The days go past very fast in December. At first it seems that the rhythm is slow and usual but, the closer the holidays appear, the faster they go by and the last decade of the month rushes before eyes in just one moment. Nina knew that Christmas would come faster this year than everyone expected. And it seemed like this was a reason why everybody rushed to buy gifts in the last week before holidays.
All days long, Nina, a perfume department consultant, walked between the racks with colorful boxes and samplers, helping the store visitors choose the right scent. She knew everything about each perfume, she could tell about the notes of the scent, complex compositions and differences between similar flavors. On Christmas Eve, she was very busy, because there was more buyers than usual. Nina really loved her work and never complained about it.
The salary of the perfumery consultant was not bad - it was enough for living as well as for some girlish staff she might need. But Nina lived very simple life. She sent most of the money she earned to her parents — a few years ago, Nina’s father fell down the stairs and needed a surgery. Nina regularly transferred all free money to her parents, leaving only necessary amount for herself.
Nina's friends, who often asked for a discount card for perfumes, were surprised by the fact that she didn't have a single bottle of perfume at home. Nina joked that there was enough aroma at work, although in reality she simply did not allow herself extra expenses. Among all the bottles and samplers that were sold in the store, Nina had one favorite - with the name Nina. Sometimes, at the end of the working day, when there was already no one in the room, she would take a tester in her hand, that looked like a crystal apple, and put a little perfume on her wrist. She closed her eyes and inhaled the aroma of Nina from Nina Ricci - with notes of juicy lime, apple, peony and chocolate.
Even though she loved this perfume really much, on Christmas Eve Nina, turned to childhood memories about good Santa Claus, and asked him for only one thing - to raise funds for her father’s surgery. Nina new that she will buy herself beloved perfume later.
It was the end of the week, and Christmas was getting nearer. On this day, Nina worked without lunch - there were more visitors than in all the past few days. At the end of the working day, a bearded man in a red suit - looking just like Santa Claus from the pictures, entered the store. Nina was not surprised, because these Santas went around the city almost from the very beginning of December. Bearded Mr. Klaus approached Nina and looked at her intently.
– Tell me, dear girl, do you sell perfume here?
– Of course, Santa, you are in the perfume department. - Nina smiled.
– Oh yes, yes, of course. So, dear, I need these. - Santa Claus pulled a long list out of his pocket, put on his glasses and jabbed his finger at the column where Nina saw the familiar word - N I N A.
Nina led Mr. Klaus to a rack with white boxes with a red apple on it, and handed one of them to the bearded Santa.
– I am sure that you have made a right choice.
Nina walked an unusual buyer to the checkout. Santa paid for the purchase and was about to go out. But at the last moment he seemed to remember something important and turned to Nina. He stared at her again for a few seconds, and then handed her the bag of perfumes and added:
I am sorry, dear, but I think this belongs to you.
Nina did not have a chance to say a word, Santa was already gone. She wanted to catch up with Mr. Klaus and explain that there must have been some mistake, but other buyers called her. Through the window Nina saw how Mr. Klaus, or simply Santa, walked out of the store and turned onto another street.
Nina could not figure out where Santa came from and who told him that Nina is her favorite scent. She could clearly see the name of the perfume in the long list of bearded buyer. Oh, maybe this is an actor someone hired to make an unusual surprise! But who? Employees from the shop who watched the scene were truly surprised by the incident and hardly did it. Writing a couple of messages to her friends, Nina still didn`t have answers to her question.
On her way home home, Nina carried a small paper bag from the store in which she worked. There was her gift, her little treasure. The phone rang in her pocket. It was her mom.
– Nina, darling, listen! We have wonderful news. We just had a call from the hospital about your father. They confirmed that they could do the surgery immediately after the holidays - an unknown volunteer helped us and it's just a miracle!
Nina laughed and cried from good news. She walked along the street and thought that it was really a miracle - at first the perfume, then the call from her mother ... A little soft snow began, and she looked up at the dark Christmasy sky. It seemed like Nina heard small bells rang. She felt that there was a strange shadow in the sky and someone called "Merry Christmas!". And while Nina stared into the dark darkness, trying to dissuade herself from what she thought, red sleds with a reindeer harness rushed upward, bringing joy and gifts to everyone.