Christmas in Wonderland

Snow laden paths, lighted streets, people scurrying along in warm leather boots and hoods… festivity was in the air! Candy canes, angels, laced balls and bells, bows, cookies, nuts, cakes, raisins, tinsel and candles embellished the slender needles of Scotch Pines all around the city. Soft tinkering of bells mingled with carols, calming down the daily hustle- bustle of urban life. Clearance sales were coming to an end, shops closing down and their owners returning home with fat wallets- much to their satisfaction. Soon, not a single soul was around, it was all deserted. The city was staring into a week of quiescence. It was the eve of Christmas.

The Church was a beautiful sight with the congregation holding a candle each while singing carols and watching Nativity performed by children. Some families welcomed Christmas day with the Midnight Mass at Church while some others liked to stay home and treat themselves to some posset and apple tart.

13- year old Sarah Donaldson was thrilled at the thought of Christmas presents. Before turning in, she hung up a stocking at the edge of the mantelpiece above the fireplace and left mince pies and brandy for Father Christmas and a carrot for the reindeer. Sarah had been a good, well- behaved girl all through the year and hoped to find her Christmas stocking brimming with goodies as she silently fell asleep.

Ryan in the neighborhood was just old enough to learn about Santa Claus. He couldn’t contain his excitement and insisted on staying up all night. Afraid that their little son would be disappointed and lose faith in Christmas, Ted and Margaret forced him into bed. Ryan didn’t sleep a wink. He quietly crawled out of his bed in the middle of the night and started playing ‘Jingle Bells’ on his Casio keyboard, thinking that the song would charm Santa and entice him to get more gifts for Ryan.

It was 3 am. By now, Ryan was on pins and needles. He couldn’t wait any longer and decided to look for Santa in the nearby avenues and alleys. He gently pushed up his bedroom window and jumped out into the garden. Fresh snow had just started to paint the city white. Undeterred, Ryan got down straight to the task. He ploughed through the snow for half an hour and to his dismay, he could see no sign of Santa Claus. Cold and forlorn, he quickened his steps so that he could get back to bed before his folks discovered what he was up to. On his way back, he remembered Sarah telling him about the presents she had received from Father Christmas all these years.

“Knock knock.” Sarah was abruptly awakened by a knock on her window. Annoyed at being woken up so early, she unwillingly let Ryan into her room. “What is it?” she said in a cross tone. Ryan replied in a small voice, “I’ve been up waiting for Santa all night and he hasn’t shown up. Since he comes to your house every year, can I please wait here? I really want to meet him and ask him why he never came to give me presents.” Sarah felt sorry for the young and inexperienced Ryan and led him to the fireplace, only to find her stocking already full of gifts.

With dashed hopes, Ryan returned home. His innocent, youthful eyes brimmed with tears as he pulled down the window.