being. He smiled to himself as he grabbed the glass jar from the plastic bag, and set it on the table across from the bed.

Reaching inside the bag again he removed a small packet. He tore out a match and lit the wick inside the long, thick candle.

Isaac stepped over to the bed, and noticed the towhead immediately. In less than twenty-four hours, he would be in surgery, trying to get the cancer removed from his arm.

That was a harsh weight that that kid had on his shoulders.

Brushing the wavy hair away from his eyes, Isaac slowly and quietly removed himself from the room. He didn’t want to get caught. How would he explain?

He left the hospital smiling happily.

Joey woke up an hour before he was due for surgery. His room was empty.

He had no parents, just nuns who came and watched over him and gave him company now and again. After the surgery, if there was no more cancer in his arm, and when he healed he would be placed in foster home number four.

Sighing, and half-groaning he sat up in his bed and started looking around his room.

It was then he noticed it. A candle burning on the table for him.

Quickly, he was up and out of the bed and staring at the candle. The picture of a man and writing upon glass and inside was a candle. Burning just for him.

A nun walked in on him. Sister Anna-Maria. “You should be in bed, Jose.”

Joey looked up at her, and wrinkled his nose at the name she had been calling him for the past few weeks. Who was Jose anyway?

He shook his head and pointed at the candle with his right hand. “Look, someone lit this for me.”

Sister Anna-Maria walked up to him warily. This boy was excited over the littlest things sometimes. But when her eyes fell upon the glass the candle was in she smiled down at the boy, and rubbed his head gently. “Do you know who he is?”

Shaking his head, Joey looked up at her. “Tell me who he is, and what it says.”

She nodded and helped him back into bed. “That man, is the greatest man on Earth child. He was born on this very day, many many years ago.” She smiled at the eagerness in his eyes. “He is the Son of God.”

Joey smiled brightly. “Of God?” He squeaked.

“Oh, yes.” She remarked.

“Then what’s it say?” Joey asked curiously.

Sister Anna-Maria smiled at him. “It says: Dear Jesus, watch over this child, whom this candle burns brightly for.”

He giggled excitedly then. “Wow.” He said in wonder.

“So, Ike…” Taylor started.

“What now, Tay?” Isaac asked grinning at him knowingly.

Taylor laughed at that. “I just wanna know where you went last night.”

“Oh, that.” Isaac said shrugging his shoulders. “Just somewhere.”

“Well, what’d you do?” Zac asked. Getting in on the conversation.

Isaac smiled over at him. “Just something.” He admitted.

“So you went just somewhere and did just something?” Taylor asked speculatively, as he started eyeing him.

“Yup, just somewhat.” He stated laughing.

“Come on, Ike!” Taylor said smiling. “You know you really want to tell us.” He said, trying to be persuasive.

Isaac laughed again. “No, I really don’t.”

“Come on, just tell us what you did.” Zac pleaded. Secrets kept from him just were not fun.

“Okay, okay.” Isaac said giving in. “I made my Christmas wish come true.”

“What was it?” Taylor prodded.

“Guys!” Mrs. Hanson said excitedly as she stuck her head into their room. “It’s Christmas time!” She shouted before jumping out of the way.

Isaac, Taylor, and Zac jumped from their beds and ran down the hallways. The question long forgotten. And the little kids already beating them to the living room, and tearing away at their gifts.

Grinning, Isaac picked up one of his and looked around at his family. Then he jerked himself from his thoughts, and started tearing at the wrapper. It was going to be a great Christmas this year.