It was early Christmas Eve. Twelve-year-old best friends, Stewart and Martin were standing outside Stewart’s house when something began to happen.

“Look over there. Do you see them?” asked Stewart.

“See what?” asked Martin.

“Right over there on the neighbor’s lawn.”

“I’m looking, but I don’t see nothing.”

“Oh, look at them dancing! There must be six or seven of them.”

“What? There’s nothing there.”

“Yes, there are. They look like fairies and they’re dancing.”

Martin looks at Stewart. “You’re crazy, you know that? You either gotta get your eyes checked or your brain checked.”

“You got to be kidding me if you don’t see them. Oh, look now. Looks like there’s a girl, no I think it’s woman and she’s got wings and a big smile and oh, she’s joining the fairies and they’re holding hands and they’re in a circle and they’re all dancing now.”

“You are nuts. I think I gotta go now. Mom wants me home to do my homework or something. I’ll see you around ...”

“Hey, you know what an angel looks like, right?”

“I’ve seen pictures if that’s what you mean.”

“Tell me.”

“I don’t know. I guess they got wings and they fly around.”

“Where do they come from?”

“They come from heaven.”

“You ever seen heaven?”

“No, nobody sees heaven til you die.”

“Well, how does that work? If you’re dead, you can’t see nuthin. I mean you’re dead!”

“I don’t know. God lives there and that’s where good people go after they die and they come alive again.”

“God? What’s he supposed to look like?”

“I don’t know. I guess he’s this man in the sky that makes everybody get born. Nobody sees God til you die.”

“So let me get this straight. There’s a man in the sky who makes everybody get born and that means he made you and me. I thought our mom and dad ...”

“Listen. I don’t know, but I do know there’s no fairies or angels dancing on that lawn.”

“But you just said that angels have wings and you’ve seen pictures and some guy in the sky from heaven that you can’t see makes people, but you gotta be dead to see him, but now you’re telling me there can’t be fairies or angels over there? Oh, look now! They are still dancing and I can hear them singing, too.”

“They’re singing? C’mon!” said Martin.

“Yes! Don’t you hear them! I know the words. I’m gonna join in.”

“Do you see what I see? Said the night wind to the little lamb. Do you see what I see? Way up in the sky, little lamb. A star, a star, dancing in the night with a tail as big as a kite.”

“Now I know you are nuts!” said Martin.

“You know the song the angels and the fairies are singing?” Stewart asked.

“It’s some kind of Christmas song,” said Martin. “I think I know the words. My sister’s in the choir and she sings it all the time.”

“Then sing with me.”

“What do you mean?”

“I’ll start with them and you just come in.”

“Said the little lamb to the shepherd boy.” Martin now sings. “Do you hear what I hear? Ringing through the sky, shepherd boy. Do you hear what I hear? A song, a song high above the trees with a voice as big as the sea.”

“You see what I mean?” said Stewart.

“I don’t see nuthin’,” said Martin.

“Then look over there again and sing with me.”

“Said the shepherd boy to the mighty king. Do you know what I know? In your palace warm, mighty king. Do you know what I know? A child, a child shivers in the cold. Let us bring him silver and gold.”

“I think I do see something now!” said Martin. “Yes! Under that tree! You see it?”

“Yes, I do. I do!” said Stewart.

“And now I can hear the fairies and the angel singing,” said Martin, “and there’s a man there with a crown on his head.”

Martin starts to sing and Stewart joins in.

“Said the king to the people everywhere. Do you know what I know? A child, a child sleeping in the night. He will bring us goodness and light.”

Later that night, Martin’s parents asked him what he and Stewart did earlier that evening.

“Oh, nothing much. We watched fairies dance on his neighbor’s lawn and then an angel and a king showed up to visit this little baby.”

“Wow,” said Mom. “That’s some imagination you two have. Well, it’s Christmas Eve so you’d better get to sleep. Big day tomorrow!”

Before he went to bed, Martin heard a gust of wind slap against his window. He looked out and saw a star dancing in the night and far off in the distance, he heard a voice as big as the sea come over the trees. He listened again and from far far way, but sounding so very close, he could hear the angels singing these words.

“Pray for peace people everywhere. A child, a child sleeping in the night. He will bring us goodness and light!”

May you find the peace and joy of Christmas in your heart and help spread love and kindness to everyone throughout the new year.

Merry Christmas everyone and happy holidays!

Rich Strack can be reached at richiesadie11@gmail.com