Shane was very excited. Christmas was only a few days away. Shane’s parents agreed to give him anything he wanted this Christmas, as a gift and Shane knew exactly what he wanted. He had always wanted to have a puppy of his own, a white one. He would name him ‘Snowy’ and play with him the whole time. He could hardly wait till Christmas to get his precious gift.
But things didn’t work out the exact way Shane wanted. His grandfather fell ill suddenly and was admitted to the hospital. Shane was told that his condition was serious.
His mother didn’t have time to bake yummy Christmas goodies, nor did his father have time to decorate the house. Everyone was rushing in and out of the hospital. Shane felt very sad because he loved his
grandfather a lot. Suddenly it didn’t feel like Christmas anymore.
The day before Christmas Shane’s mother called him aside. “Your grandfather is very ill. So we won’t be having time to celebrate Christmas this year. We’ll have to spend a lot of time looking after him,” she said. Shane knew that it meant not having a Christmas tree, crib or even presents this year. Not even the white puppy he was dreaming so much about. “But that’s all right!” he thought, “Seeya is more important than anything else.”
As he stared out the window, Shane saw a shooting star. He remembered that his grandmother once said that you can wish upon a shooting star. If this was some other day, Shane would have wished for a puppy. But he closed his eyes and wished hard ‘Please let Seeya get well soon.’ Tears filled into his eyes as he watched the shooting star disappearing in the cold night sky.
“I want to spend this Christmas with Seeya!” Shane told his parents, “I don’t want him to be alone in the hospital on Christmas day.” “You are a very good boy and we are very proud of you,” said his father.
So on Christmas day Shane sat by the bed where his grandfather was sleeping. He had not opened his eyes or talked with anyone for many days. But when Shane gently touched his hand, he opened his eyes and looked at him. He smiled with Shane and there were tears in his eyes. By the afternoon he was looking a lot better and the doctors gave Shane’s family the good news that he was recovering and that he would be better soon.
That evening when Shane went home, he felt very happy. He didn’t think about the Christmas tree, decorations or the presents which he never got. He just felt glad that his grandfather was going to be home before the New Year. And that was better than any gift he could imagine.
As Shane walked down the
garden he heard a noise behind the garden-shed. Curiously, he peeped carefully to see what it was. Then he couldn’t believe his eyes. There was a small white puppy. He was dirty and had mud all over him but he was the cutest little puppy, that Shane has ever seen.
Shane ran back home and brought his parents to show the puppy. “It looks like he has wandered quite a distance!” his father said. “Can we keep him?” Shane asked his heart thumping loud. “We will first take him to the Vet and get him checked… and then you may keep him,” his mother replied. “Looks like Santa Claus sent your gift home, since you were a good boy!” his father said smiling. Shane could hardly believe all this. He felt so happy. After all, this was the best Christmas ever! |
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