How the ChristmasSpider Invented

Tinsel

There once was a small family living in a small house on the edge of a small town.

Unfortunately, this year’s holiday was set to be a sombre affair for them. They worked

very hard, but bills always seemed to stack up. However, as the shops closed on

Christmas Eve, the butchers didn’t want to waste anything and sold Marie the last goose

at a bargain price even she could afford.

It was a scrawny bird, but more meat than the family had seen in several weeks.

She trudged home, fighting the snow the whole way. We may have no decorations or

presents, but at least we can eat.

When she arrived at her tiny home, she was greeted at the door by excited

squeals. “Mummy look what we found!” The twins Amanda and Adam grabbed her hand

and pulled her into the living room. A small pine tree propped in a pail leaned against

the wall.

“Wherever did you find that?” Marie gasped.

They jumped and clapped. “No one wanted it. The florist closed up early today

and threw it in the alley. It’s a bit wonky but one side is still good.” Adam twisted the pail

of sand to show where the branches at the back were all broken. A spider ran down one

of the bent limbs and jumped on his arm. He giggled. “Look, we got a Christmas pet,

too.”

Amanda shuddered. “You can keep that present.”

Adam put the spider back in the tree and twisted the pot around so the broken

branches were hidden.

“Such clever children, now we really can have a proper Christmas with a tree and

enough food for a small feast as well.”

Just then the door opened and snow blew in behind a tall bearded fellow.

“Pappa, you made it home.” Amanda ran to the door oblivious of the cold.

The man swept her up in a bear hug. “I’ve been walking all afternoon, what with

the trains being what they are, but wild monsters couldn’t have kept me away.”

Adam tugged on his father’s checkered wool sleeve. “Mandy and me found a tree,”

he grinned at his sister, “but it needs decorations. Can you make some?”

The man tilted his head and looked at the tree. “I’m not sure, we can try.”

Marie patted Adam’s head. “Go look for some coloured paper in the kindling

barrel. Amanda you get my scissors.”

After an hour making paper ornaments and daisy chains to drape around the

tree, Marie stood up and stretched. “That’s all for today, off to bed.”

“I’m not finished. I want to put more snowflakes on it.” Amanda scrunched up her

nose.

“An’ it needs some sparkles,” Adam said.

“Well that will give you something to do tomorrow, won’t it?” Marie crossed her

arms.

The children nodded and trudged up the stairs.

Marie and Philip watched them go. When the door at the top of the stairs finally

closed, she collapsed against him. He wrapped his arms around her.

“What do we have that sparkles?”

“Family.” Philip hugged her tight, then pulled a few small parcels from his coat

and tucked them under the tree.

“Our love might make the day brighter but rarely can it be seen.” Marie sighed.

“We’ll work something out, but not tonight.”

After Marie and Philip turned off the light, the Christmas spider peeked out from

the branch she hid on. Delicate paper snowflakes hung like lace from all the pine

boughs. Mrs. Spider climbed to the top of the tree then dropped down leaving silver

silk behind her as she admired all the hard work the children had put into decorating

the tree. Over and over she climbed up and spun down to make sure she didn’t miss

anything. Then she swung from one snowflake to the next. The tree was so beautiful she

didn’t want to stop, but she was tired. Eventually Mrs. Spider crawled to the center of

the trunk and settled down for a nap.

The next morning, the sun rose bright and shone through the windows. All the

silver spider webs glowed in the dazzling light.

The children trotted down the stairs. “Mummy! Pappa! You did it! It’s wonderful!”

they squealed.

Marie rubbed her sleep bleary eyes and looked at Philip. “Did you...”

“No.” He lifted one of the gossamer strands. “It looks like silk.”

Adam dashed to the tree and peered at the spun silver. “It was my pet! The

Christmas Spider!”

Marie gathered the children into her arms. “Such a grand gift deserves

something in return. How can we say thank you to our Christmas helper?”

Adam hopped in place as he shouted. “Ach Tannenbaum…. Ach Tannenbaum...”

Amanda took up the melody and sang over the top of him in a clash of gleeful

noise. “O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree, Your branches green...”

Mrs. Spider was too tired to move but she smiled. Her adopted family was happy

and that was all that mattered.

© Cheryl Baker 2018bakedglasscreations.com