"Container for Trimingham's is here!'' shouted one of the dockmen. "Put it on truck ML03E!'' shouted back another. Inside the container were Christmas ornaments, it was that time of year. (The week before Christmas.) This load was a late shipment because there had been a slight delay at the other end.

As someone picked up a box from the container they tripped clumsily and dropped the box. "Oh, oh!'' cried the poor Christmas Angel. "I think I've chipped my wing!'' she moaned. "Hey Jon, be a little more careful,'' cried someone obviously of some authority. "Sorry Sir, I won't do it again,'' mumbled Jon. "Good, now give the box to Miss Trott to unpack, and then get the rest of the boxes.'' he told Jon.

"Hey Miss Trott! Um-um this Angel her' has a chip in `de win, see?'' said one of the workers at Trimingham's. "Um okay, just put it on display with `de others.'' Miss Trott replied, although she hadn't really heard what the assistant had said. "Okay, whatever you want.'' She said, not really understanding. After she stamped the price tag on the bottom of the Angel, she placed it on the shelf behind a tin soldier.

Later that night the beautiful Angel tried to make friends with the other ornaments, but nobody would talk to her. "Go away, we don't want to talk to a chipped Angel like you.'' they said rudely. So the poor Angel sat down and cried herself to sleep.

The next few days were very busy for the little Angel who was not used to all the excitement. A lot of people did look at the golden, glittered Angel, but turned their heads in disgust at the chipped wing. Soon it was just the Angel and a few other rejected ornaments sitting on the shelf. The Angel tried again to lighten the air by making a few jokes, but nobody laughed, so she soon gave up. Sitting in the corner, full of despair, she dreamt about how her great ancestor Gabriel brought Baby Jesus into the world. "I wish I could bring peace and happiness to someone.'' thought the poor Angel.

The next morning (the day before Christmas) an old lady, with a thousand wrinkles piled on her face, walked in. She was dressed in a black, ragged dress and had a look of sadness in her grey eyes. She was looking for a Christmas ornament, a cheap one because she had only two dollars left in her purse. As soon as she saw the Angel she knew that was the one she wanted. So she picked up the excited Angel (this was the nearest she had ever come to being purchased) but as soon as the lady saw the price tag, her face fell, it was three dollars. "Three dollars! I can't afford that!'' Her expression changed when she saw the chip in the wing, "Aha! maybe I can get a dollar taken off this,'' she thought to herself. "Let me go and have a chat with the lady at the counter,'' and with this thought, she took the Angel down and walked over to the saleswoman.

"Excuse me Ma'am, but this Angel has a chip in the wing, and I was wondering whether I could buy it for one dollar less?'' she said, a little unsure of herself. "Umm..., I see, I'll sell it for two dollars.'' "Thank you Ma'am, you don't know how much this means to me!'' "You are welcome, would you like a box or just a bag?'' asked the sales clerk. "Neither, thank you, I'll just put it in my own bag.'' As she put the Angel in her bag, she could have sworn that the ornament winked at her, but was sure she was just dreaming. After what seemed like an endless time the excited Angel was taken out of the bag and put on a creaky table. As she looked around the one room apartment, all she saw was one window, a small oven, one table (that she was on), a chair and a small cot in one corner.

Also, something else caught her attention, and this was a picture of a beautiful girl in a swing, being pushed. There was a smile on her dainty little face. Then, all of a sudden, as if the Angel was alive, the old lady began to talk. "That's my daughter, Louise. She was all I had until she married. I got jealous and tried to break up the marriage, but instead, I lost my daughter. I don't even know what parish she lives in, or even if she has any children.'' Then the old lady began to cry. "I'm so lonely, that I'm talking to a china Angel.'' She wept, as she crawled over to her cot and said her prayer, as she drifted off to sleep.

That night the Angel waited for Santa. He finally arrived. "Oh Santa!'' she called, because as you know, all Christmas ornaments can come alive in front of Him. Then, she told Him the sad story of the old lady. "Alright, I'll see what I can do.'' He whispered, as He walked out.

Santa returned to His Sleigh, and started His search. He went to Smith's first, but was unsuccessful. He then proceeded on course to Devonshire, and as he looked down, He saw Lindo's. "Too bad it isn't open at night!'' said Santa, as His stomach growled. He had no luck in Devonshire, and tried Hamilton, where His luck changed. She had obviously married a good man, as they were living in a two story house on a respectable road. He entered the house and went to her room, where He spoke to her gently.

"Go to your Mother, she is lonely and depressed without you. Tell her you forgive her and invite her for Christmas Dinner,'' and with that He walked out.

In the morning the old lady awoke to a knock on the door which surprised her as nobody paid attention to people like her. "Who is it?'' she called out.

She heard someone clear their voice a little shakily, and call out, "It's me... Muma.'' The old lady opened the door and held the beautiful woman in her arms. "Oh, I thought you would never come back!'' wept the overjoyed Mother.

I'm sorry Muma, I forgive you, and will you please come and join us for Christmas Day, and many more occasions?'' she asked her mother.

"Certainly, but just let me get something.'' She ran inside quickly, and picked the grinning Angel off the table. She never quite understood the whole thing, but you and I do, don't we?