Maisy would find a gift for herself, with a little card. It said 'merry christmas, I'm sorry this is late.' Beneath it was a box, and inside, she would find a tiny toy piano, the chimed with musical notes when she touched the wooden keys. Flowers were carved to decorate the wood. Next to it was a handful of bows and ribbons with lowers like the one she wore, though in different colors, a few looking festive. Tucked safely in the corner was the last gift-- 1/2
A soft gasp came from Maisy as she woke up to even more presents! After reading the note, she pulled the box from the piano. Immediately testing it, she played out the first few notes of ‘Fur Elise’. Oh, how it had been so long since she heard the sweet sounds of an instrument. She would have to write Arthur a beautiful melody as thanks.
Next were the bows, which she happily tried each and every one on, rushing back and forth to the bathroom to admire herself in the decrepit mirror. Keeping on the one that matched her beautiful dress, she returned. That’s when it caught her eye...
Donald, looking brand new. His colors were not faded, and his fluffy ‘feathers’ were no longer dirtied and damp. He looked as if he had been picked brand new from the store, but she knew from that look in his eyes that he was really her faithful companion for all these years. She gathered him up, spinning him around. “Oh, Donald! You look beautiful!”
Skipping back to the piano, she settled down to play, putting Donald in her lap and setting Bearnard against her side. Out came ‘Jingle Bells’, fingers hitting the notes with ease even after all these years. It was the first Christmas in over sixty years that Maisy felt... alive.
“Dash~ing through the snow... ♫”
















