The Christmas Surprise
Vinu and Kasun were getting ready to decorate their house for Christmas. They took out shiny ornaments from cardboard boxes. Their Uncle Charith who was there that day, came near the kids. The two kids were very fond of their uncle because he always joked and said funny things to them.
“Look at these Uncle!” said Vinu, pulling him by his hand. Their uncle sat on the ground next to the kids and started looking at the ornaments. “Look at this,” said Vinu holding up a big silver bauble. “Doesn’t it look beautiful?” asked the delighted little girl.
Uncle Charith thought of playing a little trick on the kids. He took the silver bauble to his hand and stared at it. “Ooh…” he said in a mysterious voice, “what is this, I see in here?”
“What is it?” asked Vinu in surprise.
“I see the future in this crystal ball!” said their uncle in a funny, gypsy like voice.
Kasun started giggling. “That’s not a crystal ball,” he said.
But Vinu looked surprised.
“Do you really see the future in it?” Vinu asked Uncle Charith.
“Oh yes, yes! I see Christmas day…
I see happiness…!” continued their uncle, playing along.
“What else do you see?” asked Vinu, staring at the bauble.
“Oh stop it!” laughed Kasun, “don’t be silly. He’s only kidding you!”
“What is this… It’s soft and white…” continued Uncle Charith.
“What is it?” asked Vinu, peeping into the bauble.
“Stop teasing those children,” said their Aunty Shani and took the bauble from their uncle’s hands. “He’s only joking darling!” she told the little girl.
From the time their aunty and uncle left, Vinu sat in a corner trying to figure out what their uncle said about Christmas day.
“Something white and soft…” she said.
“Will you stop it, silly!” said Kasun,
“he was just fooling with you. That’s just a bauble and you can’t see the future in it!”
“He was not joking! He looked serious,” argued Vinu.
Kasun rolled his eye and stared at his little sister.
Suddenly Vinu shrieked in delight. “What now?” asked Kasun, who was shocked by her screaming.
“I know what he saw!” shouted the excited little girl, “it’s going to snow on Christmas day! Uncle said it’s something white and soft. That’s snow!”
“What’s wrong with you?” asked Kasun shaking his head. “Don’t you know that it doesn’t snow in our country? What make you think it will snow on Christmas day?”
“It’s going to snow because Uncle Charith saw it in the crystal ball!” snapped back Vinu. “Haven’t you noticed how cold it gets these days? That’s because it’s going to snow soon!”
“Stop saying silly things!” said Kasun sounding annoyed. “That is no crystal ball and it doesn’t snow in our country!”
“Oh but this time it will!” said Vinu sounding confident.
The next couple of days Vinu was very alert about the weather. She kept on staring at the sky. Even when it rained she quickly ran near the window to see if it was snow. And she kept her woollen jersey near her bed.
“What is that for?” sighed Kasun.
“To wear when it snows!” answered Vinu, and Kasun started to giggle.
“Laugh all you want,” said Vinu, who sounded annoyed, “you’ll see on Christmas day!”
Finally it was Christmas Eve.
The house was beautifully decorated. The tree was put up and illuminated with fairylights. Kasun couldn’t take his eyes off their lovely Christmas tree. But Vinu was too busy staring at the sky. There wasn’t a flake of snow. Not even a cloud in the sky. She felt very disappointed. But still there was a little more time for Christmas. “Maybe it will snow in the night!” she thought crossing her fingers.
That night it got very cold. Vinu pulled her sheet over her head and listened to the wind outside, smiling to herself.
The next morning when Vinu woke up she remembered that it was Christmas day. She quickly ran towards the window without even stopping to see her presents. She pulled the curtain hoping to see the entire neighbourhood covered in thick white snow. But when she looked out she was very disappointed. There was mild sunlight and not a sign of snow. Everything outside looked the way it always did.
Vinu walked to the hall to wish her family. “Why are you looking so unhappy on Christmas day?” asked her mother. Kasun giggled knowing the reason. “Look, Uncle Charith and Aunty Shani are coming!” said their father, looking out the window.Vinu ran towards the door to tell Uncle Charith how disappointed she was. Where was the snow he saw in the crystal ball bauble? Uncle walked in and gave both kids hugs and wished them a ‘Merry Christmas’. Then he carried in a big box that looked a bit heavy. “This is for you two!” he said.
Vinu wasn’t very interested. She was still annoyed that there was no snow. But she stared at the box when the lid of the box started to move on its own. It opened and a puppy as white as snow peeped out. The two kids shouted in joy as they never expected such a lovely surprise.
“This is Snowy!” said Uncle. The kids started petting the puppy who was as soft as cotton wool.
“She was waiting for snow,” Kasun told their uncle while petting the puppy, “because you said there’ll be something white and soft!”
“Who said anything about snow?
I was talking about Snowy!” laughed Uncle Charith. Vinu giggled along.
What a surprise his prediction turned out to be! What a lovely Christmas surprise this was!