If you’ve read O. Henry’s Gift of the Magi, you’ll recognize the characters. If you haven’t, you might want to before you read this. It’s available full-text online from many sources. When I was much younger, I often wondered why Jim didn’t make the practical suggestion given here. When I got older, I understood exactly why. I think you’ll agree with me.
The weak, gray light of a winter dawn slid down the narrow passage between the tenement houses as Jim Young opened his eyes. He took a deep breath. Was that bacon? How had Della managed to afford bacon two days in a row? First for Christmas morning and now for the day after? She was a marvel, that young wife of his!
He threw back the covers and, shivering in the cold, washed quickly in the icy water from the pitcher on the washstand. He pulled on his clothes and, bending down to peer in the mirror, slicked his hair back. He smiled wryly at the jeweled combs lying on the top of the dresser next to the brush that Della no longer needed for her once long beautiful hair. He shook his head as he tucked the platinum fob chain into the empty watch pocket of his vest and went into the kitchen.
“Oh, Jim, you’re up, my darling,” Della spun around and danced over, throwing her arms around his neck. He returned the hug and added a kiss.
“Something smells good, my sweet,” he smiled down at her, his hands on her waist. “Bacon twice in one week?”
“Oh, I know how you love it, and I still had that eighty-seven cents left from selling my hair,” she paused and brushed a hand sadly across her cropped head, then smiled bravely. “What else could I do but buy my beloved his favorite breakfast! Now, sit down while I serve you.”
Jim sat and Della poured coffee for him, then placed a plate of bacon, scrambled eggs, and toast in front of him.
“Eggs, too? And butter on the toast?” Jim exclaimed. “Such riches!”
Della smiled again as she sat across from him, her plate of food before her. What if her pile of eggs was smaller and she had only one slice of bacon and no butter to her bread? Her Jim was happy and that was better than butter.
Jim took a forkful of eggs and bacon, followed by a bite of toast and a swig of coffee.
“The very best eggs and bacon I’ve ever eaten. What’s your secret, my angel?”
“Why, they’re made with love, dearest!” Della beamed at him.
Jim finished his food, then sat back, sipping his coffee and watching as Della tidied the kitchen.
“You know, I think I like your hair better like this,” he mused.
Della forced a smiled. “It is ever so much easier to manage,” she said, putting on a brave face. “And it does bring out the curl.” She shook her head so that the curls bounced.
“You look like a adorable, mischievous house sprite,” Jim said as he set his empty cup on the table. He pushed back and stood up. “Well, I guess I’d better be off to work. This isn’t England where people get Boxing Day as a holiday as well as Christmas.”
Della followed him into the main room and helped him on with his old coat and wrapped his threadbare scarf around his neck. He held his shabby hat awkwardly in his hands.
“There’s something I wanted to ask you, honey,” he said.
“Yes, my love?”
“Well … it’s about those combs I got you for your hair…”
Della’s eyes narrowed and a creased appeared between her eyebrows. “Yes, what about the combs?” She asked suspiciously.
“Well … I wondered if maybe … well, if maybe I could return them to the jeweler and get the money back and get my watch out of hock.” Jim spoke in a rush, as Della’s eyes grew wide with astonishment.
“You want to do WHAT?” she demanded.
“Well, it’s not like you can use them right now, but I could use the watch with the chain that you got me, and isn’t that what you want, my dearest darling?” Jim hurried through his justification, backing slowly toward the door, as Della began breathing harshly through her nose.
“I know you’re hair grows awfully fast,” he continued, feeling for the doorknob behind his back, “but it will still be months before you can it will be long enough for you to use them — you might even decide to keep it short, it’s so becoming — and by that time I’ll have saved up the money and I could buy the combs …”
Della cut him off. “You want them back?” she snarled as she turned to the dresser and snatched up the combs, then advanced toward him, waving her fist holding the combs under his nose. “”The only decent things you’ve ever given me and you want them BACK? My mother was right! I should never have married you!”
Jim heard this last as he slipped out the door and closed it behind him. He had only taken a few steps down the hall when the door flew open and Della appeared, her arm raised above her head.
“You want them?” she shrieked. “They’re yours!” She flung her arm forward and the combs flew out of her hand and landed on the floor in front of him. She stepped back into the apartment and slammed the door.
Jim stood staring at the door for a moment, then slowly bent down and picked up the combs. He looked at them in his hand and was relieved to see that they were undamaged. He sighed gratefully as he slipped them into his pocket and headed down the hall to the stairwell.
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