her first Christmas tree rising to the ceiling the green scent of fresh pine permeates papa put up all the lights now it’s her turn a treasure of ornaments buried in tissue paper
a small, brightly colored stuffed menagerie made by her Aunts and Uncles when they were just kids glittered, glistening plastic snow flakes shiny, smiling ornaments of different sizes and unusual shapes most of them older than her going back three generations
it’s quite a task but Grandma said she could do it unwrapping with care choosing just the right placements
when she’s hung her last hook my little niece stands back aglow with happiness she whispers “It’s perfect”