Janie looked out of the window and watched the Christmas lights blinking brightly across the road from her house. There was much snow on the ground again for the Christmas season. She turned her head from the sight with a pain in her heart, for there were no lights at her house and there was little chance that there would be a Christmas tree either, since money was so hard to come by.

Janie knew that times were tight. Her dad had died before she was born, and Mom worked hard providing for her, but just once she would like to have presents under a tree and a father to hug her and wish her a Merry Christmas on Christmas morning. She loved her Mom, but there was a gap in her heart that all the love that her Mom gave her could not fill.

Janie's mother came into the room and put her arm around her only daughter and, giving her a quick hug, reminded her that dinner was ready, and on the table.

"I'll be there in second, Mom," Janie replied. "I just have to wash up."

Going down the steps, she smelled chicken again for the third time this week. With a heartfelt sigh, she sat down at the table. She knew there was no use saying anything about the meal, for money was tight and chicken was cheap, so she just took up her fork and started eating.

That night, as she got down on her knees, she asked once again for a daddy in her life. She just knew that if she asked for him to come into her life that it would happen, since hadn't she prayed for it?

As there was no school the next day and Mom had to work, she was left alone all day. Once, there had been money to send her to a daycare but, lately, Mom hadn't been able to afford it. Her Mom had carefully explained to her that since she was a big girl of ten now, she was old enough to be alone while she was at work. She would call later in the day to make sure that Janie was all right.

After Mom left, Janie looked around and tried to decide what to do with the long hours ahead. Turning on the television, she wished again for company. Suddenly, she heard a voice and felt a presence behind her. Turning around, she saw a large man with a smile on his face. However, she could still see the furniture behind him!

Before she could scream, he said, "You wished for a friend to play with while you are alone, and I have come to be with you. My name is Poppy"

Oh, what a wonderful time Janie had that day. Her new friend knew how to play all her favorite games. He laughed and smiled at what seemed like nothing. The sun came out, and he laughed. When the cat ran from him and spilt water on the floor, he laughed and helped her wipe it up. When it was time for Mom to come home, he took her by the hand, and told her that he had to leave, but he would be back tomorrow at the same time, and quickly faded away.

When Mom came home that night, Janie hugged her tightly and joyfully told her about her new friend. She knew Mom wasn't happy with her when the line appeared between her Mom's eyebrows. This only happened when her Mom was troubled by something that Janie had said or done. She took her by the hand and explained that she was no longer a small child and it was a bit late to suddenly have imaginary companions. Janie felt hurt and didn't understand why Mom didn't believe her. She wasn't seeing things or telling tales. When her Mom asked her not to talk about her friend, she quietly agreed and went up to her room. Mom was smart, but why wouldn't she believe Janie?

The next day, as soon as her mother had left, Poppy appeared once more. She told him what her mother had said, and explained that though her mother was a wise and loving person, she had forgotten how to see with her heart. Janie talked with him and laughed and had a wonderful time. As soon as it was time for Mom to return home, he once again left. Janie knew better, that night, than to tell her mother about her special friend, so when she asked what she had done all day she just said that she'd played.

The next day was Christmas Eve, and Mom only had to work a half-day at the store. She would be home early and they would bake Christmas cookies that afternoon, since this was the only way they could afford to celebrate the holiday. As soon as the door was closed, Poppy showed himself and asked her to take his hand and close her eyes. When she opened them, she was inside a wonderful house, and there was a Christmas tree in the living room waiting to be decorated.

"Will you help me decorate my tree?" Poppy asked.

What a joyful time they had trimming the tree! After Poppy put the lights on it, Janie put paper chains and popcorn on a string around it. Each ornament was carefully unwrapped and exclaimed over as it was carefully hung from the branches. When they were done, Poppy reached deep into a box and pulled out another much smaller box. Opening it carefully, he brought out a star to top the tree. Oh, but what a star it was! It was made of glass and had six points of different colors with a lovely white center. Carefully, Poppy placed it on top of the tree. Turning off the lights in the room, he turned on the Christmas tree lights. The star glowed brilliantly from its place of honor on top of the tree.

"Now for the final touch," Poppy announced, opening the last box.

Janie reached in and took out a carefully wrapped object. It was a large wise man. Inside the box she found a stable and figures to put around the manger. Last of all, she found the baby to put in the stable manger.

Stepping back and looking at the magnificent tree, Janie asked Poppy where he had gotten the lovely star to put on top.

"A very special friend, that I loved dearly, gave it to me many years ago," he replied. "It's time for you to go back home now but, before you leave, I want you to know that I love you. You may not always see me, but please remember that I am with you always, my child."

Taking her by the hand, he had her close her eyes once again.

When she opened them, she was back home again, and her new friend had disappeared.

The door opened and her mother came in with a smile on her face. "Come see what I bought on the way home today, Janie," she exclaimed.

Going outside with her mother, Janie found a Christmas tree on the front porch.

"I was walking home tonight and the lot down the road had trees for half price since it's Christmas Eve. I took the money that I was going to use to buy the ingredients for the cookies and bought us a tree instead. Come, let's decorate it. I have some old ornaments up in the attic from before you were born and your father was alive."

Running up the steps to the attic they found the ornaments and lights, and began to decorate the tree.
When they had finished, they stepped back and regarded their work.

"If only you had a star like Poppy's to put on top of our tree," Janie exclaimed, without thinking.

"What do you mean?" Mom asked her.

So Janie cautiously told her how she had helped Poppy decorate his tree at his home. As she got to the part about the star, her Mom grew very still and two tears slowly emerged from her eyes and ran down her cheeks.

"What's the matter, Mom? Have I made you upset by going with Poppy to decorate his tree? I know you don't believe me, but that is what we did today," she stated, not caring now if her mother were cross with her.

"No, it's not that, my child," her Mom replied. "Many years ago, before you were born, when your father and I had our first Christmas together, I bought a star for our tree just like the one that you said Poppy put on his tree. I never found it after he died and now I know why. For it's in heaven with him and he uses it to remember us on this earth. He has come to you to tell all of us that we are not forgotten by those that have gone before. They still love us and are with us if we but have the heart that sees the love."

- Lester Warner
Orwell, Ohio, U.S.A.