Why Won't Santa Visit Poor Children?

A Christmas story from the Philippines by Roy Thomsitt

 

 

 

Tina Sings Her Heart Out On Christmas Eve

As much as Tina had always been loved and admired for her singing, she had never experienced anything like the focus of attention that had suddenly been switched on all around her. Everybody in the garden was facing her instead of chattering, eating and drinking; all of a sudden she felt as if she were the centre of the world.

She could see Di sitting on a bench at the edge of the garden, so small amongst the crowd, yet standing out like a beacon in a dark wilderness. Di's eyes were directly willing Tina; her fists were clenched with determination. "Come on Tina," those eyes were saying. "Sing your heart out!"

Tina acknowledged Di with a half smile at the corner of her lips. A few seconds later, she launched into one of her favourite songs, Forever Is Not Enough. Soon her powerful voice was commanding the night air, filtering out over the rainforest mountain. The party guests, now the audience, were entranced. They had mostly heard Tina sing before, but this was more than just a videoke session. It was an event of suddenly massive, and inexplicable, proportions.

Di's eyes were wet with enormous pride as Tina sang as she had never sung before, taking her always wonderful voice up to a new level. The little garden party was now a concert hall, a jungle's edge arena where one 15 year old girl was commanding the ears and eyes of 100 guests. Gradually, those villagers who had gone home already, returned to the garden drawn by the voice of an angel.

It was not just the villagers. As Di looked around the nearby bushes, she could see lots of little eyes peeping out. Amongst them a silent group of macaques, unseen in the darkness by everyone but Di. She was sure that one was the monkey that pulled her arm and spoke to her at the falls a little while earlier. She smiled at him, and he winked back. It was definitely him!

As Tina neared the end of her first song, Di watched the television crew intently. The cameraman was filming, and the two reporters were chatting to an assistant. The one who seemed to be in charge made her way out of the garden with her cellphone, trying to get a better signal.

Di smiled happily and knowingly, and settled to watch Tina finish the song, then the reaction of the audience at the end. The applause and cheering were nothing like Di had ever heard; she even saw the monkeys clapping their hands in the bushes.

After two more very powerful songs, the lady in charge of the television crew went up to the edge of the "stage" and spoke to Tina. Di observed, but had no need to listen. Seeing Tina's mouth gape open with surprise, and a smile the size of the moon break across her face, it was clear something exciting was going to happen.

As the lady went away busily to get things organised, Tina looked across at Di, who just smiled sweetly. They had no need to say anything. With a hint of amusement on her face, Di averted her eyes to the bushes and Tina's followed. When she saw the monkey clapping her, she just looked at Di and laughed quietly to herself.

A few moments later, the television crew were getting extra lighting equipment from their van and setting it up by the impromptu stage. Professional sound equipment was being set up also, and a technician was showing Tina the microphone she could use. In about thirty minutes, the planned 90 second tv news clip was due to be shown live. Except that now, it had been extended to 15 minutes, and Tina could sing live to the nation.

The crew were there because of the story of Di and Santa Claus, and the now famous folly, the enormous chimney in Di's little house. But now it was becoming Tina's evening, and her little cousin Di was more than happy to be in the background. In fact, she was filled with joy. Despite having the most amazing evening any child had ever had, her thoughts were all with Tina.

As the television crew got organised, Tina slipped across to see Di. They sat next to each other for a moment, just exchanging glances and holding hands. Tina felt incredibly excited, as did Di. Yet, Tina felt no nerves, thanks to the soothing assurance of her 7 year old cousin. In 30 minutes, the whole country would know not just about Di, but about Tina too.

And that was exactly the way Di wanted it.

 

Next: Santa Claus Story (cont)