December 18: 1966

7 days until Christmas…

"Angels we have heard on high," the choir of white-robed angels with tinsel halos belted out. Half of them, anyway. The other half was busy stealing each other's bells or yanking their wings.

"Aren't they adorable?" a woman who strongly resembled a Barbie cooed.

Mrs. Evans nodded absentmindedly and waved to her daughters standing in the front row.

Petunia nodded politely and kept singing, "Gloooooooooooooooria… in excelsis deo."

Lily grinned and waved enthusiastically, the sleeves of her robe flapping madly.

"And that was the first and second grade class of South Cokeworth Elementary," the teacher announced brightly, prying apart two angels shredding each other's wings. "I know all our students and their teachers have worked very hard to prepare this recital, so I'd like to thank you all for coming here today. I hope you all have a very merry Christmas."

She herded the children back to their classes, where their parents were already waiting.

"Mummy, Daddy, did you see me?" Lily shrieked, jumping into her father's arms.

He swung her around with a laugh. "'Course I did, Lils. You're a hard one to miss."

Lily giggled as he affectionately ruffled her dark red hair, knocking her halo askew.

Petunia entered, looking dignified in her white blouse and black velvet skirt. "Lily forgot half the lyrics. I had to mouth them to her."

"Well, thank you, Tuney," Lily said mock politely.

"Where are your parents?" the teacher asked, touching a sallow-skinned boy on the shoulder.

He jumped in surprise and turned away from the Evans family to face her. "They, erm, couldn't come."

Her perfectly plucked eyebrows drew together. "Oh, that's too bad. I'm sure they missed your amazing performance."

He nodded, and then escaped to the door outside before she could realize he wasn't even in her class.

Looking back into the warm, cheery room, he could see Lily laughing and crumbling a cookie into a boy's hair. A balloon floated across the doorway, and when someone moved it away, she was gone.

Maybe it was just as well. It wasn't like he could fit into her world, with its bright lights and warm mugs of hot chocolate with marshmallows.

But he could still hope.

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Oh, and if you have any ideas for more Christmas oneshots, I'll be glad to hear them.