"A Dust Bowl Christmas" a short story by Craig Zimmerman

Over the sound of the constant wind, Laura thought she heard something and she went outside to investigate. A tall thin man with a bad limp was walking down the road in front of her home.

Since the banks failed, A lot of men were on the road looking for work...any kind of work.

Laura felt a stirring of pity for the man and called to him. As he came closer, she could see how truly exhausted he was.  

The tall man sat heavily on the bottom step of her porch. "Been looking for  a job, but there is nothin' the man said wearily.

Laura shivered in her house dress and imagined the man must also be very cold. "Would you like some hot coffee?" she asked. The man nodded "that would be great."

"Do you happen to know what day it is?" the man asked after gratefully receiving his coffee. "Why it's Christmas Eve" Laura answered.

The man shrugged. "I've been on the road for months. I guess I lost track of time." The man took another sip of coffee and in a deep voice began to sing "Silent Night." Laura soon joined in as the cold wind  blew the remains of her fields across the prairie.