The Best Christmas Gift

"Daddy! Look what I have got , I won the first prize in drawing!"Bethany hopped and danced graciously around her Dad's recliner, her dad lovingly pulled her in to his bosom and said, "Show me dear what have you got...."with a smile on her face, little Beth showed a medal to her Dad, she also won a sketch book, color pencils and crayons

"Wow, that's great!so tell me what do you want?"asked her dad assuming to treat her for a great achievement.

Little Beth thought for a while, the town was preparing for Christmas, Thanks giving just went by winter has taken up in the surrounding.She looked out side the window, chill air blew, it might snow in few weeks.

All the shops were decorated with glittering fairy lights, color papers and Christmas trees, all the entrances had Santa welcoming customers.

Beth and her dad had not celebrated Christmas since long, this was a time of devastation for them 5 years back! Beth was just 2 months old.

She looked at her dad, he was the world for her, she had not seen her mom, donot even remember her, 5 year back on such a season and on Christmas her mother died in an accident.Every Christmas Beth goes to her aunt's place.Rachel and Collins are her only friends & cousins, they enjoy the Christmas to the fullest......but Beth had not celebrated her Christmas with her dad ever.

She misses him on that day....she doesnot even understand why her dad remain aloof, doesnot celebrate Christmas.

She looked at her dad and asked, "Can we celebrate Christmas together this year dad?"

Her dad looked at her daughter...then hiding his tears back he said, "Dear I have a business trip this Christmas."

"You have them every year, why won't you ask your boss for holidays, we get our Christmas holidays at school." Mumbled Beth, she thought school and office were both similar.

Her dad smiled, "My boss won't allow me to take a leave."

Beth was sad she dragged herself, her bag and gifts to her room, her medal stayed back with her dad, her dad looked at the medal once again, Beth had never asked him anything like that before, its time for him to explain everything to her.....a drop of tear fell on the medal.

In few weeks , Beth would have a holiday and she would go to her aunt's place as usual for the Christmas vacation.Every one was excited about the vacations except Beth, she wanted to stay back with her dad, she had never seen or known her mother, but she misses her too.All the children goes for vacation with their mom and dad.Beth misses them both.Even Rachel and Collins enjoy their Chritmas with their mom and dad!

Children at the kinder garden were explaining how they are going to enjoy their holidays, how they were decoration their houses, christmas trees, how they would celebrate and enjoy the christmas party.They all wishes to Santa and Santa gives them all the gifts.Of course whatever Beth wishes to Santa, she gets them all.

Miss Alice saw Beth sitting quietly looking outside the window.Beth is a good child, she never cribs, quarrels with other children, never fights but she hardly smiles.

She went up to Beth, "Beth dear, what is it?why do you look so sad?"

The sudden question frowned Beth.She pulled herself up, looking up to her situations, Alice sat beside her, "Dear how would you spend your vacation?" She asked gently.

Beth looked at her with a sad face;"The same old ways Miss Alice, I will be dropped at my aunt's, dad's gonna be off for business."

Alice said, "Oh so I understand the reason behind your sad face!"

Beth sighed, "But then you get to enjoy with your aunt, cousins and your mom of course!hope she is not going for a trip!"

Alice was not aware about Beth's mother, with the sudden remarks, Beth started to cry.....and then ran away from the place.

Alice was clueless.

Ms Margaret walked passed and noticed everything....she called for Alice and explained her that Beth's mother died five years back in an accident on Christmas.

"Her dad is still not able to overcome the shock, he had never celebrated Christmas since then......Beth is too small to understand the complexity.

"Mr.Smith's a single father and does every thing for a good upbringing of his child but he's a husband too and cannot forget his wife.The thing Beth is devoid of is time & mother...Mr.Smith's a very busy person and hardly has time for his daughter and she has no mother, so a real friend is missing in her life."

Alice understood, how it might have felt for Beth.She had often seen Beth looking at the mother of her friend, she had been longing for her mother but she had no idea where her mom was, she loved her dad and wanted to spend every special moment with him, which was not always possible.

Alice had been through such situation, she had grown up in an orphanage, she had been longing for her parents.At a time she was raised by her foster parents but she had to leave them and settle in a different city for her higher studies and job.

She could connect herself to Beth.

She went up to Beth, "So haven't you written the letter to Santa yet?"she asked.

Beth looked at her.The bell rang ..

Beth asked her teacher, "Miss.Alice, if I write letter to Santa, will he fulfill my wishes?Is it true?"

Alice carcased Beth's hair and said, "Yes dear, Santa always listens to the children"

"Class tomorrow you would have to write a letter to Santa and submit it right here."pointing to a glass bowl Alice told the children

Beth went back home....she had been thinking about Santa and Alice's word.

In few days there grew an eternal friendship between Beth and Alice.They laughed, played and loved spending time with each other.

Alice would not only help Beth with her studies, take care of her lunch but also play with her, made pranks, indeed, with her words, actions, care, thoughts and emotions encapsulated the beautiful nature of her love for Beth.

Alice often dropped Beth at home and visited her home but had never seen or met Beth's dad

Then one day while dropping Beth at her home, Alice got to meet Mr.Smith finally and realised that they were college mates, Devon was a friendly, helpful and very jolly person however he had now shelled himself in a cocoon after his wife's death.

Alice quite often visited the Smiths, invited to dinner or Sunday lunch.

A gush of hope came in with Alice in to the Smith's place.There were laughter heard, glittering, chatting....these seemed to have had stopped for so long.Beth hardly spent time with her dad.

She mingled more with Alice, baking cakes and cookies together, preparing lunch together, messing up the whole place and then re arranging everything.Beth seemed happier than ever.Devon did not stop these as he trusted his friend and knew she was a responsible lady.

Devon had a soft corner for Alice, she was a ray of hope for the family, her way of dealing with Beth was different, genuine....there grew an unwavering relationship between them, a love that was unconditional.

Christmas eve was on......it had started snowing already a week before.....the thick layers of snow on the ground with the glittering christmas lights and decorations reflected like fairy land.

Beth had written letters to Santa for Christmas.Alice had read the letters and folded back and kept in the notebook.Tears had rolled down her eyes after that she could feel the pain Beth was in.

The presents for Beth was bought by her dad the house was decorated this time, Beth did not go to her aunt's place this time and her father cancelled the business trip, they were going to celebrate the Christmas together.A strong relationship has grown between the father daughter duo and Alice played a major role in it, but Beth was not happy.

She had asked Alice why her mom left her to which Alice had replied, "Dear your mom has been no where she is here around you, with you, in your heart.You may not be able to see her but she is now a star and she can watch you every time"to which Beth wrote a letter to Santa

"Dear Santa,

Miss Alice says my mom is a star now, I may not be able to see her always, but can you please send her back to me, you have so many good people with you, please send my mom back as a gift for Christmas, I will share all my gifts and chocolates with you...promise."

A itch felt like a thorn piercing his heart whenever he thinks of Beth's mom, in such a day 5 years back he had lost his wife, whom he loved more than his life.

He was looking into the starry sky with tears in his eyes.Beth and Alice had been decorating the Christmas tree, Beth had wanted to spend the Christmas with her dad which she wrote in a letter to Santa.

Alice too had requested Devon to stay back, she wanted her friend to be happy and wanted him to make his daughter happy too.

She had made him realise how important was he in Beth's life after her mom's death.

Devon had realised, he had been neglecting his daughter.

Since Alice had said Beth that Santa listens to children and fulfills their wishes, Beth had been writing letters to Santa almost every day, when ever she felt she had a wish.

She had wished to stay home and spent her winter vacations with her dad, she had wished to decorate her house on Christmas.

Life has taken a turn.....it grew happier each day both the father and daughter had smiles on their face and the reason of their smile was Alice.

In a letter to Santa, Beth had even wished Alice to stay with them for ever.

Children are innocent and when they trust anything they trust it from the core of their heart.

Devon had seen the change in Beth, she needed a fulltime friend, a person to take care of her, he had been busy and neglecting her.

When suddenly Alice came in calling for dinner....Devon looked at her...there were few unsaid words of gratitude glinting in his eyes ......something which he wanted to say but his lips won't utter.

After the dinner, Beth had taken out her notebook and scribbled her last letter to Santa before Christmas.After Beth went off to sleep, Alice stealthily pulled out the notebook and went to Devon, who was getting ready to drop off Alice at her home.

Alice handed over the note book to Devon.

None moved.....both were in tears.....the final letter read.

Dear Santa,

I know my mom is a star and you need her, but there is one small wish Santa, please donot let Miss Alice leave me, I love her very much as I love my dad, please keep Miss Alice with us forever.....please, please , please Santa."

Devon had not been able to say...but the untold words were so clearly mentioned in the letter.....he looked at Alice to say something but he could not...there was something special, something eternal in the Christmas, the snow flakes smeared the glasses of the windows....Alice let out her hands towards her friend with trust .....the christmas carols played from some where in a chruch, an heavenly bliss filled the chilling air..... Devon held her hands tight.

Beth had been watching this, she ran towards Alice and hugged her....

Alice was not going to leave her any more, she got her best ever gift of Christmas.