A Child’s Dream and Wish for Christmas

CHRISTMAS season—that wonderful, magical time of year—the children’s fascination with spectacular Christmas trees and dear old Santa bringing toys and joy to hopeful, innocent hearts.

A little girl who had already made her wish held her grandmother’s hand firmly as they exited the crowded market. The old lady’s two baskets of sorrel and carambola had all been sold, putting a few extra dollars in her pocket for the season. She would be able to give her three grandchildren a nice little Christmas in their cosy little home. Sarah was a great helper and a wonderful child, and she had wished for a special gift—a real Barbie doll. She had many dolls from Christmases before and birthdays, but the beautiful, glamorous Barbies in the shopping plaza showcases were what her little heart yearned for. She knew her grandmother could not buy one with her small earnings, but she still wished, holding on to the hope that the Christmas spirit would bring good tidings into their poor lives.

A heavy drizzle came down as they walked to the bus park, and they hurriedly sought shelter under a hardware store’s awning. Across the street, a little way off, was the shopping plaza that she often passed on the way home from the market. Always, she would stop and stare at the superb toys that were every child’s dream. The rain eased, and they continued walking to the park. As they approached the store, a sales clerk brought out a new doll for display in the window. The little girl drew in her breath sharply, for it was the doll of her dreams—beautifully dressed in a soft pink party dress, long, curly black tresses and a dazzling smile. But what captured the child’s heart was the doll’s ebony skin, just like hers.

Her grandmother looked at her questioningly, and she pointed to the doll in the store’s window. The old lady shook her head regretfully, and the child sadly turned her eyes away. She turned to have one last look at her dream doll before rounding the corner and gasped loudly, not believing her eyes.

The ebony Barbie doll, seeming to come to life, waved to the child.

“What is the matter, child?” her grandmother asked impatiently.

“Look, Grandma!” the little girl gushed excitedly. “The Barbie doll waved at me!”

“Oh dear Lord.” The old woman shook her head in exasperation.
“Your imagination is really running wild.”

“It’s true!” the little girl insisted, but her grandmother was not in the mood to listen. Sarah could not understand, wondering now if her eyes had played tricks on her. As she walked away, the doll blinked her eyes and smiled—just a little smile—the magic of Christmas.

That night, it continued to rain, and Sarah, huddling in the comfort of her grandmother’s jasmine-scented sheets, whispered sleepily,
“Dear God, I know my grandma can’t buy me a real Barbie, but in my dreams, if only I could play with her…”

Her voice trailed off as she fell asleep, and out the window flew that wish into the starry night.

Dreams, from heaven they came—playing, laughing, filling innocent hearts with beautiful things.

Sarah’s soft laughter, as she played in her dreams with the ebony Barbie doll, passed through the creases in the wall, awakening her grandmother. The old lady looked at the child for a long moment, knowing she was dreaming of something she truly loved. She sighed, as though she had made up her mind about something. Returning to her room, she opened her wardrobe and took out an old tin box hidden at the back. It had been years since she had had cause to open the box. She stared at her precious few pieces of fine jewellery and selected a small heart-shaped brooch that was worth enough to buy a special gift.

The last few days before Christmas were busy at the market, and with Grandma’s own late shopping on Christmas Eve from the money she earned. Sarah felt happy in her heart for the loving family she had, and in their own small way, they always had a happy, enjoyable Christmas—such a beautiful time.

On Christmas morning, Sarah opened her gift and smiled happily at her doll-carrying case.

“Thank you, Grandma,” she said, hugging her, and turned to go when her grandmother said,
“You need a doll for that case—a special doll.”

She handed the surprised child another gift she had hidden behind the Christmas tree. Sarah opened it slowly and cried out in amazement.

It was the ebony Barbie doll from the shopping plaza.

“Grandma,” she laughed as her heart filled with joy, “thank you, thank you. I love you so much.”

Her Christmas wish for the most beautiful gift her little heart had desired had come true.