Over The Rainbow (COMPLETED)

Wish Upon A Christmas Star

December 24, 2024:

"Charm, come on. Nanay and Tatay are waiting downstairs." Thirdy told his younger sister who was looking up from her bedroom window to the evening sky.

"I don't want to go, Kuya. I'm waiting for something." Charmaine answered, her unblinking eyes still glued to the heavens.

"Charmaine Athena, don't act up now. It's already difficult as it is." Thirdy groaned in frustration when his little sister still wouldn't move from where she was seated. He marched to her window and pulled her by the hand. "Come on! Nanay said we'll be late for dinner. We have to do this for Seb. You're his big sister. You have to start being responsible for him. Also I'm your big brother so you have to do as I say. Stop being a brat."

"I'm not! I AM doing this for Seb, for all of us. I'm waiting for a shooting star to pass so that I can make a wish." Charm said as her eyes started welling up, her pink lips quivering.

Thirdy sighed and wrapped his thin arms around his little sister as she cried on his shoulder. He knew what she was going to wish for, what they all wish for. He gently stroked her back up and down.

"It's okay, Charm. Sorry, I lost my temper. You're right. We all wish the same thing." Thirdy said and hugged his sister tighter.

"I'm scared, Kuya." Charmaine whispered.

"Don't be scared. Papa said Mama will be alright. She just collapsed earlier because she got really tired from all the Christmas dinner preparations. They had to bring her to the hospital to make sure she was well taken cared of and find out why it happened."

"I don't want to eat dinner. Not without Mama and Papa. We always eat together. And Seb is not here too." Charm pouted.

"Seb will be here. He's with Popsie, Tita Riza and Tita Angel. Who knows maybe Papa and Mama are on their way home right now." Thirdy told Charmaine.

His little sister looked up to him and asked. "Do you really think so, Kuya?"

Thirdy nodded and smiled. "Yes. So stop crying and come with me downstairs."

"Okay, Kuya." Charmaine said and took one last look outside her window. "Kuya! Look!" She exclaimed with eyes wide in awe and a huge grin.

Slicing through the night sky was the brightest shooting star they have ever seen. Brother and sister closed their eyes and held hands as they made a wish. Both unaware that they made the same one, that their Mama comes home well and healthy to spend a happy Christmas with the whole family.

After they made their wishes, they went downstairs to meet their grandparents and they were immediately wrapped in their Tatay and Nanay's warm embrace.

"Nanay, when is Mama coming home?" Charm asked.

"Soon, my love. Kakatawag lang ng Papa niyo. They're on their way home." Nanay answered.

"Really?!" The two kids beamed.

"Yes. Kaya wag na kayong mag-alala." Tatay said.

"Sina Seb po, Tatay? Are they here already?" Thirdy asked.

"Oo. Kakadating lang. Nasa TV room. Pinapanood ng Popsie niyo ng cartoons para maaliw." Their grandpa answered prompting Thirdy and Charmaine to cheer and jump up and down in their excitement.

It seemed to them that their wish has already come true with the whole family almost complete at home.

The older Faulkerson siblings raced each other to the room where Seb was and bursted through the doorway in squeals and giggles of delight when their grandpa Richard greeted them. In a second both kids were scooped up in his arms and they happily shower kisses all over his face.