Guiding Stars

 

Photo by:Casey Horner (@mischievous_penguins) | Unsplash Photo Community

John opened the door and called outside. ”Any luck yet?”

7 year old Nicholas stood on the deck wearing his winter jacket, boots, glove and a hat that appeared about 4 sizes too large for him. Without ending his surveillance of the evening sky he gave a response. “Not yet.” He turned his head slowly to the left, tilting it at what seemed like an uncomfortable angle before reversing the process.  

His father gently closed the door.

“How long are you going to leave him out there?” asked Murray, his longtime friend.

“He needs to spot the first star of the evening. It’s a family tradition that goes back a long way. My Babusya held the line on this. She insisted her Ukrainian ancestors followed this religiously. I want to uphold her memory and pass along some traditions from the homeland. ”

“Oh I get that, but it seems cruel to send a kid out looking for the first star of Christmas Eve on a cloudy night.” Murray took a sip of his drink. 

“There is a clause in the tradition that allows me to declare it’s time. He has to give it a good effort.”

“Nicholas burst through the door. “It’s time!” he yelled as he removed his coat and boots before rushing to the tree.

“Building anticipation?” smiled Murray.

“Building a life.”