The Christmas Ornament

Chapter 3 - The Mysterious Package

          Holly awoke Sunday morning feeling the best she had ever felt since coming to the orphanage. She quickly got herself ready for the day and rushed downstairs to get breakfast. Only a few other girls were up this early and sitting in the cafeteria.

          She walked over to the food counter to see what was being offered and found her choices to be Oatmeal, Cream of Wheat, and a variety of the small single serving boxes of cereal. Bread and bagels were laid out next to a toaster. Orange juice, Apple juice, and milk, in carafes, sat next to a stack of paper cups.

          Mary Stapleton, a slightly plump middle-aged woman wearing a hairnet over her light brown hair, saw Holly through one of the windows of the double swinging kitchen doors.

"Holly, come into the kitchen." she beckoned, sticking her head out one of the doors.

Holly did as requested. "What can I do for you Mrs. Stapleton?

"It's not what you can do for me...it's what I can do for you. I want to make you a special breakfast."

"Oh, that's not necessary. Besides, that wouldn't be fair to the other girls!" she protested.

"The other girls don't help out in the kitchen, now do they?" Mary said, dismissing Holly's protest." Now sit down right over there and I'll be right back."

          Mary returned shortly with plates filled with scrambled eggs, pancakes, hash brown potatoes, bacon, sausage, buttered toast and a tall glass of orange juice. "Bon Appetit" she said cheerfully.

          Holly savored every bite and couldn't believe her good fortune of having two special meals in two days. After finishing her breakfast she thanked Mrs. Stapleton.

"Will you be helping out in the kitchen for lunch tomorrow, Holly?" Mary inquired.

"After a breakfast like that, I couldn't refuse even if I wanted to." she smiled and laughed. "See you then!"

She walked out to the lobby and saw Stan bringing in the Christmas trees they had bought yesterday.

"Hi Stan! Do you want some help decorating the trees" Holly jubilantly asked.

Stan's face lit up with a huge smile. "Who are you and what did you do with the real Holly Spencer?"

"I can't explain why I feel differently today, but I do." Holly replied with exhilaration.

"Well, after everything that happened yesterday, talking to Santa, finding out your parents are laid to rest nearby, and apparently...you have a magical Christmas ornament, might have something to do with it!" Stan whimsically answered.

"So, where dowe start?" she asked.

"First we string the lights and then we'll add the ornaments." Stan explained. "But, before we get started, I think we need some mood music."

          Stan pulled a CD player out of one of the boxes he had brought in with the trees and inserted a Christmas CD into it. Soon the two of them were humming and singing along to Christmas songs as they decorated their first tree.

          By 10 AM they were approximately halfway through hanging ornaments on the lobby tree when the front door opened and Bella Pembroke strolled in, stopping briefly to stomp the snow from her shoes. Hearing the singing and Christmas music coming from the corner of the lobby she looked over to see Stan and Holly.

"What's going on here?" she barked loudly, her gaze and comment directed at Holly.

"Hi, Mrs.Pembroke. I'm helping Mr. Harris with decorating...and it's so much fun!" she joyfully replied.