Why Won't Santa Visit Poor Children?

A Christmas story from the Philippines by Roy Thomsitt

 

 

 

Christmas Eve Reaches A Climax: Music and Fireworks

Di and Tina arrived back at the edge of Di's garden, nobody aware they had even been away. Di could recall every little thing that had happened, and it left her face etched with a permanent look of wonder and excitement. But she was relaxed now. Surprisingly, she did not want to rush to tell anyone; she felt no need to. Her secret would always remain just that, her secret.

Tina, though just shook her head slightly and blinked her eyes; it was if she had just drifted off to sleep accidentally, and had now awoken as fresh as a daisy. She remembered nothing in detail, but in looking down at Di, was conscious of something very special having just occurred. She was content that she did not know what it was; this was already a remarkable evening for her.

The two girls crept round the back of the crowd and then slipped back through to find some food, which was set out on a series of tables along the outside of the house. A new excitement welled up inside Di as she and Tina started to eat, standing facing the videoke, where a young girl neighbour was singing.

Di looked up at her cousin with a big and knowing smile, recalling what Rudolph had told her about Santa and Tina. Di had noticed that, to one side of the garden, a camera team and reporter from a national television company had arrived, to record the special Christmas Eve get together at Estrella.

Di had never seen them before, but was 100% certain who they were; it never occurred to her how she knew with such certainty. As she and Tina were close to finishing their food, Di was watching the girl singing, and keeping another eye on Tina's plate.

The plate emptied as the girl finished singing her song. Di tugged at Tina's arm gently, and Tina looked down to see her very assured and ultra bright smile, her eyes directing Tina to the videoke. Di had never looked at Tina like that before, but Tina knew she had to do as her little cousin said.

"Sing your heart out, Tina," said Di. Tina was a little bemused by the words of Di; it was not an expression she would use, not her young cousin from the edge of the rainforest. But it did not occur to her that those were the words of Santa Claus.

The young girl singer seemed to be expecting Tina to take the microphone, and was ready in advance to willingly hand it over as Tina stepped onto the makeshift platform. Unusually, everyone in the garden hushed as they waited for her to choose a song and start. Di glanced across at the television crew, and even they had noticed the hushed party goers and the anticipation gripping the silence.

Di smiled to herself inside. Despite all the wonderful things that had happened to her recently, this moment seemed to be every bit as exciting for her. She was very, very proud of Tina, and this was to be Tina's moment.

Next: Santa Claus Story (cont)