Christmas Miracles

Snowflakes gently tumbled from the jet black sky, quietly dabbing the sidewalks with star like wonders. She softly smiled welcoming the seasons first snow.

Fondly, she gazed through the toy store window at the old steam engine making its rounds, recalling the times she had done this before, with her father.

This was her first Christmas without him, and she struggled finding the joy of the holiday.

As the train approached her at the glass, it made an unexpected stop. She watched curiously as the small wooden conductor stood and announced, “all aboard!”

She giggled and responded, “but sir, I’ve lost my ticket.”

The painted toy winked and motioned to her pocket. She playfully nodded and reached into her coat and to her surprise, there was a golden ticket.

Shocked and perplexed, she heard him call out again, this time holding his hands out to receive her tiny ticket.

As he punched the ticket, she suddenly found herself sitting in the passenger car. “Welcome back my dear, he smiled as he took her hand.

“I’ve been waiting for you.”

She recognized his voice in an instant and began to cry. As she looked up, there he was in his engineer uniform.

He slipped her a roll of butter-rum candies, “I knew you’d come,” his eyes sparkling like the stars.

She stood silently with him as he assured her that everything would be okay. Just as it should be.

“Pardon me ma’am, are you ok?” the clerk called. “We’re closing now.”