‘The joy of receiving a new dress for Christmas’

As soon as Aunty Rose opened the door of my house, I knew that once again it was time to join in the family celebrations. I lived for this time of the year, it was always so happy with all the family there. There was so much love, happiness, and laughter in the air. What I wasn’t expecting was the cruel comment from Aunty Rose about my dress, as she showed it to her six-year-old daughter, Lucy.

“Just look at the state of this dress Lucy, it’s awful. Shall we make a new one for this year?”

“Oh yes Mummy,” Lucy almost squealed with delight. “Can we put lots of sparkles on it?”

My aunty agreed and the thought of a beautiful new dress made me feel better about Aunty’s unkind words. In fact, I had to admit she was right. I’d worn the same dress every Christmas for years now and it was in a very bad state.

The next two days were a blur of cleaning, measuring, cutting and sewing. Finally, my dress was ready. I slipped it on over my head. It was a perfect fit! White tulle and sequins sparkled, almost outshining the decorations on the Christmas tree, as the colours of the rainbow reflected from them. I had never felt so proud in my life before. As the family gathered for the exchanging of gifts each one commented on how beautiful I looked this year.

There was Uncle Joe with Aunty Beverley, and the twin girls. They had grown a lot, since last year. Very pretty, and well mannered children.

I heard a young boy shouting, and looked around the room. It had to be young Roger. He was up to mischief as usual; just like his father, big Roger had been years before. I remembered how he had shaken the Christmas tree so hard that it had felt like an earthquake as it fell to the floor, breaking many of the pretty coloured glass balls. I hoped he wouldn’t do that this year.

It was lovely to see Granny Maude had managed to come along. Her old eyes lit up when she saw me looking so smart. I expect she was remembering the days when she would stand beside the tree with Grandpa Joe carefully placing the beautiful decorations and covering it all over with sparkling tinsel and the lights. They would hold hands and smile their approval as they waited for the children to come downstairs on Christmas morning. I feel very lucky to belong to such a happy, loving family. To have seen the children grow up and have families of their own. Now with my new dress sparkling amidst the laughter and squeals of delight as the presents are unwrapped, I was overwhelmed with happiness.

Suddenly Granny Maude shouted, “Look out!” but her warning was too late, and Roger ran straight into the tree and over it went. The lights fused and glass balls shattered across the floor, but this time I managed to get right into Granny Maude’s lap, and as she lifted me up she kissed me. She whispered, “Merry Christmas.”

During all the hustle and bustle of the next few minutes, and all the clearing up, my granny held me safely on her knees, until once more I was lifted up to my place of honour at the top of the Christmas tree.

After Christmas I was tucked away inside the big doll’s house in the attic. My new dress lay carefully folded beside me. “Yes I am a very lucky Christmas fairy,” I sighed, closing my eyes to dream of yet another happy Christmas next year.

Is there a special ornament, like this Christmas fairy, that decorates your tree every year?

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