Stories for Young Readers
THE GIFT
Colleen Robus
© The School of Truth
Source p. 380, Dec 2006 / Jan 2007 - The Path of Truth
Sharnia could smell the excitement. Not only was it break-up day, she'd also played the part of the Angel in the school play and the report card in her school bag told her that she had been promoted to Grade 3... and her marks were pretty good! She and her friends skipped happily down the road, full of plans for the holiday.
As they got close to the house on the corner they crossed the road. It had become a habit with these nine-year-olds to avoid the shabby cottage, the home of Gertrude Moffatt, a frail old lady whom schoolyard legend, with typical cruelty, had renamed "Dirty Gertie the witch". Sharnia had seen her a few times and didn't think she looked very witch-like in her faded dress and worn slippers - but who knew what a witch really looked like. When she had commented on Gertie to her mom, her mom had given her a lecture about calling people names.
The first few weeks of the summer holiday flew by. Sharnia made Christmas cards for all her friends and family and managed to put together small gifts to go with them. Then the most important thing... her wish list! Her family went to the mall and she looked and longed and wondered, and gave the shop-Santa a few choices, but she was pretty much certain what she wanted - the Barbie Doll or the latest Harry Potter book, although her mom had muttered that she was too young for the book.
Then three days before Christmas something shocking happened - Gertie's cottage burnt down! The whole neighbourhood tried to help but, by the time the fire engine arrived and flooded the place, very little had been saved. The old lady sat on the pavement, in the midst of the small crowd, gazing sadly at the ruin. Sharnia's dad took Gertie to the hospital and she stayed there overnight. Sharnia battled to go to sleep that night. She felt bad about how she and her friends had regarded Gertie. Also she overheard her parents talking about Gertie: "Nowhere to go... Christmas alone... stay here." She felt sorry for the old woman but her presence in their home would definitely spoil Christmas.
The next day Dad brought Gertie home and to Sharnia's dismay she was made to give up her bedroom and double-up with her little brother in his room. Gertie looked odd - her front teeth were missing and she hardly said a word.
Somehow Sharnia made it through that day and when she woke up the following morning it was the day-before-Christmas. A most delicious smell wafted through the house. She rushed through to the kitchen to find out what it was. Mom usually bought all the goodies for Christmas. Between her job in town and looking after the family, she had no time to bake. Sharnia peered through the glass of the oven door.
A huge fruit cake was browning nicely. "Aunty" Gertie was in Mom's apron, all smiles, her missing teeth unnoticed by anyone. The whole kitchen had new life in it. Sharnia and her brother soon became her "pupils", learning to bake mince pies, stirring the Christmas pudding and licking bowls. That afternoon they went for a long walk with her. She pointed out all sorts of things about the area that they'd never noticed before. They learned the names of trees and flowers, saw birds in their nests, heard stories about some of the houses and families who had lived in them. In the front window of one Sharnia saw a school friend with eyes wide in amazement at who was walking with them.
That evening, as the family gathered round the Christmas tree in their living room, Sharnia's little brother suddenly asked Gertie in a loud voice "Are you a witch?" Gertie smiled and shook her head, "Sorry I don't do spells... but I can make a different kind of magic." She shuffled off to her borrowed room and came back with an odd-shaped case. She opened it and there was a shiny brown violin. Tucking it under her chin she began to play Silent Night - it was the most beautiful music that Sharnia had ever heard! Embarrassed by her tears she glanced over at her parents and saw their eyes were also wet.
"Gertie" said Dad "you have to share this gift with others, especially on this night." And that was how the family, with Gertie and her violin in the lead, and with more and more people joining them, walked around the suburb. Some folk nipped home to get candles and musical instruments. When they reached the park, they all linked arms and swayed as they sang and played their favourite Christmas songs.
The next morning "Father Christmas" brought Sharnia exactly what she wanted and when Dad went outside he was met with an amazing sight. On the driveway were loads of presents all marked "Gertie" - blankets, pots, clothing - all given so that she could make a new start. "But" said Sharnia "I hope you stay with us forever. Your music has made everyone happy. This is the best Christmas ever!"
God lives in every person, but you don't see Him there until you open your heart to them.
(Ref. CR 0612)
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