BY SEAN DIETRICH
Merry Christmas, Layla Grace. I got your name from the church Christmas tree. It’s kind of like Angel Tree, where you buy gifts for kids whose names are on the tree.
Your card was hanging on the branch when I was walking through the lobby. I was talking to people, shaking hands, and that’s when I noticed your photograph hanging there.
You are so pretty. Your hair is the same color as mine. Red. God help you.
When I saw your picture, I thought to myself, she looks like she’d make someone a very good friend. So I lifted your card from the tree and inspected it. And I fell in love with you.
For starters, I really like the name Layla. It’s a good name. I had an aunt named Layla. She smelled like old-lady perfume and her couch was covered in plastic. But she was very nice. And sometimes she babysat me. My mother was always reminding me to behave for Aunt Layla, and not to stress her out because she had IBS.
Your second name, Grace, is also a wonderful name, for obvious reasons. Also, I don’t know if you know this, but the letters in Layla Grace can be rearranged to spell “Lycra Algae.”
So this has to be a sign.
The card said your mother is in prison, your dad died from an overdose. You have not met either of them. You live in foster care. A group home. An orphanage, basically. You’re 7 years old. Your favorite food is ice cream.
The card also says that you’re sweet, and you like playing with dolls. You pretend that you’re their mother. You carry them around, and your foster mom overhears you tell your dolls, “I’ll never leave you, baby.”
So anyway, your Christmas wish list was simple. It was written in your own hand. And may I say, you have superb handwriting.
You wanted kinetic sand, a doll, an L.O.L. doll (whatever that is) and a warm coat. Your favorite color is purple. But pink will do in a pinch.
The first thing I did was go to the store and find a coat in your size. It’s purple and white, with a hood. I got some mittens, too. Also purple. I figured little girls need purple gloves to match their purple coats.
Then, I found the kinetic sand you were talking about. It took me a long time to find the right color. The sand is also purple. Well, sort of. Technically, the sand is red and blue, but you can mix the colors together to make purple. I know this because I asked a Target employee about this, and his response was, verbatim, “I think red and blue make purple.”
I also got you a few baby dolls. They are not purple. One of them has red hair.
When I dropped the gifts off at the church, I found a lot of other people doing the same thing. Everyone had wrapped gifts they were donating to kids just like you.
I asked people about the kids they were buying for. And I saw a lot of photographs. But mainly, I couldn’t wait to show them your photo.
And guess what. Every person I showed your photograph to all said the same thing. “She’s the prettiest little girl I’ve ever seen.” So then I’d tell them your name. And they’d all answer by gasping and saying, “What a BEAUTIFUL name.”
And then I’d tell them, “Yep, she’s my friend.” Because that’s what we are now, Layla Grace. Friends.
And as your friend, I pray your Christmas is filled with ice cream.
Sean Dietrich is a columnist, novelist and stand-up storyteller known for his commentary on life in the American South. His column appears in newspapers throughout the U.S. He has authored 15 books, he is the creator of the Sean of the South Podcast and he makes appearances at the Grand Ole Opry.