It was almost five o’clock on Christmas Eve.   Nick checked his watch because he would close his Christmas Tree lot at five sharp.  He glanced up at the string of Christmas lights bobbing in the wind looking for the Wee One.  She was always there at this time, on this special night.  The tree he had saved for her, sat in the corner.  Nick smiled as he saw her glimmer in the space where a bulb had blown out.  He doffed his red hat, gave her a wink, turned out the lights and disappeared into the snowy night.

The Wee One quickly fluttered down to the awkward looking tree.  In a twinkle the tree and the faerie  disappeared.  The tree was almost twelve feet tall but only the top six feet sprouted branches of forest green   The rest of the tree was brown sprigs and bare trunk.  “My, my you really are a pretty tree.  In a twinkle you will be our Special Tree,” she chirped.

The Wee One sprinkled faerie dust over the tree and waited for the magic to begin.  The tree suddenly shifted and shook.  The top six feet of the tree separated from the barren trunk. The Wee One giggled at the sight.  She perched on top of the tree and both disappeared with a *poof.

The moon and stars shone brightly on this special night.  Fluffy snowflakes covered the scrawny bushes outside the Women’s Shelter.  The Wee One waited outside, for the last child to be taken upstairs to bed.   She was so excited that the wait seemed like hours.  Finally the last of the children were taken upstairs to be tucked into their beds.

“Oh, I must be quick.  The mothers will be back downstairs soon,” she said excitedly.  In the blink of an eye the tree sat in the corner of the small playroom.

The Wee One, sprinkled the tree with faerie dust, she took from her pouch.  It swirled and danced on every bough as the magic took place.   She clapped her hands and giggled when she saw the results.  Tiny white lights twinkled  in the branches like fireflies.  Red velvet bows, silver colored nuts, golden leaves and a host of white doves appeared on the tree.  Atop the special tree a twinkling star shone.  Its glow bathed the room with warmth and hope.

“Merry Christmas little ones, Merry Christmas,”  she whispered.