User:Erinbaileykatie/Ray Bradbury's "The Gift"

Ray Bradbury's "The Gift"

“The Gift” by Ray Bradbury “The Gift” is a very brief science fiction story with a Christmas theme by Ray Bradbury, first published in Esquire in 1952 and supplemented with artwork by Ren Wicks. Shortly after its publication Ray Bradbury used the story’s foundation for an episode of the television series Steve Canyon. Plot Summery The story takes place on Christmas Eve, 2052. The parents of a young boy are concerned about their son’s first experience riding a rocket into space, for they want him to have the perfect holiday. Much to their dismay, the Christmas tree that was to be their present to their son surpassed the weight limit which greatly distresses them. During the flight the boy pesters his father to look out the porthole, but he tells his son to wait for a reason to look outside and announces that it will be Christmas in a half-hour. The son is eager for his present, and his father assures him that he will get his tree. A short while later, the boy counts down the time until Christmas on his father’s watch then the parent leads him and the mother to a large cabin. Inside the dark space the father wishes his son a “Merry Christmas” as the boy looks out the porthole in awe at the billions of stars that resemble the white candles of a Christmas tree.