Lucky

Everyone told little Joanna how lucky she was. They said it must be amazing to have a mother who was Santa's helper, and not just any helper but the Chief Creative Officer. What fun Joanna must have, they said, talking over ideas for toys for kids across the world!

Joanna was too polite to disagree with them. Besides, she thought that if everyone thought it, she must be lucky, even if she didn't think so herself. Only an insider would know that being the eight year old daughter of Santa's Chief Creative Officer wasn't exactly a bowl of cherries. Other mothers got holiday stress in December. Joanna's mother got holiday stress starting in May and going all through to New Year's Day, when she resolved not to be stressed any more. And Joanna's mother wasn't free of the other stresses all mothers have the year round - like making dentist appointments or making sure there was enough petrol in the car - or whatever. So the extra months of holiday stress meant extra stress, that's all.

Little Joanna tried to help as much as she could. She did all her homework without being told, she made her own bed, she brushed her own teeth. She did some of the dusting and put away the dishes after they had been washed. In December, when the stress was at its highest, she crept around the house on tip toe, and starting Dec. 22, she didn't even dare sneeze in her mother's presence.

Once, on Dec. 1, she heard her mother sigh, "Oh, look how heavily it's snowing."

"But snow is nice, Mamma," Joanna whispered.

"Yes, dear, I know it's nice, but look at this."

Joanna looked toward the dining table, following her mother's gesture. A pile of Christmas chocolates stood there, looking most inviting. But Joanna knew what it meant for her mother.

"You have to get these to quality control?" she asked.

"Yes, dear, and I don't know how I'm going to do it through this snow. The sleighs are all in maintenance, so I can't borrow one. And if these chocolates don't get the quality control certificate by Wednesday, we won't be able to wrap thousands of presents on time."

Joanna watched her mother sink into the sofa, her hands covering her eyes.

"I wish I could help you, Mamma," Joanna said.

And that was when the magic started. You see, all through December, saying "I wish" with a loving heart sets the magic off. If the wish is for someone else and is truly meant, it comes true.

Neither Joanna or her mother realised that a miracle had happened when it began, because the start of it was an urgent beep on Mamma's cell-phone.

"That must be Quality Control Headquarters, asking about these chocolates," she moaned, picking up the phone. She looked at the caller id and her eyes widened. "Hello? Hello? Yes, speaking."

Joanna watched as her mother's expression changed from worried, to surprised to delighted. "Yes, yes, I'll get her ready at once!"

Her mother disconnected the phone and ran to Joanna. She swooped her daughter up and swung her around in a way she hadn't done for years. Joanna laughed. Why was her mother suddenly so happy?

"Joanna, listen! Your Uncle Henry is taking a helicopter to the Big Mountain Peak, where there are some skiers stranded. Since no one is injured, it's not an emergency, and he has to fly over our house. He says there's room in the helicopter for a small girl."

"I get to go in a helicopter to the Big Mountain Peak?" Joanna gasped, her eyes shining. Why, that was a beautiful place and so unreachable that nobody ever thought of going there!

"Yes, and I'll pack these chocolates in a box and label them - you know what's half way up Big Mountain, don't you?"

"Quality Control Headquarters!" Joanna clapped her hands. "My goodness, I'll be air-dropping the chocolates! How funny!"

"Oh, this is such a relief. I feel so much better now," Mamma sighed.

"And I'm really lucky!" Joanna responded.