Starlight
“Line up!” The call of the matron stung my ears. “You shall all go to home now to your families! I want to see you back here tomorrow. Bright and early!” Working at a shoe factory , me and my three sisters never had a chance to spend any time to ourselves. We barely ever saw our mother, who worked selling candles on the streets.
“Excuse me matron,” The voice of my sister Elizabeth rang out, “Tomorrow is Christmas!” Her innocent face had tears dripping down it.
“The city uses up their shoes fast girl, and I’m sure your families can’t afford any ’Santa Clause’ Presents for you! Now get, all of you!” Our dull brown wool dresses and worn leather shoes made the factory crowd look like a storm cloud ready to pour down. Elizabeth was bawling now. I hugged her close and led her away toward home.
Our small shanty in the ghetto wasn’t much, but we had to call it home. My mother was scrubbing away at the one pan we had that was well rusted and bent. Her wool dress was torn in several places, and her blonde hair was covered in grease and dirt. Her eyes looked like a starving dog, stretched out with want. I gathered my three sisters, Elizabeth, Miriam, and Rebecca toward the small fire that was burning. My mother lay down on a torn mattress and fell into a deep sleep. Eliza sat on my lap, her curly red hair looked like a birds nest. I smoothed it and watched as she coughed. She didn’t have long to live we knew. She was the sickliest of our family and we often wondered how long.
“Rachel, tell me about the first Christmas!” She wondered.
“Oh, the first Christmas? Well, that was long ago in a country far, far away… There was a girl named Mary oh, maybe about fourteen or fifteen and you see, she was engaged to a man named Joseph. An angel told them that they were to have a baby that would be the saviour of everyone!”
“Even the matron?” Eliza asked shivering violently .
“Even the matron!” I laughed, “Well, anyway, they went to a town called Bethlehem ‘cause the king ordered it and they tried to find a place to stay. But no one wanted a strange couple to stay in their house so they had to stay in a stable! So Mary had her baby in a stable.”
“Now God wanted every one to know about this baby so he put a big star above the stable. Now, this was the brightest star you have ever seen! The shepherds that were watching their sheep decided to come…” and suddenly Eliza gasped.
“What is it Liza?” I asked praying she wouldn’t die.
“Look! It’s the star that God put above Bethlehem!” and sure enough, there was a large bright star. One of it’s rays streamed down and the wind started blowing hard. Mother woke up and Miriam and Rebecca ran out of the shack. A deep voice came out of the light, “Are you ready to enjoy the feast God has prepared for you in heaven?” It called. Eliza nodded, “Can I meet Jesus?” She asked. The light answered, “Jesus is waiting to meet you.” Eliza stepped forward and was lifted to the heavens just as the clocks struck twelve. Mother had tears streaming down her face, as Eliza would see no pain again.
Points: 1535
Reviews: 13
Donate