I put out presents for my parents too with all three of our names on them. When everyone went to sleep that night, I set up the plastic tree with everyone’s presents underneath. My brothers woke up the next morning to their presents and I was the only one who didn’t have one. But that wasn’t true. My mother came out and my brothers thanked her. She looked at me and whispered “Thank you” and for me, that was my present, seeing everyone happy.
Shawn, 36
Incarcerated: 16 years
Housed: Trenton, New Jersey
I was 11 when my father got sent to jail. My mother wasn’t working while raising three of us kids while her husband was in jail. My birthday is December 22nd, with no money, I knew I wasn’t getting anything for Christmas and neither were my brothers. So I thought of ways to make a few dollars shoveling snow, cleaning peoples cars or any quick job because I still wanted my family to experience Christmas. I could tell as Christmas approached my mom felt downhearted because she wasn’t going to be able to get us presents. So I went out on my own after school and did some snow shoveling to clear people’s driveways and walkways. I make about $20 per house. When I made $160, I went to the local shopping plaza around the corner from my house. I bought my brothers and mother Christmas gifts and a small plastic tree and hid them in our basement. While everybody was busy on Christmas eve, I went into the basement and wrapped my brother’s presents. But on the labels I put “From Mom and Dad.” I put out presents for my parents too with all three of our names on them. When everyone went to sleep that night, I set up the plastic tree with everyone’s presents underneath. My brothers woke up the next morning to their presents and I was the only one who didn’t have one. But that wasn’t true. My mother came out and my brothers thanked her. She looked at me and whispered “Thank you” and for me, that was my present, seeing everyone happy. Until this day, only my mother and I know what transpired that day. At such a young age, I’m glad I was able to do that for my family. It’s one of my fondest childhood memories.
