the full December moon silently hanging in the sky over the hospital where she lay.

Turning stiffly on her side she cupped her face in her hand and gazed at the sleeping child, born just a few hours ago.

"Did I look like that 17 years ago,'' she wondered "He's so tiny.'' The child stirred, with one hand she gently touched her son feeling his warm cheek, reassured by his breath on her fingers.

The spell was broken when the nurse entered the room; Aieisha was now wide-awake thoughts racing in her mind.

"How are you feeling?'' asked the nurse.

"Did Jahmal come to see me, did he call or leave a message?'' "Sorry Honey, but your Grandpa did, he was asking after you and wanted to know where Jahmal was, something about rent money.'' With a sinking heart she knew Jahmal was not coming, he was not taking Grandpa's rent money back to him, he was going back of town to buy drugs., Jahmal had dropped out of high school; he hustled and stole to get money. They got together when his parents threw him out for taking the family housekeeping and Aieisha realised now that all he had wanted her for was a place to stay and someone to help with stealing, she felt used.

With both her parents dead Aieisha's Grandpa was the only person who would take them in, he was old and confused, easy to get money from because the old man trusted them.

She thought that when Jahmal saw the child it would give them a purpose in life, he could get clean, find a job and they would be a family. She sobbed bitterly, the outline of her sleeping son blurred by her tears of despair.

Aieisha was tired after the walk from the hospital, her four day old son wrapped in his shawl was moving restlessly in her arms as she climbed up the familiar worn steps onto Grandpa's porch. All she wanted to do was get to her own room and think about what to do next.

Before she could get her key in the lock the door opened and the landlord stood there.

"Where's Grandpa'' exclaimed Aieisha anxiously "Why are you in our apartment?'' "He's in the Pembroke nursing home, went two days ago and it was your apartment, the rent hasn't been paid for five months and I re-let this morning.'' With a racing pulse she realised Jahmal had never taken the rent money to the landlord he had spent the money with no thought of what would happen.

"Sorry but I have no option, how could you pay rent?'' "Ok'' sighed Aieisha, holding her son closer to her, she turned and walked slowly down the damp steps into the gathering darkness.

Her Aunt Kathy's house came into view as she rounded the corner off Court Street; she heard snatches of T.V. and the sound of children from inside the house.

Aieisha had nowhere else to go; nervously she knocked on the door.

Kathy stood there framed by the lighted doorway with family sounds and the aroma of Christmas cooking spilling out on to the porch.

"Stay here, with us, you think I'm crazy,'' said Kathy harshly.

"You think I am going to have you in here with my kids around. We have no room for you and the only place is the studio apartment, I rent that and get a new tenant next week.'' "Auntie just for a few days, till I get sorted out.'' "You sorted, look at you Girl, babied up at 17, no bye, no job, go back to Grandpa.'' Before Aieisha could reply the door was shut in her face.

"Who was that Mom?'' "No one we know honey, eat your supper and get in your bed, you hear me, Santa won't come calling till you are asleep.'' "Know one we know.'' Aieisha turned away, she felt so alone.

"Look at your girl, babied up at 17, no bye...'' The other words rang in her ears.

Aieisha walked past places where she knew people, but no one that would take her in. By St. Paul's church the nativity scene came into view. There were the three kings with gifts, Mary, Joseph and an angel looking on, a light in the shape of a star shinning into the crib where Jesus lay.

Aieisha moved back the wrap slightly and her son's face was bathed in moonlight, reminding her of the day he was born. "No star, no kings with gifts or angels for us, how did we end up like this?'' she sighed, and started walking again.

The baby moved restlessly in her arms under the wrap, she was feeling swollen and must feed the baby soon, but where? The house at the end of the block was the only one without lights.

"Perhaps they are off the Island for Christmas,'' she thought.

Aieisha slipped round the side of the house in the shadows, she tried the window, it seemed secure but then with a soft cracking sound it started to move. Glancing quickly round to make sure no one had heard she lifted the window and quietly stepped inside.

"Hey! Who is there, what are you doing?'' the sound of a woman's voice made Aieisha jump. Spinning round with a startled gasp she came face to face with an old woman, with a shawl draped over rounded shoulder, learning heavily on a stick for support, her wrinkled hand shaking slightly.

"Well, what are you doing in my house?'' demanded the old lady in a faltering voice. Aieisha panicked, she grabbed the stick and wrenched it out of the old ladies hand causing her to lean against the wall for support. Waving the stick in front of the frightened lady she demanded.

"Where do you keep your cash, tell me now or I will hurt you?'' The frail lady gradually slid down the wall to the floor, unable to stand any longer.

Angrily Aieisha shouted again "Where do you keep your money?'' The old woman glanced towards the next room, throwing down the stick Aieisha turned and moved away to find the cash; she had only gone a few steps when she heard a voice.

"Aieisha, stop! I will give you all that you and your son need right now.'' The voice was strong and clear, but at the same time conveyed such gentleness, Aieisha startled, spun round to see the old lady standing and looking so calm, she gasped, "How do you know my name?'' "I know all the young people in the neighbourhood, but they are so busy they don't notice me, I'm Grace and have lived here all my life. Let me help you with your baby, you look so tired and that young man needs his supper.'' Her soft voice was so gentle that all Aieisha's anger and aggression seemed to fade away, in a quite but faltering voice she stammered.

"I don't understand, I was going to steal from you, why aren't you going to call the police?'' "There is no need for that child, come into my room, sit in my rocker and let me help you.'' Aieisha didn't know why she followed Grace but she did feel so tired, the old lady was so reassuring that she felt drawn almost against her will, but at the same time was completely at ease.

"Sit like this and hold him closer, that's it, feel at one with your son, just relax and enjoy feeding him.'' Rocking gently back and forth her son at her breast she felt for the first time in her life an overwhelming sense of inner peace and contentment.

That Christmas Eve night Aieisha lay in clean sheets with her sleeping son beside her, the old lady softly whispered a prayer and almost without hearing the words Aieisha drifted off into a deep sleep.

She awoke to see that Grace sat on the end of the bed cradling her son and humming softly to the child, sunlight from the window seemed to be causing their outline to shimmer, she blinked them back into focus.

Aieisha felt so peaceful, it was as if she had known Grace all her life and when she sat in the rocker again and fed her son she told the old lady her story and of how she felt so alone.

"I just knew that this was your moment of despair Aieisha, I want to reach out and show you another way.'' "I don't understand'' whispered Aieisha, "Why me, I'm a failure I'll never come to anything in my life and I was going to hurt you and steal from you?'' "Yes you were but you are so young, you can change your life, there is so much for you and your son to live for,'' said the old lady softly.

"Please take my hand and on this Christmas morning I will give you three very special gifts that will remain with you for ever.'' Aieisha reached out and gently took the wrinkled hand in hers, the moment she touched Grace she felt a warmth and trust that she had never felt before.

Their eyes met and in a quiet angelic voice Grace whispered the words that Aieisha would remember for the rest of her life.

"The first gift is compassion, have no more anger in you, be compassionate to others as I have been to you.'' "The second gift is faith, have faith in yourself, you can be whatever you want to be, I have faith in you.'' "The greatest gift of all is love, just as the love of your child will be unending, may you always have love in your heart.'' "I don't know what to say, you are so kind to us, cried Aieisha choking with emotion.

"Say nothing, stay here for a few days and get well rested, who knows that the New Year will bring,' smiled the old lady with a youthful twinkle in her eye.

The next day the phone rang.

"That was my nephew he is the manager at Market Place they have been let down by a new employee, it's a well paid job and I told him you were the most reliable young lady he could wish for, you start straight after the holiday.'' "But you don't know me, what about the baby,'' stammered Aieisha.

"I will take care of your baby, you can slip home and feed him, remember I have faith in you.'' On New Year's day the phone rang again, it was Kathy.

"Hey listen Aieisha, my tenant didn't take up the studio and I had a visit from your friend Grace. I misjudged you and didn't know you had a job and were clean, Grace said how well you are doing and deserve a chance, so come round and lets sort out some details.'' Aieisha's head was in a whirl as later that afternoon she headed back to the old ladies house, she was bubbling with excitement because her life had been transformed and she was desperate to thank Grace.

As she drew level with the house a middle-aged man in Salvation Army uniform was closing the front door.

"Oh!'' exclaimed Aieisha, "have you been to visit Grace?'' "No not exactly, more like sorting out her things for her.'' "I don't understand,'' said Aieisha puzzled.

"I will help her with her things, she has been so very kind to me.'' "Yes that's Grace she would always open her heart to others, give help to anyone, especially young people in trouble.'' "I was so sad she didn't see Christmas, she loved this time of year.'' "What do you mean, I spent Christmas with her,'' stammered Aieisha her heart racing.

"No surely you must be mistaken young lady, my good friend Grace passed away three weeks ago.'' Writer: Peter Davis SHORT STORY COMPETITION CPN