Outside it was as cold and brisk as the view from the window foretold. Sasha walked alone amidst a solid white pallet sprinkled with the dots of brown earth poking through the snow. The landscape fell together as if a Jackson Pollock painting were passing unnoticed beneath Sasha’s determined feet. Sasha wore a brown coat over black pants. Her hair framed shoulders were hunched against the slight wind, Sasha was on her way to buy a Christmas tree under the growing evening.

Earlier in the week, Sasha noticed the corner grocer had trees in the parking lot and she waited until the weekend to buy one. Tonight was the night she waited for. She had a Wigg’s Grocery Store coupon and kept cash in her purse for the lot attendant’s tip. Sasha looked at the shortest trees, about three foot each and blended in with all the other shoppers when she pulled a food wrapper stuck to the bottom of her shoe while pacing around the dirty lot. Unhindered by the sticky sound from the soul of her shoe, Sasha carefully looked for just the one that would really say Merry Christmas while in her apartment.

“This tree?”
“Yes.” Sasha responded.
“I’ll cut it and put it on a stand for you. Wait here.”
“Thank you.”

Sasha waited quietly for the Christmas tree. She felt the occasional blow of heat from the grocery store’s revolving door, she watched the rush of people coming and going. During that time, Sasha felt uneasy as she grew tired of waiting. She stared down at the sidewalk littered with black gum stains made smooth by steps and time. As she looked, she saw a universe with a cement background and round black gum stars pelting its horizon. She skimmed her shoe, back and forth, over the sight. The night grew darker. Sasha wondered where the “tree-guy” was. Several times, she attempted to move from the spot where she stood, hesitated, and then stayed. Finally, Sasha made her move to go find the “tree guy.”

The first person she saw in the Christmas tree lot was a young high school kid who was busy cutting tree trunks. Then she saw a sales-guy and it was not the guy who said he’d be back. Walking around the lot once, she realized he was gone.

“I was waiting for my tree to be cut,” she told the high school kid.
“Ask him.” He said pointing to the tree lot attendant.
“I was waiting for my tree to be cut.”
“What tree? Pick one out and have him cut it.”
Sasha chose not to answer him.

Again, she was in the familiar three-foot tree section. Hello again she thought. She grabbed the first one she saw. It had a good empty section toward the bottom to use as a handle for the trip home. She handed the high school kid the tree. He placed it on the level and used a saw to cut the stump. After the stand was in place, he gave the tree to her using the handle. Sasha grabbed it from him and what she could carry she did, what she couldn’t dragged on the floor. The weight caused her breath to carry out into the night heavily and the cold made it transparent against the dark. It was a cold night, but a good night to bring the tree home. So good, Sasha let the slight plumes of bright breath lead her way home.