Four Candles for Mila

The first candle is burning.
“Is it Christmas today?” asks Mila.
“Not yet,” says Mama.
“But we can already bake.”

The biscuits are done.
One is black. One is bent.
One is gone.
Mmm!
“Not all of them!” laughs Mama.

The second candle is burning.
“Is it Christmas today?”
“Not yet,” says Papa.
“But we can already make stars.”
The prettiest one is kept aside.

The stars go in the window.
One, another, another.
All but the crooked one.
“That one stays with me,” says Mila.
“That one is for the very top.”

The third candle is burning.
“Is it Christmas today?”
“Not yet. But we can …”
“I know!” shouts Mila.
“No peeking!”

The parcel goes under the bed.
Right to the back.
“Whoever peeks gets nothing!”
The crooked star keeps watch.
Shhh.

The fourth candle is burning.
“Is it Christmas TODAY?”
“Almost,” say Mama and Papa.
“Will you help us with the tree?”
“I can do that!”

Bauble, bauble, bauble.
All hanging low. That’s as far as the arm reaches.
“Is it Christmas now?”
“One more sleep,” says Papa.
And the top of the tree stays empty.

One more sleep.
That is the hardest thing of all.
Outside the snow falls, very softly.
Mila closes both eyes and waits.

Christmas Eve. The living-room door is shut.
Something rustles behind it. And jingles?
Mila sits on the stairs and waits.
The crooked star waits too.
“Is it Christmas now?”
“Nearly.”

And then the moment is here.
Nobody has to ask any more.
Only at the very top of the tree something is missing.
The star!

The tree is glowing.
Mila nibbles a star biscuit.
“Is it Christmas again tomorrow?”
“Not yet,” says Mama.
And all three have to laugh.