The Ornament

The Ornament

Christmas has always been a special holiday for the Smith family. It was was a day filled with gifts and desserts for the whole family. The father, Bruce, would spend hours decorating the outside of the house while the mother, Sherry, would shop for presents for everyone. But, the most decorative and expensive holiday item was their Christmas tree. Bruce, Sherry, and their daughter, Emily, would spend the whole day after Thanksgiving decorating this tree. The tree was always over sized with over sized decorations. It could barely fit in the living room. This tree was the centerpiece of all decorations. It was the symbol of Christmas for the Smith family. Family members and friends would visit from all over the state just to get a glimpse of this beautiful tree. It was only decorated with the shiniest, most expensive ornaments anyone could find.
I had a lot of pressure to be a Christmas tree ornament for the Smith family. I’ve been an ornament for this family for generations. But, I’ve never seen a generation be so passionate about a tree before. So, I always tried my best to be the shiniest and most glamorous decoration there was. I am the classic star ornament. From every angle I sparkle. From every side I shine. I was a Smith family favorite. I always felt like I belonged when they hung me on a branch. I felt flawless.
One Christmas Eve, Bruce and Sherry’s toddler daughter, Emily, was crawling by the tree. I kept feeling myself slide down the branch. So, I looked down to discover Emily shaking all the pines and branches. I felt myself sliding forward more every second until I completely fell forward. I landed straight onto the floor and shattered. The last thing I heard was Emily’s cry.
I was stuck in the attic like every other non presentable ornament. After the accident, Bruce tried several times to glue me back together. But, I never looked like I use to, I still had cracks and imperfections. It was like a scar that would never fade or a bruise that would never heal. Little did I know that I would be stuck in this dusty box for over two decades.
One morning, twenty years later, Emily was cleaning out the attic when she discovered my box. When she picked me up, I was so excited that I couldn’t contain my happiness. I felt her fingers slide over my imperfections and I remembered why I was put in that box the first place. She carried me with her when she went to ask Sherry why I wasn’t hung on the tree this year. Sherry explained the accident that happened years ago and that since then I was useless. But, she also explained how I’ve been a family ornament for generations. Sherry said I was the very first ornament anyone in the Smith family ever owned. Since then, I’ve been apart of the Smith’s family Christmas tree. I was almost like a tradition for this family. Emily realized that the sentimental value out weighted my imperfections. It’s not how the ornament looks but the meaning behind it that matters. I represent family and when you think about it, that is the true meaning behind Christmas.