The Ornament

It was one ornament. Nothing sentimental- a quite commercial one. Common. A character from the classic Rudolph cartoon who sang when you pressed his hand. It probably came from some last minute shopping trip at a CVS. Nothing to pass down or anything of the sort.

She had carefully not opened certain boxes. The sentiment of her Christmas tree at home, with its childhood accumulations, was so different than this version of her very own Christmas. The one they once created together. Built their own new memories.

Now, with certain boxes sealed and one fine single gal's indulgence- a 7 foot high Hot Pink Tree with Charcoal Branches- she began her own traditions. Rainbow Lights instead of the traditional Berry Red and Icicle White; simple cat-proof Glittered Ornaments in a panoply of colors- Tangerine, Coffee, Peacock, Lipstick, Olive, Platinum, Crown.

Out of curiosity, perhaps to test the battery only, she pressed the hand. The ornament danced and sang. Her new kitten came over, as her old cat once did.

And just like that, the icicles that fell from her eyes.

We had magic, didn't we?