Lauras hat

The little girl stood before him and looked up with her big blue eyes, half asking, and half longing. She didn't dare to ask, of course. She just got here and was not quite familiar with things yet. He would have to help her find the right words.
" What's up, little one?" 
"Did you finish polishing the stars already?"
" Oh, yes, I cleaned them all, even the corners!" " The others said, that the corners are most important, otherwise people can't tell, that they are Christmas stars", she responded excitedly."
Her cheeks were blushed and blond curls were looped around her little ears, that were as precious and delicate as the whole little person.
The old men had to hide his emotions.
" You did very well." 
"People need the shine and sparkle around this time of the year more than ever, you know. It is such a busy and hectic season down on earth."
" Yes... they are very sad, the people."
Her eyes got misty. The old man was stroking his beard. Don't let her cry now....
He couldn't stand tears in his refuge. It used to be always joyous here. Moreover, it should stay that way. Therefore, he had to change his strategy. She was just too little for a conversation with finesse.
" And you want to make someone happy...?", he asked.
" That would be so nice..."
Do you think, you can handle that? It is quite a way down to earth."
"I have watched, how the others have done it. I know, how it works, I can do it!"
Thank God! He bowed to the highest cloud. The threat of tears was over. The little one was smiling out of expectation. He just had to nod...
That is what he did. She thanked him with a kiss, so full of love and devotion that he dared to be angry at is boss for a split-second. This little being should have stayed with her parents a little longer...
Well, she had fulfilled her purpose down there. She was fine here, and after she completed her next task, she would feel even better.
" God speed, little one, and remember to stay to the left of the milky-way.
She couldn't hear him any longer. With one hand, she held on to her tiny halo, with the other, her little, white skirt...
*
A men and a women stood by the window and looked out into the cold and clear winter night. Their eyes were dark and sad, but they didn't want the other to see.
They both pretended that the pain and sadness had lifted already. The Christmas tree was in the room like every year, but there were no shining eyes of a child to admire it.
" We have to be glad for her sake... She was so sick... Now she has peace", the man whispered quietly." Yes, we have to be grateful..." the women repeated with a drained voice.
She wanted to turn away from the window, when a bright shimmer appeared in-between the trees in the garden. She took a deep breath and thought she was dreaming.
" There... do you see that"? the man was asking with tension.
" It looks like a ring"
" Yes a shiny ring, ... a halo!"
They both held their breath and stared out in the garden. The shine was floating at the height of a child. It was real, even when she closed her eyes for a second, she could still see it, when she opened them again.
Suddenly, something strange happened. As if a little hand was pulling on one side of the halo, it slipped diagonally down and looked like a hat, pulled down over one ear.
" Laura! That is Laura", the women whispered, and a smile lit up her face so beautifully, that the man had to look at her and didn't pay attention to the shine anymore.
" Did you see that, oh my God, look at this. That is Laura. She always put on my straw hat, crocked over one ear! And then she laughed."
The man could hardly believe it. However, when he looked, it happened again. The halo was hanging in between the trees; he almost believed he saw a little hand pull on it.
As if the appearance had waited to be recognized, it vanished in a mischievous little spiral. There was just a little sparkle left, as if it some stardust remained to convince the two people.
" Laura, our little Laura..."
The man and the women stood in a tight embrace. They laughed and cried out of happiness. Much later, when Laura had been long back with the old men, who complimented her on her braveness, the candles down on the tree in the room had the same shine as ever. 
The message had arrived.

Copyright by Anne Manek