The Happiest Christmas

DBy Manoshi De Silva ylan was Christmas tree shopping with his father and sister. The well-decorated shop had trees of different sizes on display. While his father and sister were busy looking at trees, Dylan went outside the shop where boxes of shiny tinsel and decorations were kept for sale. As he was looking at the decorations, a boy around his age walked in, carrying two wooden structures.

The boy had two small doll house-like structures with him. As he walked in, his legs got entangled in some Christmas light wires and he fell down breaking one structure into pieces.

The boy had saw-dust on his cheeks and his discoloured clothes had small holes. Dylan found the whole incident to be funny and laughed out loud. The boy looked embarrassed and upset.

Hearing the noise the shop owner came out and sighed, “Broke one didn’t you? Now I can only buy one from you!” he said taking the unbroken structure and leaving some notes on the boy’s palm. The boy took the broken structure and crossed the road. Dylan saw him walk into a small house opposite the road. Adjoining the house was something like a small carpentry workshop where an older man was working.

“There aren’t any big trees,” said Dylan’s father walking out with his sister. “Come tomorrow Sir. We will have a new stock of the best trees by tomorrow,” said the shop owner full of smiles. “Buy some decorations to decorate the house till then,” said the children’s father and although they already had enough decorations at home, the children excitedly started choosing new ones.

The next day Dylan’s father took them to the same shop to check out the new Christmas trees. There were ones as tall as the ceiling and they ordered the biggest tree of the lot. Dylan saw the structure the boy sold the day before, kept in the middle of the shop. It was beautifully decorated and had statues of the Holy Family and Baby Jesus kept in a manger at the centre. “Oh it’s a Nativity crib,” smiled Dylan identifying what it was.

Dylan stepped out and saw the boy doing something in his workshop. He crossed the road and walked in. The boy was making another Nativity stable. He looked at Dylan in surprise. “What’s your name?” asked Dylan. “Jude,” replied the boy. “Do you make these on your own?” asked Dylan. “My father helps me,” replied the boy. “We earn extra money during Christmas time by making these.”

Dylan peeped into the living room of the house. It was small and basic, almost like a storeroom. “Where is your Christmas tree?” he asked Jude. “We’ve never had one. Only a decorated crib because we make them,” replied Jude. Dylan was surprised. The way they celebrated Christmas seemed so much grander than this boy and his family. Dylan walked out with a heavy heart.

Dylan’s father tied their new tree to the top of their jeep, with the help of the shop owner. His sister carried another big box full of new decorations. After going home and decorating the Christmas tree, Dylan looked at how beautiful his house was. There were a few boxes with leftover decorations on the ground. Yet Dylan didn’t feel happy and felt a sense of sadness.

So he confessed to his father about what happened. “I feel so bad for laughing at that boy the other day,” he sighed.

“You know the father of Jesus Christ was also a carpenter. Jesus was from a humble family but now He is called the ‘Prince of Peace’, for He taught the world about love and forgiveness!” said Dylan’s father. “When we are celebrating Christmas, we should not forget the true meaning of it. Maybe we should share our joy with this child also.!”

“Jude told me that he has never had a Christmas tree. We have so many decorations left, even after decorating our whole house. Can’t we give him these along with a Christmas tree?” asked Dylan. “Of course, that’s a lovely idea! We’ll go there tomorrow on Christmas Eve and gift him a beautiful new tree!” said his father making Dylan smile from ear to ear.

So the day before Christmas, Dylan took all their extra decorations along with a new Christmas tree and went to Jude’s house with his father. He had some beautifully wrapped Christmas cake pieces in a bag as well, to gift his new friend. When the jeep stopped near Jude’s house, he came out. It was clear that they were working hard, even on the day before Christmas to earn some extra money.

As Dylan helped to unload the tree and the shiny decorations, Jude’s eyes sparkled more than the decorations. Dylan’s father talked with the boy’s father for awhile and gave him some money and asked him to buy whatever they needed for Christmas. Then they decorated it. Jude’s family looked so happy and couldn’t stop smiling.

On Christmas Day, after returning home from Holy Mass, Dylan’s family stopped by to wish Jude’s family a ‘Merry Christmas’. Jude and his family were dressed in new clothes and although their house was small it was decorated beautifully and looked very bright and cheerful.

“Here’s a small gift from me. I made this especially for you!” said Jude handing Dylan his gift. “Oh it’s a beautiful Christmas crib! Thank you so much,” smiled Dylan. “I have the statues carefully packed. Once you go home you can arrange it. Thank you so much for making Christmas very special for us!” said Jude hugging Dylan.

Dylan hugged his friend back, “We’ve never celebrated Christmas like this before. This time I truly feel the spirit of Christmas like never before. Thank you for making Christmas very special for us too!” smiled Dylan. “I wish you and your family the happiest Christmas ever!”