The Evergreen Tree
Neena waited impatiently till her father came home for Christmas. Since he worked in a place far away, he could only come home a couple of times a month for short stays. The Christmas vacation was the longest and the best. That feeling of Christmas only started after he came home and they went and bought a tree, and then decorated it with tinsel and lights.
This year Neena’s father was very busy, so he couldn’t come home a week or two before Christmas like he always did. But he managed to get home just the day before Christmas. After he had a wash and a cup of tea, Neena kept on reminding him about the tree. “Neena let him rest a little. After lunch you can go with him and buy a tree!” her mother said sternly. So it was only in the evening after he had lunch and a short nap that she finally got to go in search of a tree.
They always bought an evergreen tree from the makeshift tree stalls at the junction. But when they got there, the place was empty and there was only one vendor tying up some rope and getting ready to leave. There were small pieces of branches scattered here and there. “Ah sir!” he said with a smile after recognizing Neena’s father. “Where are all the other tree sellers?” her father asked him. “Business was good this time. I just sold the last tree a little while ago!” he said beaming happily. Neena frowned and looked at her father. “Now from where do we get a tree?” she asked him. “This year you are a little too late!” said the tree seller looking at Neena and then her father. “Maybe if you hurry to the town, you might be able to get one!” So Neena’s father thanked him and quickly drove towards the town.
When they went to the place where the trees were sold, there was no one to be seen. Just pieces of rope and branches on the ground, just like before. Neena’s father asked a nearby shopkeeper where the trees were. “They were all sold by the afternoon sir!” he replied. They drove back home in silence. Neena looked through the shutter at the shops by the side of the road. Almost every shop had a decorated Christmas tree displayed right at their entrance. She didn’t even want to think how empty she would feel without a Christmas tree. She tried hard to hold back the tears. “This is a time for happiness and joy…but how can I be happy without a Christmas tree?” she thought sadly.
When they got home, she sat in a corner and sulked. “Neena you must learn to count your blessings and not worry too much about small things!” her mother said. “This is not a small thing for me,” Neena said sadly. Just then the phone rang. “Neena, it’s your Seeya and he wants to talk to you!” her mother shouted. “Not now! Tell him I’ll talk to him later,” Neena said pouting. She heard her mother telling him that she was in a bad mood because she had no Christmas tree this time.
A few hours later Neena saw her grandfather’s van reversing into their garden. He got off the van and smiled. “Come and see what I’ve got for you!” he said. When she went near, he opened the back. In a pot was an evergreen tree, not much taller than her. “Oh!” she said, “It’s quite small but I guess it will do!” Her grandfather laughed and carried it into the house with her father. She walked around and observed the tree. Although it was much smaller than all the other trees they’ve had before, it was greener and livelier than any other tree she could remember. It even had a perfect shape. She finally smiled thinking how easy decorating it would be. Why, even she could place the star right at the top.
Neena come and sit near me,” her grandfather called. She went and cuddled up to him. “Are you happy now?” he asked her. “Yes Seeya.” Pulling out the big cardboard box full of decorations and decorating the tree is the best part of Christmas!” she said smiling.
“Then what happens after Christmas?” he asked her. “That’s the sad part. We remove all the decorations and store the box till the next Christmas,” Neena said frowning. “And what happens to the tree, Neena?” “We put it out for the garbage truck to collect it. Seeya, I feel so sad when I see dried up, brownish trees left outside along the street for the garbage truck,” Neena said. “Well, that’s the best part about your tree. This time you don’t have to throw it!” “Why not Seeya?” “Because it’s planted in that pot, it won’t turn brown and dry up. So you can keep on re-using it!” he said petting her.
“Oh!” said Neena sounding very happy. “But what are we going to do when it grows very big, bigger than the evergreen trees we usually buy?” “Then you can plant it outside!” he replied with a chuckle. “Then can I still decorate it during Christmas?” “I am sure you’ll think of a creative way of doing that!” he said nodding.
Neena felt very happy. This time she wouldn’t be throwing her Christmas tree away but would have it throughout the year in their garden. “Think about how you are helping the environment in your own special way and your father’s money and the tree both won’t go to waste.” “Oh Seeya, you are so wise! I now have an evergreen tree that will be green forever,” she said and gave him a big hug. “This is the best Christmas ever!”