"Gifts of time and love are surely the basic ingredients of a truly merry Christmas"

Peg Bracken

The Perfect Gift

By Ryanchopper12

Our story takes place in Oklahoma. A small 8 year old boy named John Weaver had a normal life, a nice family, a nice home, and a nice life, generally. But there was something else that he didn't have... friends. Every day at school, John asked some of his classmates if they wanted to come over after school and play. Unfortunately, they mostly say no to him harshly, and, sometimes, insult him. All John ever wanted was a friend, not just any friend... A BEST friend… someone to play with every day… someone to sleepover with...someone who CARED about him! On December 24th, 2012/, he made a list of things he wanted for Christmas.

“MOM, DAD, Here’s my list of things I want for Christmas!” John exclaimed, dashing up to his parents.
Mr. & Ms. Weaver looked over the Christmas list that John made and Mr. Weaver said to John, with doubt in his tone, “Are you SURE this is all you want? We're leaving for the mall in twenty minutes…“
John interrupted his father with a fazed tone, “YEAH; I guess…“
His mother smiled down at John, being the cheerful type. “Well...if there’s anything else you want, let us know.” John looked up at his mom and smiled back.
“Ok mom, love you!” John’s parents left the kitchen, clearly to prepare for Christmas shopping. John ran to his living room and turned his TV on to watch his favorite show: My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic.

While watching a repeat episode, his dad walked into the room and looked at the screen, shaking his head in disgust. He walked into the kitchen and, to Ms. Weaver, he sighed. “Why do you let him watch that show? There are shows for boys his age, like Spongebob or Fairy Odd Parents or Adventure Time. Instead he chose to watch that little pony show, which is designed for little girls.” He shook his head again.
Ms. Weaver shook her head and replied to her husband, seriousness in her tone, “Honey, he’s only 8. It’s a good show for his age; it teaches him good morals and life lessons. There’s nothing to be ashamed of.“
Mr. Weaver let out a sigh. “I guess you’re right,” he admitted.

John, beyond his parents’ full knowledge, was watching A Friend in Deed, one of his favorite episodes.
Pinkie Pie is my favorite pony. She’s a friend who can play hide and seek, a friend who can sleep in my room and tell ghost stories, a friend who....cares about me.

After the episode finished, John let out a long sigh and said to himself, “I wish Pinkie was real...and my friend.“ As John looked at the TV screen, which was rolling the credits, his eyes lit up with an idea. He grabbed a pen and ran towards the kitchen and notice that his parents are about to leave for the mall, loaded up. “STOP!“ John yelled, running towards them. He snatched his list and wrote down what he wanted for a gift. “I wanna write something before you go!“
Mr. Weaver grabbed the list and took a good, long look at it. When he got to the last part of the list, he slowly placed it in his coat pocket. “Are sure this is ALL?“ He asked, raising an eyebrow.
“Yep! But, the last thing on my list is gonna be from Santa!“
Mr. Weaver looked down at his son and smiled a bit at the wide grin on his face. “Well, you better write him a letter then.“

John ran to the cabinets to find a piece of paper and write down a letter to Santa. In his neatest handwriting, he wrote:

Dear Santa,
All I want for Christmas this year is a pony named Pinkie Pie, just like in the show! That’s my only wish for Christmas...a friend. Could you make her the same age as me? Thanks!
Sincerely,
John Weaver

John finished the letter and, after rereading it a few times, put it in an envelope. He dressed up and dashed out the door, clutching the envelope, and made his way to the mailbox.
When John got home from the post, he noticed that his parents were home too. Excitement at the sight of gifts under the decorated tree made him bubble. John couldn't help but smile and asked his parents, “Are they really there?“
Mr. and Ms. Weaver smiled at John and his mom replied, “Yes, they are, but you gotta wait ‘till tomorrow.“
Mr. Weaver noticed the time on the clock: 9:00 pm. He turned to John. “Hey, John, it’s almost past your bedtime.”
“I’ll go to bed now. I want to be nice and fresh for tomorrow!” For my gifts… especially my special gift.

As John’s mother tucked him in, John asked, “Mommy...do you think Santa is gonna bring my gift?“
Ms. Weaver looked at John with a smile and replied, “I know he will.“ She gave him a kiss on the forehead and said goodnight to John. As John slept like a baby, he quivered a little bit in his sleep.

“C’mon John; try to catch up!“ yelled a filly Pinkie, who giggled and galloped away.
“I’m coming, Pinkie!“ John laughed in response, dashing after her.
When John caught up with Pinkie, she gave him a smirk, hopping around him. “I win! I win! I win!“ she triumphantly declared.
John couldn’t help but smile. “Haha no fair, You have four legs!“
Pinkie giggled and pointed at John’s leg’s “Hahaha I guess you're right… HEY wanna play a different game?“
John turned to Pinkie and asked, eyes narrowed, “What kind of game?“
Pinkie walked slowly to John and smiled at him, so wide it wasn’t humanly possible. Well… more so than before. “Ohhhh, I don’t know. Just a little game I call...“ Just then, Pinkie’s hoof poked John in the chest. “TAG!“ Pinkie ran from John, who chased the pink filly.
“I’ll tag you!” John laughed, nearing his new friend.
Just then, he was right behind Pinkie and managed to tag her on the back. “HEY, you tagged me!“ Pinkie yelled with mock indignation, big smile on her face. John took a break to catch his breath. Pinkie trotted towards John and said, “You’re a fun friend to have, John!“
John lay down on the hill they were on and watched the clouds. Pinkie was lying next to him, doing the same thing. “Pinkie...Are we gonna be friends forever?“
Pinkie turned to John and immediately gave him a hug. She then exclaimed, “Silly willy John, OF COURSE we will be friends forever!“
John replied to Pinkie, eager but serious, “Forever & ever?“
Pinkie beamed at John and replied, “Forever and ever and ever and ever!“ John had a big grin on his face and gave Pinkie a big hug. Pinkie hugged John back, but far tighter. “GAH, Pinkie...Can’t...Breathe!“ John chocked, being squeezed from the filly’s hug.
Pinkie let go of him and beamed. “Sorry there, Johnny.“
John breathed greedily for a moment and, with a confused look on his face, asked, “So you promise to be my best friend forever?“
Pinkie replied to John’s comment by doing her famous ‘Pinkie Promise.’ “Cross my heart, hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye!“ John laughed at the creed; he’d heard that from somewhere before. Pinkie was confused but still cheerful. “What’s so funny, Johnny?“
John got up and replied, ”That thing you did… was silly!”
Pinkie bluntly yelled out, “Well duh! It’s a Pinkie Promise. A Pinkie Promise is something only REAL friends do.“
John grinned and replied, “So what you did there was a promise that we will be friends forever?“
Pinkie smiled more widely, and pointed her hoof at John. “Only if you do it too!“ John raised his finger and repeated Pinkie’s promise.
“Cross my heart, hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye!“
As John finished the Pinkie Promise, Pinkie had the BIGGEST smile on her face ever and gave John another tight hug. “YAY! It's official; we're gonna be BEST FRIENDS FOREVER!“ John hugged Pinkie back after what he just heard: it was like a dream. John could never be happier. “John?“
John looked up. “What is it Pinkie?“
Pinkie asked him a question “Can you wake up“ John was confused with the question, but then realized he was, in fact, dreaming.

“WAKE UP JOHN!“ shouted Ms. Weaver. John woke up from the dream with a bit of disappointment that it wasn't real, but quickly noticed that it was Christmas Day. Once the realization poured over him, he bounced. He went downstairs to see his father waiting for him, his mom following him. “MERRY CHRISTMAS!” exclaimed Mr. and Ms. Weaver in unison.
John saw all the gifts under the tree and lit up like only a young boy on Christmas morning. He tore open the first one and paled… a pair of socks. He unwrapped and unwrapped, but still no luck.

When he got to his last present, desperate hope spread through him. It had to be his special gift! When he opened it, it was...an action figure. He paled, sighing.
“John, you forgot one more,“ Mr. Weaver pointed out with excitement, holding his last gift above his head. Just when John was about to give up hope, he grinned. It had to be his special gift! He was jumping around with explosive excitement.
“OH BOY! OH BOY! OH BOY,“ yelled John merrily. As Mr. Weaver put the gift down, he grinned down at John as the boy ripped the present wrapping off. “This is gonna be so FUN; we're gonna play games, tag, make a fort, tell each other stories!”, Just as John opened the box, he paled again. What was inside was a stuffed version of his favorite pony.

His parents stood over him with anticipation. “Well? What you think, John?” asked Ms. Weaver.
“YEAH CHAMP; you like it?” Mr. Weaver added.
John looked up at them with a false grin and replied, “Yeah... thanks.” Behind that fake smile was a very heartbroken boy who never got his wish. His heart, which had been balloon-filled with excitement, seemed to diminish to shreds of lonely paper.
Mr. Weaver walked up to John and took him to the kitchen. “C'mon buddy; let’s go eat our Christmas breakfast”

As they were eating at the table, John looked down at his plate with a frown plastered on his face.
“So, John, what do you think of the gifts we gave you?” said Ms. Weaver.
Mr. Weaver added, “Yeah. If you ask me, they're pretty cool.”
John looked at both of them with a fake smile and replied, “ I think they’re...nice.”
Ms. Weaver smiled at what her son said and responded, “Well, this is great! You can play with them, take them wherever you go-” Then, Mr. Weaver cut her off, saying, “And you can show them to your friends!”

John dropped his fork of what his father said, and felt a pain in his chest. He slowly got off his chair and said, feigning illness, “I’m not really hungry right now...may I be excused?”
John’s parents exchanged a glance before their gazes fixed on the young boy. “Of course you can. While you're in the living room, you can start playing with those toys we got you,” Mr. Weaver grinned.

John slowly walked to the living room with a sad look on his face and looked around the gifts. He then noticed the Pinkie Pie doll and picked it up. He squeezed its fluffy hoof and the doll said, sounding similar to the pony he knew and loved, “Hehehe I love you!” John had a tear running from his eye and began to cry. His wish hadn't come true that day, and he wondered if Santa really was just a myth after all.

While John was crying, there was a noise coming from behind the tree. John looked up at that moment, wiping the tears off his face and, obviously, confused by that sound. He slowly walked towards the tree and crawled under it, expecting to find something falling. However, what he found was a big box shaking a little. John grabbed and crawled back out, searching for the tag.

To: John Weaver
From: Santa Claus

John had a big smile on his face and started opening the gift slowly. When he unwrapped the gift he opened the box slowly....
“HI THERE!!!!!!”
John fell on his back. Something popped up in front of him! He slowly got up and saw a filly Pinkie Pie staring at him in the box. When he approached her, she made a smile and continued, “My name’s Pinkie Pie; what’s your name?!”
John was speechless, literally, and slowly answered her. “J...John...my name is… John”
Pinkie gave him a hug and giggled. “Haha, well, we're not strangers anymore, are we?!”

John couldn't help but smile and hug Pinkie back he had a tear running from his cheek. Pinkie noticed the tear and, concerned, asked, “Hey, why are you crying, is it something I said?”
John shook his head and replied, “No, Pinkie… I’m just...So happy! This is the best Christmas ever!!!”
John hugged Pinkie again but tighter and the party pony did the same. As John hugged Pinkie with tears of joy and happiness, she whispered into his ear, “Pssst, JOHN!” John looked at Pinkie and the filly had a big smile on her face. “HEY Johnny, I don’t know how you humans say this, but... Merry Christmas!”

John was overflowing with relief: his wish had come true! John then realized that he could play game with Pinkie, just like his dream! “So, Pinkie, what games do you wanna play today!?” Just when Pinkie was about to answer, John’s parents came in the living room.
“So. John, we were thinking, and... OH MY GOD WHAT IS THAT THING?!” Ms. Weaver shouted in shock.
“J… JOHN, GET AWAY FROM THAT THING!” Mr. Weaver added.

Pinkie looked in between both of John’s parents with a smile. “You must be John’s parents! I’m Pinkie Pie!”
John got up and defended his new friend. “MOM, DAD, she’s not gonna hurt me; will you, Pinkie?”
The filly shook her head at the speed of a train “I will NEVER, NEVER, NEVER, NEVER, EVER hurt Johnny, Mr. and Ms.…”
“Weaver” said Ms. Weaver
“JOHN, GET OVER HERE RIGHT NOW!” yelled Mr. Weaver in agitation.

John had enough. He turned on the TV and what came on was My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic. He paused it and what showed the main six characters. John pointed to the part of the screen that showed Pinkie and exclaimed, “THAT’S HER!!” John's parents couldn't believe their eyes of what they saw.
“SHE’S...REAL?” Ms. Weaver gasped.
Mr. Weaver was just as confused and asked, “HOW IS THIS....POSSIBLE?!”
John lifted the tag. "It's from Santa!"
Mr. Weaver was confused and said to John, “How is that possible? Santa isn't re.. never mind.”

John was satisfied that he had finally calmed down his parents a bit, and assured both of them, “ Isn't this great, mom & dad? I'll have a best friend now!”
Pinkie hugged John behind him with a giggle and agreed, “Thaaat's RIGHT!” Mr. and Ms. Weaver exchanged a confused glance.
Ms. Weaver slowly walked up to Pinkie and asked her, “Ummm... what’s your name?”
Pinkie poked her own chest with a wide, introductory grin. “The names Pinkamena Diane Pie, but you can call me Pinkie for short!”

John looked at both of his parents and pleaded, “CAN WE KEEP HER!, HUH? PLEEEAAASE!”
Mr. Weaver scratched his head and responded, doubt in his tone, “I don't know John, this is quite the responsibility.”
Pinkie trotted to Mr. Weaver and hugged his leg with a puppy dog face. “Pleeeease!”
Mr. Weaver couldn't help but grin. This 'Pinkie' was pretty cute, and his boy had been good that year...“ OK, JOHN, you can keep Pinkie, MERRY CHRISTMAS!”

John and Pinkie jumped up and down with gladness and smiled like no tomorrow. John then asked Pinkie, “Hey Pinkie?”
Pinkie turned around with a big grin at her new friend and asked, “What is it, Johnny?”
John slowly walked up to her and asked, “Wanna play a game?”
Pinkie bounced a bit and responded “OHHH, I LOVE GAMES!! What game is it?!”
John then replied mischievously, “Ohhh I don’t know, just a game called...” Then John poked his finger on Pinkie's chest, “TAG!” John ran away from Pinkie. The pink pony giggled and chased after the young boy.

They ran around the house with laughter and fun, they played Tag , built a fort from the couch and other household items, and told each other spooky ghost stories! They ran to the kitchen to get a glass of water after a particularly long game of 'hide and seek' in the house, and noticed Mr. and Ms. Weaver standing together, smiling proudly at both of them. “So...you guys having fun today?” asked Ms. Weaver.

John answered back, with enthusiasm, “YES mom, this is the best Christmas ever!!!”
"IT WAS, SUPER DUPER FUN, Ms. Weaver!” Pinkie agreed with a bounce.
Ms. Weaver giggled and said to them both, “Haha, glad you did!”
Mr. Weaver looked up on the clock and noticed it was 10:00pm. He turned to John and Pinkie. “Hey, John, it’s bedtime; better go upstairs and brush your teeth.” John gave his dad an annoyed look but decided to go upstairs anyway; it was a long day.

As Pinkie watched John walk up the stairs, she noticed that Mr. and Ms. Weaver were staring at her. She asked, with a confused smile, “What’s so funny? Is there something on my face? OHHH I bet it was the cupcakes me and John made!”
Mr. Weaver asked Pinkie, “Ummm... so, Pinkie Pie? You should probably head to bed as well.”
Pinkie just grinned at Mr. Weaver and squeaked, “ Okie dokie, Mr. Weaver!” She then trotted upstairs.
Ms. Weaver smiled at her husband, exclaiming, “Isn't she a miracle!”
Mr. Weaver looked at her and animatedly replied, “Yeah; she’s a real cutie pie!” He was still confused as to how Pinkie got there. But it didn't matter: he knew it made his son happy.

Ms. Weaver kissed her husband on the cheek and said to him, “Night sweetheart; I’ll see you in bed soon!” Mr. Weaver grinned after her as his wife left the room.
Is it just me or, ever since Pinkie came here, everyone’s been acting more...happy? But, hey, she is a cutie when she makes that adorable face; like the daughter I never had. But, again, she’s a pony, so maybe I can get used to this, but I can't tell anyone about this... EVER!

Back upstairs, in John’s room, the two friends were both getting tucked in by Ms. Weaver.
“Goodnight mom, love you!” said John from his spot.
Ms. weaver smiled and kissed him on the forehead and said her goodnight.
Just before she left, Pinkie yelled to her, “HEY! What about me!”
She turned around and saw Pinkie with a frown and apologized, “Oh, sorry! I almost forgot about you!” She kissed Pinkie on the forehead and said her goodnight.

When she turned off the lights. Pinkie said something to Ms weaver that made her feel warm inside. “Hey Ms. Weaver?” She turned around and saw Pinkie with a warm smile. “Goodnight...love you!”
Ms. Weaver’s heart melted to the sincerity the little filly had. She couldn't help but have a big smile and reply, “Good night Pinkie... I love you too.” She slowly closed the door and walked to her room. She noticed Mr. Weaver reading a book and laid on the bed next to him. She turned to her husband, exclaiming, “She is such an ANGEL!”

Mr. Weaver turned to his wife and replied, “She sure is!, it’s like the daughter we never...”
Then Ms. Weaver cut him off and finished his sentence. “Had?”
Mr. Weaver couldn't help but laugh and said agreed "Yes!”
“Do you think we can keep her as a.. daughter?”
Mr. Weaver smiled and answered happily, “Why not!?”
Ms. Weaver kissed him on the lips and whispered, “Thank you!” The married couple fallen asleep in peace.

In the other room, later that night, John noticed Pinkie wasn't next to him in bed. He glanced around and saw Pinkie staring through the window. He blinked and got up, walked next to her.
“What’re you looking at, Pinkie?”
Pinkie pointed her hoof on the bright star in the sky and commented, “That big star is sooo pretty I just wanted to stare at it!” John noticed the star as well.
“It’s called the Christmas star; you make a wish on it.”
Pinkie was confused, but then turned to the star. “A wish? OH, we should make a wish together!” Pinkie closed her eyes and thought of a wish. John did the same as well.

When Pinkie was finished she exclaimed, “That was FUN! I wished for a big CAKE! What did you wish
for, Johnny?”
John turned to Pinkie and smiled at her. “I didn't make a wish, Pinkie.”
Pinkie was clearly ruffled by her friend's comment. “Aww... why NOT?!”
John then hugged Pinkie and whispered in her ear, “Because it already came true!” Pinkie then hugged John tight as a rope and let him go.
John went back in bed and so did Pinkie.The young filly cuddled next to him and said, “You know, Johnny, there’s only one thing we can do to make us official BFFs!” He looked at Pinkie and guessed what she was about to do. They then did the Pinkie Promise.

“Cross my heart!” the pink filly began.
“And hope to fly!” The young boy continued.
Then they both said the last part together.
“STICK A CUPCAKE IN MY EYE!”

John smiled and slowly fell asleep. Pinkie did as well. Pinkie then whispered into John’s ear, “Hey, John.” He opened his eyes and saw Pinkie with a soft smile and what Pinkie said to John was the happiest thing he ever heard. “ I love you!” John then gave Pinkie a confused look and Pinkie giggled “Not in that way, silly willy!” John, relieved, went back to sleep.

John tapped Pinkie on the shoulder and whispered into her ear, “Love you too, Pinkie... Merry Christmas!” The two slept in peace that night and John finally got what he wanted... a friend. Not just any friend; a BPFF (best pony friend forever) and he is a BHFF (best human friend forever)
That was John’s best Christmas ever, and his perfect gift made it so.

The End

Author's Note

I was watching the movie TED the other day and found the inspiration for it...and other Christmas movies.