Alicia And The Light Bulb People

One

      Alicia skipped happily through the gaily-decorated aisles of Walker’s Department Store, singing along with the bouncy Christmas carols coming from the overhead speakers.  She was just about to pluck a piece of gold tinsel from a mannequin’s wooden fingers when she caught that warning glint in her mother’s eyes.

      But Alicia couldn’t help bubbling with excitement, for Christmas was only two weeks away.  As her special holiday gift from Mother, Alicia could personally select a new lamp for her freshly painted bedroom.  Because Alicia would have the lamp for a long time, Mother suggested she choose one with a suitable personality.

      “But how can a lamp have a personality?” Alicia wanted to know.  “It doesn’t do anything but sit there.”

      “Why everything has a personality,” Mother said, as they browsed through the furniture department.  “Things come in all different sizes, shapes, and colors.  When we look at them they give us a certain feeling.  They say something to us.”

      Alicia looked around at the row of sofas and plopped on one with a bright striped pattern.  “You mean like this sofa?  It looks like Grandma’s.”

      “Yes, that’s the one.  What does it remind you of?”

      “Grandma herself,” Alicia said, giggling at the fond memory.  “She always wore those frilly dresses with the big, colorful patterns.”

      “And when you look at her sofa, what does it say to you?”

      Alicia loved this game.  “It says, ‘Come sit on my lap and I’ll keep you warm and cozy.’  Just like Grandma did.”

      “Yes, that was Grandma’s personality,” Mother agreed.  “She was full of love and comfort for everyone.  So, when we buy furniture, or anything that we live with a lot, we want it to have a personality that makes us feel good.  Something we are always happy to see and be with, just like a good friend.”

      “Then I’ll make sure the lamp I pick today has the best personality for me,” Alicia decided.

      The department store was very busy.  Holiday shoppers were laden with brightly colored packages, humming happily—or groaning grumpily--as they wound their way through the crowded aisles.   

      Mother walked with determination to the furniture department, reminding Alicia to stay close to her and not wander off.

      “I will, Mother,” Alicia promised.

But suddenly Alicia stopped right in her tracks, and a gasp of delight caught in her throat. 

There in the center of the furniture department was an enormous, glittery-white Christmas tree, lavishly decorated with glossy red and gold balls.  Alicia saw her face reflected a thousand times in the ornaments as the tree rotated, waltzing to the joyous holiday music played by an unseen orchestra.       

      High atop the tree was the most breathtaking star Alicia had ever seen.  Its points reached out and up jubilantly to the heavens.  The star sparkled so brightly that Alicia couldn’t stop looking at it.  The bustling noises of the store faded to a soft, purring hum as Alicia lost all track of time.