On a hill overlooking the South Shore in Warwick lived the Stevens family -- Hannah, Albert and their two sons.

Hannah loved her active little boys, but longed to have a daughter for whom she could make pretty dresses and buy dolls. Five years had passed since the birth of her last child and it seemed as if she could not conceive again.

During the spring, when she had almost given up hope, a routine visit to the doctor brought her dream to life. At last she was pregnant.

"Yes, Mrs. Stevens you can expect the baby sometime around Christmas. "And who knows. Maybe Santa Claus will bring that daughter you've always wanted.'' He laughed but Hannah prayed the first of many silent prayers for the daughter she longed for.

The Stevens household eagerly awaited Christmas as it came alive with preparation for the baby while the oleanders reached full bloom then faded and the longtails nested then flew out to sea from the rocks below their house.

Then the boys were back in school after frolicking away the summer in the sea.

It was October but for Hannah as for all housewives, Christmas was rapidly approaching. She cleaned the windows, bought new curtains; waxed the floors, bought new mats; and turned the house inside out while cajoling Albert to get started on painting the walls and not leave it till late as he always did.

That year Albert never finished painting the walls. On Christmas Eve, Hannah was admitted to the hospital.

At two o'clock in the morning, Christmas day came to be more special for them.

Hannah's prayers were answered. She gave birth to a bouncing baby girl and they named her Holly.

Holly grew into a bright, lively, fun-loving youngster; very affectionate and helpful around the house. She especially loved to help her mother bake the cakes, pies and puddings for the Christmas festivities and Hannah always made a sample fruit cake just for Holly.

There were times when she was naughty. Then her mother would say, chidingly, "Holly, God sent you to me on the same day that we celebrate Jesus' birthday.

He is good, loving and kind and I want you to grow up to be the same.'' A bright, active child she exceeded in her studies and with little difficulty passed through secondary school, then on to the Sixth Form Centre and soon with the teachers' encouragement she was ready for college.

"Mom. Dad. I would like to go abroad to study Marine Biology, can you afford to send me?'', she asked at the supper table.

"Of course we can,'' they replied in unison. "We realise you need a good education and will help you in every way we can.'' The after-supper conversation was taken up with the big decision as to which university Holly would attend. She was keen on the idea of studying on the west coast of the united States, however Albert and Hannah wanted her closer to home. Finally, they relented and Holly went to the University of Southern California.

Her first letter home described her flight over, the campus, her classrooms, her roommate and listed by name all the other Bermudians who were there. The long letter eased Hannah's mind because she realised Holly was happy in her new surroundings and was more than willing to share these experiences with the folks at home.

She did not come home on all vacations but each Christmas she would arrive a few days ahead, helping as much as she could with the last m inute preparations and on Christmas Eve she would eat her sample fruit cake.

"Mother, no matter where my destiny leads me, I will always come home for your good fruit cake,'' she proclaimed. Hannah laughed indulgently as she did each time her child made such pronouncements.

In her final year at college, Holly returned home for the summer vacation with a young man who she had been dating. She brought him to meet her parents and to share in the sport of sailing which they had both come to love while in school. That summer was a sailor's delight. The tall ships were in port and the harbour was strewn with yachts that had finished the Newport-Bermuda race.

A couple they knew from school, who were part of the crew on the "Sylvia II'', coaxed Holly and her friend to sign on as part of the new crew for a cruise through the Caribbean islands. Hannah and Albert accepted this idea rather reluctantly, but did not voice any objections to Holly.

"After all,'' Hannah rationalised to her husband, "Holly is a level-headed young woman and her friend seems to be trustworthy. Besides today such actions are accepted. I guess it will be alright.'' "I guess so,'' Albert replied as he turned out the bedside lamp and lay staring into the darkness.

The day the "Sylvia II'' set sail dawned bright and clear, and the whole family and a few friends went to St. George's to see them off. As she waved goodbye, Hannah said a silent prayer for god to protect her child and her companions.

A week after they sailed, the Stevens heard on the evening television news that a large freighter, on its way to Bermuda, had received an S.O.S. from the "Sylvia II''.

"Hello. Hello. This is Albert Stevens. I just heard on your news about the `Sylvia II'. My daughter Holly's on that boat. Do you have any more information?'' They could not help him but advised him to call Harbour Radio. Again, there was no more information from them nor on later newscasts.

After a sleepless night, they turned on the radio for the early morning newscast.

"In the headlines today is the missing yacht `Sylvia II'. Harbour Radio informed us a freighter responded to the S.O.S. but has not yet located the `Sylvia II'. Harbour Radio has requested the United States Navy to assist in the search for the yacht. Bermudian Holly Stevens from Warwick Parish is one of the crew. We will update our listeners as further developments unfold.'' Planes left Bermuda to help in the search and other ships were alerted; but to no avail.

Hannah's phone had not stopped ringing since that fateful evening newscast.

Family and friends called to express their concern and to console her, but none of the calls brought the news she wanted to hear.

The `Sylvia II' seemed to have completely vanished. Eventually the search was discontinued. That day the newspaper headline proclaimed "The Bermuda Triangle claims more victims''.

The Stevens family suffered and mourned her disappearance but silently hoped for her return.

Often Hannah would be seen standing alone on the hillside, staring out to sea.

Longtail eats cake She seldom spoke to anyone and when she did speak, even to her next door neighbour Mrs. Rolle, she always said the same words. "I hope a ship rescued Holly and her friends and one day I will get a phone call from her assuring me she is safe and sound.'' Mrs. Rolle would just shake her head sorrowfully. The vigil continued and Christmas was upon them again. Holly's birthday. She would be twenty-two.

On Christmas Eve Hannah half-heartedly baked her cakes, puddings and pies. For the first time since Holly was born, she decided to make a fruit cake with icing as a very special cake for Holly. When she had finished, she stood at her kitchen door idly watching the birds that had come to roost in the Pride-of-India tree. She went into the kitchen to fetch some bread and listlessly tossed it on the ground for them.

Suddenly this beautiful longtail soared gracefully along the shoreline and came to rest on the rocks at the edge of the hillside. "My, aren't you an unusual sight. A longtail in December.'' She eyed it curiously while continuing to feed the other birds, expecting the out of season visitor to join in with them. But it remained aloof on its perch.

The chatter of the sparrows competing for the crumbs did not distract her. Her whole being was focused on the longtail.

Then, as if guided by an unknown force, she returned to the kitchen and cut off a piece of the decorated fruit cake. In the yard she crumbled it and let it fall to the ground. She was not startled by the sudden swoop of the bird as it landed at her feet and began to pick at the little pieces of cake.

Occasionally it looked up at her, as if with a smile.

The sight of the bird conjured up loving thoughts of Holly and she whispered, "You are so beautiful. A free spirit just like Holly.'' A feeling of contentment came over her and the pain of her loss was eased.

"Hey, look! A longtail in December!'' cried out Mr. Rolle from the fence.

Then the bird dipped its head, opened its wings and took off in flight and was gone by the time Mrs. Rolle came out of her house.

Wiping her eyes, Hannah said, "Yes, John. She will come every Christmas Eve to eat my fruit cake. Holly always said no matter where her destiny led her she would always come back for my good fruit cake.'' "Poor dear,'' Mrs. Rolle whispered when Hannah turned to go. "She's becoming melancholy.'' "You sure about that?'' Mr. Rolle bellowed.

"Shush. She'll hear you.'' "Well,'' he whispered, "strange things do happen when the Bermuda Triangle claims a victim. And you know Holly loved fruit cake!'' "John Rolle. You going weak in the head?'' And every Christmas Eve since then, John Rolle watched as the beautiful longtail ate the Christmas cake Hannah made especially for Holly.

CHRISTMAS SHORT STORY CONTEST CPN