Deep Ties

  Dreamstime stock photo December begins with a tug of the heart, my favourite month especially since it happens to be my birthday month as well. Not for nothing do we call ourselves Sagittarius, (I recently discovered that the word ‘Sagittarian’ does not really exist.) However, it is like the word ‘awry’, which for years, many of us mispronounced till we realised that it was ‘a-wry’ and not ‘awwry’!   Awful, really! I haven’t lived that down yet. Montages flit by on the television of Christmas being celebrated around the world – green pine trees, shining stars and angels on top, stockings hung, glittering gifts galore, holly, mistletoe and tinsel – and just the hope that Santa will come down one’s chimney!  Pixabay Delicious Xmas feasts and the sound of fun and laughter as families gather to spend the festive season together! The sound of carols being sung, the story of Joseph and Mary and their miracle baby, Jesus, who was born in a manger add on to the aura of Christ...

       Pixabay The little match girl looked wistfully at the beautifully decorated window of the departmental store, was bathed in light. “Oh, it looks like Paradise!” she breathed, as she blew on her frozen hands. The willowy mannequins stood in gowns that would have cost a fortune. The little girl stared, entranced, at a smaller mannequin clad in a dress covered with silver and red flowers, along with a tiara. “Shoo, girl, move from that window! You will keep away our customers!” The loud voice startled her. It belonged to an overweight gentleman in the business of opening the store door to opulent clients. The girl cast one last, longing glance at the dress. She melted away in the darkness. Her tattered bag held a few more match boxes which she had to sell to make enough money to buy a sparse meal. “Matches for you, Sir, Ma’am?” she quavered as a couple sauntered by, They gave her a disdainful glance. The lady moved away, gathering her gown around her. The girl si...