THE LAST ORNAMENT

She’s come into the bookstore with her mom a few times…she’s tall and innocent and shy. It was maybe the fourth or fifth time I greeted her that she finally answered “hi”. After her initial ‘hi’, however, she was as friendly as can be and now she always makes a point to come and talk with me. She came into the store a few days before Christmas dressed as Santa…and me…being so astute… said, “Merry Christmas” and told her how she great she looked in her Santa suit. She reached into her pocket and with eyes that sparkled blue smiled then said, “I made this conch shell ornament especially for you!” She said she found it on Honeymoon Island which for Deborah and I is one of our favorite places. I held it up and thanked her as a smile crossed both our faces. We talked about Honeymoon Island…how we love to walk along the shore and she smiled as I told her, “I don’t think I’ve ever seen an ornament as beautiful as this before”. As we talked she told me she believed in Santa Claus…then asked, “Do you believe in Santa too?” And as her mom looked at me with imploring eyes I said… “Why not only do I believe n Santa…but I also believe in you!” We wished each other a Merry Christmas…she waved as she walked out the store and I smiled again thinking how blessed I was with an experience I’ve never had before. Her ornament was the last ornament I hung this Christmas… in a prominent place for all to see… and I’m positive it will be the first ornament I hang…on next year’s Christmas tree.