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It had been a good hour since they had brought the tree and ornaments into the living room, and it looked well packed by now. Although they had kept all the pieces to a mix of red, white and gold, there seemed to be no particular order to how they’d been hung on the tree, as they had simply continued hanging at random, so long as it was filling empty space. Ayle had been the only one sometimes thinking to himself if that knot or this bauble would look better reflecting the light from the window or the hearth.
As everything had been used already, Eldris and William busied themselves with packing the boxes away and ordering the room a little. In the meantime, Ayle looked at the single remaining ornament with interest; the golden star meant to go at the very top of the tree.
He looked at that high branch. He really wanted to hang it all by himself, but how? He wasn’t even sure his dad would be able to, even on tiptoes.
His gaze travelled to the kitchen, where the wooden chairs sat around the table suddenly appeared like an evident answer to his wonders. He trotted there to get one, and carried it next to the tree. He perched himself on top, but it soon became apparent that it still wasn’t enough. Just when would he be a grown up?
Ayle jumped to the ground and ran back to the kitchen to get a second chair, coming back with it so fast that he nearly bumped into William who was carrying the empty boxes of ornaments away. Once he made it back near the tree, he piled the new chair on top of the first one, and went to climb on top of them both.
“Oh no young man I don’t think so” Eldris’ voice scolded behind him.
Two strong and steady hands grabbed Ayle under the shoulders and lifted him off, before putting him back on the ground away from the chairs. Eldris crossed his arms and stared at his son, brows furrowed. Ayle knew he was waiting for an explanation. He looked to the ground.
“I just wanted to put the star myself…”
“Standing up on one chair is already dangerous if you don’t pay attention” Eldris said, his voice strict but in no way angry. “They’re not meant to be piled up like you did and have someone stand on top of them as well.”
Eldris picked the second chair up and put it back on the floor. He then grabbed Ayle under the armpits again, and had him stand on one of the seats, before kneeling in front, his back turned to him. He tapped his shoulder.
“Get on.”
Ayle beamed and didn’t waste time executing the order. Once he was settled, Eldris stood up. Ayle reached for the top of the tree, happy to see it was finally within grasp. But then he realised he forgot to bring the star with him. He looked around, only to notice he left it on the low table.
“Don’t move, I’m coming to your rescue!”
William came back from the kitchen and lunged for the lonely star, before bringing it solemnly to Ayle.
“Here you go.”
With the star in hand, Ayle finally managed to hook the ornament at the very top of the tree. Keeping him on his shoulders, Eldris took a few steps back to let him admire their work in its entirety.
“Do you like it?” he asked.
“It’s perfect! Now, we can finally celebrate the Winter Maiden festival together!”