The Ornament That Waited — Every evening after supper, Callum chose one ornament and held it up to every branch without hanging it. Read the full story →
Every evening after supper, Callum chose one ornament and held it up to every branch without hanging it. He had set himself a challenge: the striped glass ball could only go where the room sounded quietest. The parlor never helped. Stockings rustled, the fire snapped, and the pine needles brushed his sweater with a soft, prickly shhh.
Until one snowy night, the lights over the mantel blinked out. Because of that, everyone went hunting for the loose plug. Because of that, Callum stood alone beside the tree, listening. He heard wax dripping near the candles, snow tapping the window, and one bare branch whispering whenever the garland swayed.
Finally, he lifted the striped ornament to that patient little branch. The whole tree seemed to take a slow breath, and the star at the top caught a silver glint from the window. “There you are,” Callum whispered. If you ever spot that striped ball hanging near his hands, you’ll know which branch waited through all the sparkle.
