ANNA stared in awe at the huge Christmas tree in the mall decorated with gold lights, multi-coloured ornaments and garlands. At the top of the tree was a glittering golden star and she gasped, marvelling at how incredibly beautiful it was. In her little heart was the joy and wonderful feeling this blessed season brings.
“Anna,” her father was calling me, “C’mon.”

She ran to him and took his hand, elated he had taken a day off from work so they could go Christmas shopping. She also wanted to see Santa Claus, because she had a special secret wish to tell him.
“Ho, ho, ho!” Santa greeted her, “What’s your name, little girl?”
“I’m Anna,” she said, then whispered, “I have a special wish.”
“Okay,” Santa whispered back, “What’s your wish?”
She handed him a note and he smiled a bit uncertain as he read it. The child had asked for a special miracle for her Christmas gift.
She wanted a mother.

Anna had been only four years old when her mother was called away to the Lord’s home, leaving her alone with her father. They had always celebrated the Christmas holidays together, but her mother’s absence had left a void. It was never the same, not without that refreshing scent in the house, her radiant smile, and cheerful voice.
Now eight years old, the little girl wanted her own little family with someone like the mother she had lost. She knew her father was still sad and though he had gone out on dates sometimes, he still seemed lonely.
“How do I find her?” the child had wondered, and everywhere she went; church, supermarket, movies, park, her little heart could not recognise anyone.
So this Christmas, she decided to ask Santa.

That night, her father kissed her good night, “Sweet dreams, my little princess.”
“Good night, daddy,” she said with a sweet smile.
Her father looked at her sleeping face, sadness in his eyes. It was so hard still to deal with the loss of his wife and now his child craving for a mother’s love.

The school’s Christmas concert was two weeks away and Anna was busy with rehearsals, for she was singing with the choir and doing a solo but Mrs. Farier, the music teacher, unexpectedly fell ill with just four days left to the big night. No one else could be found to take her place at such short notice and it was getting close to panic time for the children and their parents.
But it was Christmas, a season when magical things do happen.

A pianist friend of one of the teachers on vacation from the Netherlands offered to help.
It was a chilly morning and the children had gathered in the music room, not sure if they would be able to perform in the concert when a mellow voice said from the door, “Good morning children.”
Standing at the door was a stunningly beautiful woman with lustrous dark brown hair, and a simple and casual outlook.
“Good morning,” they said in unison.

“My name is Arianna, and I’m your volunteer music teacher.”
“Hooray!” everyone cheered.
She had a warm, lovely smile, light dancing in her soft brown eyes and Anna felt her heart exulting with joy.
“Oh my gosh,” she gasped quietly, “Is she the one?”

She stayed calm, focusing on her rehearsal and by the end of the class session, she was sure Arianna was the one.
She could hardly wait to get home to tell her father, breathless in her excitement. He held her gently by the shoulders, “Whoa, whoa, take a deep breath and speak slowly.”
“She’s very beautiful and has a sweet voice, you’ve got to meet her.”

“Okay, she sounds like a nice person,” the father said in a casual tone, not wanting to add to his daughter’s excitement, “But she and I are strangers to each other and she may not find me interesting.”
“You are a handsome and nice guy, why shouldn’t she be?”
“Well she could be married.”
“There’s no ring on her finger.”
“She could have a boyfriend.”
“Well maybe, but you could at least try,” she urged him, “Please.”
“Okay,” he said with a sigh, “Anything for you.”
Arianna was rehearsing with the choir at the piano when Anna’s father stopped by.
“Hello,” he said apologetically, “Sorry to interrupt, just checking to see how my little girl is doing.”
“And who is…?” she was about to ask, when Anna raised her hand.
“Hi Dad!”

Arianna smiled and said, “She’s doing great.”
Anna’s father nodded, smiling casually with just that hint of charm, and for that short moment as they looked at each other, something happened that the child had wished for. On the last day before the Christmas concert, as the session ended and the children began to leave, Anna hesitated, wanting to say something to the teacher, but not knowing how to.
Arianna noticed the child’s hesitancy and called her, “Anna, is there something on your mind you would like to talk about?”
“Yes Miss.”

She took a deep breath and asked, “Would you like to marry my father?”
Arianna looked at her taken back by surprise, and for a moment she was speechless.
“What?”
“I don’t have a mom and I asked Santa for a mom for Christmas, so when you came, I knew it was you.”
Arianna felt touched by the child’s words and she said with an understanding smile and a tinge of regret, “I am sorry for the loss of your mother, but I really don’t know your father well.”
“He’s a nice guy and he thinks you’re very beautiful.”

“Well that’s nice to know,” Arianna said with a little laugh, “So hear’s what, we have a concert to do and maybe we will talk about this later.”
Anna felt happy that she might get her wish, but she did not see Arianna after the concert.

It was the day before Christmas Eve when Arianna stopped by to say she couldn’t stay for Christmas. Her family wanted her to return home because of a proposal from a business magnate’s son they needed to discuss with her. Anna felt the joy in her heart melt and tears rolled down her cheeks. On Christmas morning she did not rush down the stairs to see what Santa had brought for her, but stayed huddled in bed, a broken-hearted child.
Her father tried to cheer her up, “Don’t you want to see what Santa brought for you?”
“No.”
“I think you should.”
He lifted her up in his arms and told her to close her eyes as he took her down the stairs.
He put her down gently and said, “Now open your eyes.”
There, by the Christmas tree was the most beautiful gift Anna could have wanted – dark hair, lovely smile and a light in her eyes.
“Merry Christmas, Anna,” Arianna said.

“You didn’t leave!” Anna squealed in delight and ran to her to hug her.
“I don’t know how,” Arianna said, hugging the little girl, “But I was overcome by a strong feeling in my heart not to leave, and I thought I’d get to know your father a little more.”
He smiled and the look he shared with Arianna spoke more than words could.
Anna felt like the happiest girl in the world for she had gotten her Christmas gift, wrapped in love.