28/12/2024
The Forgotten Ornament
Once upon a time, there was a town dawning with snow, just days before Christmas. Among the houses of the suburb, there was a small family: Grandma Rose, a loving grandmother; Lumi, a kind-hearted girl; and Ether, a boy who looked up to his big sister.
The day before Christmas, the family decorated their Christmas tree with ornaments found in a little box. Digging through the box, Lumi found a small, forgotten ornament shaped like a snowflake—tarnished but still sparkling faintly in the light.
Grandma Rose saw the ornament in Lumi's hand. Letting out a chuckle, she shared the ornament’s story.
"Ah, this ornament was part of my childhood Christmas tree. My parents said it was believed to grant a wish if given away to someone who truly needed it," Grandma Rose explained.
Lumi and Ether, being the curious children they were, decided to test the myth, brainstorming who might need a little Christmas magic. After some quick thinking, their thoughts settled on their quiet neighbor down the street—Mr. Benson. The children recalled how lonely Mr. Benson’s house looked: no lights, no decorations, and the curtains always covering the window. Lumi remembered hearing from her grandma that he stopped celebrating Christmas after his wife passed away.
Lumi and Ether gathered the courage to visit Mr. Benson, bringing a plate of Grandma Rose’s cookies and the snowflake ornament. At first, Mr. Benson hesitated to open the door, but the kids’ warm smiles convinced him. He accepted the plate of cookies with a defeated sigh. The kids handed him the ornament and wished for him to find joy this Christmas.
"Merry Christmas, Mr. Benson!" They said in unison as they left. Touched by their gesture, Mr. Benson placed the ornament on a small, dusty tree that he hadn’t taken down from his attic in years.
On Christmas Eve, Lumi and Ether were awakened by the sound of carolers outside. They peeked out the window, only to see none other than Mr. Benson leading a group of neighbors in song. His face lit up with a sense of happiness that he hadn't felt before. Their gaze landed on the snowflake ornament that glimmered brightly on Mr. Benson’s tree, visible through his window as the curtains no longer covered their sight.
Ah, finally, the awaited day—it's Christmas! Unexpectedly, Mr. Benson visited the family on Christmas Day, bringing a gift for each of them. He thanked the children for their efforts in reminding him what Christmas is all about. Lumi realized that nothing happened to Mr. Benson through the ornament. They came to a conclusion that maybe Mr. Benson didn't wish for anything else but happiness on this special holiday.
The family ended their Christmas with Mr. Benson and the neighbors, sharing a joyful holiday meal together. The snowflake ornament had served its purpose—now being a treasured symbol of kindness and community.
Words by: Sofia Aia Eulalio
Artwork by: Vinz Louijie Yu
