All I Wish for Christmas

“Give her some space, everyone,” a soft, feminine voice overpowered the rest of the unusual crowd. “Hello, dear,” the equally small, but slim figure smiled at Tilly as she approached. “I’m Mary. Come, let’s go to the manger just over here and we’ll get you up to speed.”

The young, blonde woman, obviously hand-painted, in her soft, orange-colored robe and white scarf over her hair, again smiled kindly at Tilly, motioning for her to follow. In her right arm she held a tiny bundle that Tilly soon discovered was an itty-bitty baby, as he began to wave his own tiny ceramic hands in the air.

“Shhh, it’s okay sweetie. Go back to sleep,” she cooed. Stepping under the A-frame roof of the manger, held up by a single wall in the back and two wooden columns on either side of the entrance, Mary carefully laid her baby in a tiny crib as Balthazar followed behind them with a handful of other similar ceramic figurines.

“Please, sit,” Mary motioned to a bale of hay just the right size for Tilly, while the rest of the group took seats on other bales or the ground, covered with bits of real straw.

Tilly smoothed out the feathers of her tutu and crossed her ankles politely, looking briefly at her ceramic ballet slippers, the same soft pink color as her leotard. Looking back up at her hostess, Tilly smiled pleasantly. She felt happy to be here, but a bit overwhelmed.

“Tilly, you, along with the rest of us, are Christmas ornaments, toys, or decorations. We come to life at night, but only once our owner has put us on display for the Christmas season. During the rest of the year, we remain dormant in our boxes and packaging.”

Tilly nodded, something about this seemed vaguely familiar to her brain and somehow she knew she’d been dormant for all of her existence—until now. “It only lasts from sunset to sunrise, right?” she voiced, receiving several nods of approval.

Balthazar spoke up, “Our life-bringer, Alexa, sets us out each year. It is through her that we wake after the final rays of sunlight have disappeared, though it must wait until she retires for the night, or if she’s away. Then we are free to roam about until either sunrise or whenever she awakes, whichever comes first. At that moment, we are instantaneously returned to our original positions.”

“I thought Christmas is what brought me... or rather us... to life?” Tilly asked, unsure about the bits of knowledge she somehow already had.

The small group laughed lightly, and Balthazar replied, “Yes, Christmas is a big part of it, but without Alexa and her Christmas Spirit—or the love and kindness that she holds in her heart in the spirit of Christmas—there would be no magic to bring us to life. Christmas would be just another ordinary day without the Spirit that people bring to it when they remember everything the holiday is about.”

Tilly nodded again, taking it all in, “That makes sense. You are quite wise.”

Again, the group chuckled softly and Tilly turned red, not understanding what was funny. Balthazar beamed at her, “Thank you, dear child. I hope that I sound wise, for I am one of the three wise men who look over the baby there.” He pointed with his chin to the sleeping child, breathing softly in his warm crib.

The little ballerina angel didn’t really understand, but had some idea that the baby and those who watched over him were important. How do I even know the baby is a boy? she wondered.

“I think you should make introductions first and fill her in on how the Christmas Magic works before Alexa gets up tomorrow. She’ll have all month to learn about Christmas,” a third slightly younger, but similarly dressed man piped up next to Balthazar.

“True,” Balthazar replied. “Alright, for starters, this gentleman is Casper, and to his right is Melchior. Together, we make up the Three Wise Men.”

The other two bowed politely, then Balthazar continued, “You’ve met Mary, and this is her husband, Joseph. These other two fellows are Rodney and Caleb. They’re shepherds and take care of the animals here in the manger.” As though knowing he’d been mentioned, a miniature lamb bleated to his mother standing next to Caleb, and Tilly couldn’t help but smile at the heartwarming sound.

The baby cooed again, and Mary went to pick him up. “This is Jesus,” she smiled down at him, tickling his chin, and Tilly could feel the love that emanated between them. “We all make up the Nativity set.”

“Come, Tilly, I’ll show you around and introduce you to everyone else.”

Balthazar stood, breaking her gaze on the mother and child, and prompting her to follow him.

“It was a pleasure meeting you all, thank you!” Tilly nodded and smiled to the rest of the group as they said good night.

Balthazar walked them around the tabletop where the Christmas tree stood. A handful of other decorations and toys had come from around the home to meet the newcomer from the tree. They included the elf twins, Oliver and Olivia, Jasper the Bear, a glass Santa Claus—named Santa, of course, and a trio of angels, who despite not having faces, were very sweet and friendly, if not a bit shy.

There were a few others, and Tilly had difficulty remembering all of their names. But each one greeted her kindly. Well, all except for the grouchy, green, furry Grinch who’d been the one she heard call out from behind her not long after she awoke on the tree. He sneered at her, refusing to shake her hand, instead planting his bright green fists on his hips and jutting his big belly out with a pout.

“Don’t mind him,” Dolly the Christmas doll giggled, “By Christmas his teeny heart will be three times bigger and he’ll be so mushy you’ll wish it’d shrink just a tiny bit again!”

At that the Grinch made another sour face and climbed with nimble skill back up the tree, disappearing into the branches again.

“Now, I’d like to know more about our—what’d you call her?—our life-bringer?” Tilly prompted, having met everyone already and now a bit tired from walking around.

“Yes, please have a seat,” Balthazar motioned to one of the wooden blocks making up the number four on the advent calendar display. “Alexa. Where do I begin?”