(a christmas story written long long time ago)

SOMEDAY AT CHRISTMAS

Chloe was alone. Walking slowly down the quiet street, she tried hard to sort out her thoughts. Christmas was only a few hours away. Yet it did not seem anything like Christmas. True, the decorations and behaviour of the town pointed towards Christmas. But something seemed to be missing. Chloe just could not figure out what. She felt very pensive. So many things seemed to be happening so quickly. So many bad things.

A great terror was looming. Two very powerful nations were on the brink of a war. They called it ‘a war to rid the world of a dangerous tyrant’ to remove the ‘axis of evil’. Chloe called it another mass murder. Chloe knew. This would be no ordinary war. This war would bring chemical, biological and nuclear weapons to the frontline. Worst still, with advances in science and technology, Chloe feared an eventual weapon, which would be a lethal combination of the three. Nations would beg for mercy and be wiped out. Innocent lives would be sacrificed. Individuals would become statistics. Children would lose their parents and families would be divided. Chloe had seen pictures of children in the war-torn countries, one a happy home for them. Now, their eyes pleaded, for compassion, love and answers. Answers that only god could give.

Thinking about the suffering children, Chloe remembered the old men and women on the streets. Abandoned by their own flesh and blood. They had to fend for themselves until death came for them. Chloe had passed by some of them that day. They lived in dim, damp alleys and slept on flattened cardboard, protected from the elements by the little protection the adjacent buildings offered. They seemed to have lost all human emotion, completely oblivious to the world around them. They were discriminated. Useless dirty, smelly old bums, probably mad or drunk. No one went too close. No one bothered. No one cared. They see the invisible barrier.

‘What could have gone wrong?’ Chloe thought. ‘Man always starts out with good intentions. What happened along the way? What became of the spirit of Christmas? Must the whole human race cringe and perish before things can change? What can I do in my own insignificant way?”

Alone with her thoughts, Chloe walked on. The street was so quiet and still. Chloe felt like she was the only person in the world. ‘What was that thing?’ she thought ‘Taw’s the night before Christmas and everyone was sleeping...’ She smiled to herself. Christmas was magical. But did it possess the same magic as in ancient times?

As Chloe walked, the feel of the street seemed to change. Something in the wind made it change. The silent, sleeping houses on either side of her were omnipresent beings in a world of their own. A world on the line where illusion and reality meets. A world where dreams could come true and man could be truly free.
Chloe wanted to remain here as long as she could. There was magic in the air. She lay on a patch of soft green grass, breathing in pure serenity and freshness. The dewy coolness of the grass chilled the air, lulling Chloe into a comfortable relaxed mood. Gazing up into the sky, she saw the stars. The icebergs of the heavens formed surreal shapes in the dark blue background. Pale, rushing clouds finished the mystical picture. Chloe closed her eyes, etching the moment into her memory forever.

Then, something soft and pleasantly cool touched her face. Chloe reluctantly opened her eyes. The sky was filled with dancing white flakes, twisting here and there, adding simplicity and majesty to the scene. Chloe spread out her arms to welcome the snowfall. Their silent dance carried them gracefully down to earth, caressing Chloe’s body then disappearing into a lingering white mist.

Chloe smiled. This was a sign. A sign that Christmas was still as magical as it always had been. A sign that there is hope. Hope for a better future. Just as the smallest snowflake made a difference, Chloe realised that if the world was to be changed, she had to first change herself. Then maybe, just maybe, the world would change. Maybe, in the far off shadowy future, there would be no more wars, no more pain, suffering, loss, heartbreak. And maybe, someday, at Christmas, the world would be one family, united under the same blue sky, living and rejoicing in the heart of peace.

¤¤¤

Someday at Christmas, men won’t be boys
Playing with bombs like kids play with toys
One December our hearts will see
A world where men are free
Someday at Christmas, there’ll be no war
When we have learned what Christmas is for
When we have found what life’s really worth
There’ll be peace on Earth

Someday all our dreams will come to be
Someday in a world where men are free
Maybe not in time for you and me
But someday at Christmas time

Someday at Christmas, we’ll see a land
With no hungry children, no empty hand
One happy morning, people will share
A world where people care
Someday at Christmas, there’ll be no tears
When all men are equal, no man has fears
One shining moment, one prayer away
From our world today

Someday at Christmas, man will not fail
Hate will be gone and love prevail
Someday a new world that we can start
With hope in every heart

Someday at Christmas time
End