Silver linings.

The house was gleaming with Christmas smells and textures: cinnamon, cookie dough, shiny bells and a slightly dusty Christmas wreath hanging from the door.

The Christmas tree was in a corner close to the window, so the colorful lights were visible from outside.

-Look mom! I found the angel! – said Tammy as she lifted the ceramic angel above her head.

She was 8 years old and since she remembered, his father was in charge to put the angel on top of the tree, the angel was white and silver and had a star on his right hand.

This year though, his father was sitting gloomily on the armchair in front of the fireplace with an orange fat cat on his lap.

He had broken his leg a week ago while cleaning the icy porch.

-Give me the angel- Mom said, reaching out a hand while she balanced two chicken pot pies on the other.

Tammy always stayed with her father decorating while her mom ran errands, but this year, mom had to do most of the decoration besides running the errands and there was a little tension.

Mom put the angel carelessly on top of the tree.

-Come on Tammy, let´s go! You know everything is crowded on Christmas Eve and I still have to get some things. –

-Can I stay with dad? – said Tammy with hopeful eyes.

-No, I already decorated everything and you have to help me with all these- she said pointing to the table covered with blueberry pies and other sweet confections.

Tammy finished tying a golden lace bow on one of the red chocolate boxes.

Mom put some chocolate boxes on Tammy´s arms, grabbed her purse and kissed Dad on the forehead; who was looking at his broken leg.

-Bye honey! We´ll be back soon! –

-Sure- said Dad- I´ll be here… I´ll be sitting right here…- he sighted.

Mom and Tammy left and the bell on the door rang happily as they closed the door.

While this all happened, a small brown spherical ornament hanging from the bottom of the tree, tried to look up to see the angel on the top.

-Well, seems like dad is a little on the blue side today, right? -  said the ornament.

-You don´t say! -Said the angel from the top- He can very well stand up and all, I saw him grab some cookies on the top of the pantry!  But nope, he is just lying there as if he was dying or something. –

-It’s just a broken leg, I mean yes, it looks like it hurt but I saw him play with Tammy yesterday! – the ornament said with a giggle.

-I think the blues come and go- said the angel as he shrugged his shoulders.

-He seems fine to me, I mean, remember when the candy cane ornament fell last year? It went straight to the trash can! Gone! Forever! Now, that is sad. –

-I know! Poor Candy! – the angel put his hands together as in a prayer.

-And just look at him! Broken yes, but sipping on hot cocoa, near the fireplace and watching T.V.-

-Not a tragedy, if you ask me-

They both giggled cheerfully.

After sleeping for almost an hour, Dad woke up.

He took one of his crutches and made an attempt to stand up.

What he didn´t realize is that the cat was still sleeping on his lap, so when dad moved, the cat jumped randomly hitting the tree causing the angel to tumble and fall a few branches down.

-Are you ok?!- said the brown round ornament.

-Yes, I think so! But I am starting to slide! –

The brown ornament looked at Dad, who finally stood up.

He was incapable of noticing the interaction between the decorations so he just went in the kitchen jumping on one foot.

-Can you fall on the nativity at the bottom of the tree? There is hay and some other soft things! – said the ornament.

-I can´t see it from here! –said the angel with a shaky voice.

-When you feel like falling, just go for it, I´ll tell you where to aim! Try please! –

- I don´t know, I don´t think I can do it! – said the angel with tight closed eyes.

- Try please! -

-Okay, yes! – he opened his eyes.

The angel started to slide and fell from the branch, the ornament screamed trying to direct him but it didn´t work, he was going to fall right on the tile floor.

The ornament balanced herself and jumped; she bumped into the angel, who fell safely on the hay of the nativity, she on the other hand fell and crashed on the floor.

The angel closed his eyes and the star fell from his hand.

Dad heard the commotion and went to the living room, he got there at the same time Tammy opened the front door.

-No! The angel fell down! – Tammy cried.

She left a brown bag on the floor and ran to pick the angel from the hay.

-The cat must have hit it! - said Dad as he wiped some cookie crumbles from his face.

- Oh my gosh, it broke that ornament too- said Mom pointing at the glass pieces on the floor.

-Well, the angel is okay and that one, I think it was the spherical brown ornament, it was really old anyways- said dad.

Mom brought the broom.

-No, mom, wait! Look! It is silver inside! –

-What? The brown ornament? – Mom said putting the broom aside

Tammy kneeled next to the pieces.

- Be careful honey- said mom

-Look at the pieces, they look like glitter! -

-Why don´t we paste the pieces to the angel´s star? -said Dad, getting back a little of his Christmas spirit- Look, it fell off and is starting to look a little opaque-

-Yes!! I´ll bring the glue! - said Tammy as she ran away.

The round brown ornament was finally shining from her angel´s hand and was put on top of the tree; where she had never been.

There had been some memorable Christmas for her, but this one, was definitely on the top of her list.

The end.