The Secret of Tradition Amelia looked at the glittering tiara she held in her hands. This would be the fourteenth year she had the honors of placing it on her head for Christmas Eve. She remembered Mrs. Hurst, John’s mother, presenting it to her for the first Christmas Amelia spent as a member of their family. Mrs. Hurst had explained that it was tradition to pass the tiara to the new bride of the oldest son in this fashion on Christmas Eve, and had smiled gently at Amelia as she placed it on the head of her daughter-in-law. “Someday child, I hope to see you blessed enough to place this on the head of another.†Amelia listened, as in the distance, she could hear Johnny play with his dog, Sampson, and briefly imagined what color hair she would be placing the tiara on. She took one more loving look at the family crown in her hands. When she first received it, Amelia had thought it lovely, but somewhat plain for a tiara. Now she wondered how she ever thought it plain. It sparkled and shined with a brilliance she had rarely seen in anything else. There seemed to be a fire within the jewels that caught and played with the light from the candles in the room. Amelia placed it carefully on her dark hair and took one last look in the mirror to assure it was straight, then stood to start downstairs to greet her guests. ____________________________ John Hurst stood back to admire the work he and his children had done on the Christmas tree. He reached out to adjust a ball here and place more tinsel there, but for the most part, the tree was finished. Finished but for the most important piece. His gaze wandered up to the top of the tree. The only part still barren, but that waited only for Amelia to finish dressing and come downstairs. Johnny had already moved on to playing with Sampson, but Emily, his daughter, waited patiently on a stool, carefully holding the box containing the last piece. “Can we take her out to look at her Papa?†Emily asked when she saw her father looking in her direction. “She’s been in her box so long and wants to see the family again.†John knew the excitement his daughter felt waiting to see the porcelain angel for the top of the tree. He understood why she, more then his son, had such an interest. Just like the tiara was his family tradition, the angel was the tradition of Amelia’s family. She was given to Amelia for her daughter Emily's first Christmas, and would be given to Emily at Christmas, the first year she presented her mother with a grand-daughter. John smiled at his daughter, a smile that was an odd mix of extreme happiness and a twinge of sadness. He loved his children deeply, but the idea of Emily someday having her own children made his heart briefly ache. “I can’t put her on the tree till Mama comes down. But I do think it’s time to let the angel see her tree.†John carefully took the box from his daughter’s hands, and once relieved of her package, Emily jumped from the stool and clapped in delight. John laughed seeing her so excited, but she was still young yet, only twelve. He still had a few years before she had to act more ladylike and sedate. For now, he would just enjoy his child’s glee. John carefully lifted the delicate angel away from the box lined with soft tissue and held her up for Emily to look at. The porcelain seemed to glow and had a translucence that was so lifelike, even John had to keep himself from touching the angel to make sure she wasn’t alive. Emily stood enthralled, staring at the small angelic doll that seemed to smile back at her. And even though she would never tell Papa, he wouldn’t believe her if she did, Emily would have sworn the angel winked at her. It was at this moment that Amelia made her appearance on the stairs, and John looked away from his daughter and stared instead at his wife. She looked so beautiful, in her Christmas dress. The tiara his mother had given to her glittered brightly against Amelia’s soft, black hair. Amelia came down a few steps, then paused above her husband and daughter, as her son came running into the room with his dog, almost as if he had been called. This was the most special time of the tree trimming, and even a sturdy ten year old boy had an idea of it’s importance. A knock came at the front door before John could have a chance to put the angel on the tree though. Johnny ran to open it and found both sets of grandparents waiting at the step. “Oh you’re just in time! Father was about to put the angel on the tree.†Not knowing who to grab first, Johnny took the hands of both his grandfathers to hurry them into the main room. He was mindful of course, of the packages he knew contained presents for all of them. His grandmothers laughed and more quietly, followed the men in. Mrs. Hurst and Amelia’s mother, Mrs. Elliott looked at the family scene. Mrs. Hurst gave a glance toward the brilliant tiara in Amelia’s hair, and her smile deepened at the sparkle from the jewels. Meanwhile, Mrs. Elliott looked carefully at the angel John held, and like Emily, she also thought the angel winked and slyly winked back. Both women knew the secrets of their traditions and understood how well their children and grandchildren were truly blessed. _______________________ 956 words. A story, inspired by a dream, that in turn was inspired by a picture I am currently working on.