by our Mum!
It was to be the first Christmas for Jenny since her parents had died. It had been mid-September when the car they were travelling in lost control and crashed. Sadly
her Mother and Father had been killed instantly. Now, three months later, Jenny had stopped crying every day, but she was very upset and sad that neither of her parents
were around any longer. She wasn't looking forward to Christmas, she loved her Aunty Kate whom she had lived with since the accident, but somehow it just wasn't going to
seem right come Christmas Day.Jenny thought about the gold locket she'd asked her Mother about earlier in the year. They'd been out shopping when as they passed one
of the big jewellery shops, and there in the window was the most beautiful gold locket Jenny had ever seen! Rose gold in colour, the locket was heart shaped and engraved with
beautiful roses. Jenny had looked longingly at the locket, she could almost imagine it hanging around her neck. It was very expensive though, and her mother had said that
maybe she could ask Santa for it come Christmas time. Well, Jenny knew that her chances of getting the locket now were next to none, and she couldn't even bring herself to mention it
to Aunty Kate - it wouldn't feel right, it was a Christmas wish between her and her Mother.
Slowly the days passed and as Christmas Day approached, Aunty Kate decorated the house with bright Christmas decorations, and Jenny helped her to put up a gigantic Christmas tree and
decorate it. As Jenny looked at the newly decorated tree on Christmas Eve she had to admit that it was indeed a very beautiful tree and Aunty Kate had even put some presents
under the tree. Hmmmm, Jenny thought to herself, maybe it wasn't going to be so bad after all, and since Aunty Kate was making such a big effort to make Christmas enjoyable for her,
she would make an effort as well.
"Goodnight Aunty Kate, the tree looks great," Jenny said as she hugged her Aunty.
"Goodnight Jenny," her aunty said as she leant over and kissed her on the forehead. "I know that you miss your Mum and Dad, I sure miss your Mum as well - this will be my first
Christmas without my sister. Somehow we'll get through tomorrow, you'll see," said Aunty Kate.
Jenny looked up into her Aunty's eyes and she could see that like her own they were filled with tears. Jenny struggled a half smile as she went off to bed.
Jenny spent a restless night tossing and turning worrying about the Christmas Day that was to come, and wondering if her parents were happy in heaven and if they
missed her as much as she missed them. Eventually Jenny drifted off to sleep, and soon it was Christmas morning.
Jenny rose from bed and made her way down to the living room. There was Aunty Kate and there was a pile, a large pile, of presents under the tree. Jenny's eyes grew wide.
"Jenny, it looks like Santa must have come!" Aunty Kate smiled.
"Really? You mean, these presents are for me? For Me?" Jenny asked.
"Of course," said Aunty Kate, "they all have your name on them, but look at this one, it says
Special Delivery to Jenny - Please open First. Well now, that certainly was interesting! Jenny took the small parcel from Aunty Kate and gently opened it. Inside
wrapped in tissue paper was the beautiful gold locket that Jenny had wanted. Jenny gasped! She couldn't believe it!! "But.. but... but.. how? Huh? How did Santa know? How could Santa know?
I can't believe this! I LOVE this locket, I asked Mum about it back in April, but I ..." her voice trailled off.
"Jenny," said Aunty Kate as she moved to put her arm around her, "Santa must have known somehow that you wanted that locket, it's like a gift from your Mum.
Santa works in mysterious ways, we all know that, I guess this is your Mum's way of wishing you a Merry Christmas. She wouldn't want you to be sad at
Christmas, she loved you so very very much."
Jenny opened the locket and inside she found two photos, one of her Father, and one of her beautiful Mother's face. "Oh my!" she gasped, "I can have Mum and Dad with
me by my heart for always now," Jenny said. "I am so lucky. Merry Christmas Mum and Dad, and thank you," Jenny whispered softly.
Aunty Kate hugged Jenny tightly. "Yes Jenny, Merry Christmas indeed."
