Melissa loved the magic of Christmas. The excitement swept through everyone, spreading the happiness thickly like raspberry jam on a scone topped with a huge dollop of cream. It felt like a yearly gateway to the past, each year and memory becoming more precious.
She’d been six years old and remembered the day as if it were yesterday.
“Nearly there, Dad,” she said as she watched her father stretch to carefully place the silver star atop their now decorated Christmas tree.
The fairy lights twinkled in a haphazard fashion, blinking their rainbow of colors and making Melissa feel as if she’d been transported into a fantasy world.
“All done,” her dad smiled.
“Do you remember our tradition, sweetie?” her mom asked. “That the youngest member of the household always opens a present the night before Christmas?”
Melissa nodded eagerly as her mom handed her a box and her face lit up as she opened it. “They’re just like Dorothy’s magical pair of shoes. Thank you!” She’d been watching The Wizard of Oz with her mom only a few days earlier.
As soon as Melissa had seen Dorothy’s ruby slippers, she’d wanted a pair. Proudly slipping her feet into the shoes, she’d twirled before clicking her heels together, like she’d seen Dorothy do at the end of the movie. “There’s no place like home!” she’d cried.
Her parents had laughed and clapped their hands.
Denne historien er fra 16 December 2021-utgaven av YOU South Africa.
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Denne historien er fra 16 December 2021-utgaven av YOU South Africa.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
PUSHED TO THE LIMIT
The unusual relationship between an heiress and her husband has taken a sinister twist
HOW TO MAKE A SUPERBABY
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THE GROWN-UP BRAIN
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I CAN'T WAIT FOR SUMMER!
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'SHE NO THREAT TO ANYONE'
When SA boxer Chris van Heerden's Russian girlfriend went to visit her parents she was thrown in jail and accused of treasonnow he's in a fight to free her
SUNK IN 16 MINUTES!
A sun-drenched holiday turned into a living nightmare for those aboard this luxury vessel
READY TO SMILE AGAIN
A groundbreaking surgical procedure will restore this Limpopo teen's badly damaged jaw and teeth
HARRY AT A CROSSROADS
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