Squashed in his hand was a hollow chocolate Santa Claus. His fingers had melted through Saint Nick, sternum and spine pinched together, left leg missing at the knee. His broken edges were warped from body heat.
Gabriel was angry at what he’d found beneath the bright yellow foil. There was supposed to be a rabbit inside. There was a rabbit on the foil, so there ought to be a chocolate one inside the foil. Instead he’d found old Christmas chocolate. The delight of receiving such a handsome Easter gift was ruined. Mother rarely had the money to spend on gifts or candies. He knew that she, too, had been swindled; it was not her fault that all she could afford was cheap candy. He should not feel angry with her. Her work at the Ellis Seating and Textile factory drained her in ways that Gabriel did not understand but still noticed.
— Read the rest of the story over at The Assortment —
