Joe and Hope searched the sky for signs of the sleigh.

“Shouldn’t they be back by now?” Hope said. “They’ve been gone a long time.”

“I don’t know,” Joe said. “Maybe it’s just taking longer than he thought it would.”

The sound of sleigh bells drifted over the hill. “Sound like them now,” Joe said. “Jeez, why are they making so much noise?”

Joe and Hope turned to look behind them but saw nothing. There was a shift in the direction of the sound, and it came from near the cave.

Turning back, Joe and Hope peered over the ridge and were stunned by the sight. Exspes stood next to the sleigh. Joe’s grandfather, Spero, and the two elves looked like they were asleep.

With a wave of his hand, Exspes sent the sleigh into the cave.  Looking out through the swirling snow, he smiled.

“You’re wasting time, Joe. No one is going to help you. Bring me the star or you two will never see your grandfathers or friends ever again.” He turned away and walked inside.

“Now what?” Joe said, sliding down to the bottom of the ridge. “I have no idea how what to do now. We can’t give him the star.”

“Wait, what’s that?” Hope said.

“Where?” Joe said.

“There in the snow, to the side of the cave.”

Joe wiped the snow from his eyes and tried to make out what Hope pointed at, then he knew what it was.

“It’s my backpack!” Joe said. “My grandfather must have realized what was happening and pretended to be asleep. He dropped it when Exspes wasn’t looking. Stay here, I’ll be right back.”

Joe disappeared into the snow and was back in a flash.

“Now what?” Hope said.

“Now we teach Exspes a lesson on the importance of possibilities.”

“And how do we do that?” Hope said.

“Can you hide the star?” Joe said.

“Hide it?” Hope said, confusion on her face. “Yeah, I can hide it, but only for a short time. Why?”

“Just trust me on this,” Joe said. “How long will it last?”

“I don’t know, ten, maybe twenty minutes.”

“Okay, that should be enough. When I say so, hide it, okay?”

Hope nodded, unsure where this was going.

“Follow me,” Joe said, and headed toward the cave. Not waiting for her to react.

“Where are you going?” Hope ran to catch up. “He’ll see us.”

“Exactly…”

*****

Making their way inside the cave, they moved as slowly and as quietly as possible.

“No need for stealth, Joe. I know you’re here. And I know you’re not alone.”

Joe looked at Hope, shrugged, then slung the backpack over his shoulder. Leaning over to Hope, he whispered, “Hide the star.”

Hope nodded, turned back toward the entrance, and mouthed a few words. The star blinked then faded from the sky.

Walking into the light of the fire, Joe saw his grandfather and the others sitting in the sleigh, awake but unable to move.

“Joe, what are you doing?” his grandfather said. “Run, leave us!”

“Not in me to do that, grandfather. Besides, I have what Exspes here wants.”

At Joe’s words, Exspes moved to stand in front of Joe.

“You have the star?” he said.

Joe shrugged the shoulder holding the backpack, “In here.”

“Give it to me!’ Exspes said.

“Not until you let everyone go.” Joe said, taking a step back.

“I said give it to me,” Exspes snarled. “You’re in no position to bargain.”

“Oh, but I am, you see,” Joe said. “I took the star and managed to contain it in here. Go, look for yourself. The star is no longer in the sky.”

Exspes hesitated a moment, then went outside. He was back in a flash. “Well, well, the little wizard lived up to his family’s reputation. Give it here,” Exspes stuck out his hand, “now!”

“Not until everybody else is free,” Joe said. “Keep in mind, I put it here and I can put it back.”

Indecision was written all over Exspes’s face. Glancing between the sleigh and Joe he seemed unable to decide. “How do I know you’re not lying?”

“You don’t,” Joe said. “But the star is no longer in the sky and here I am with Hope and this backpack.”

“Fine,” Exspes said, and the sleigh moved back outside.

Hope whispered into Joe’s ear. “Ah, you better hurry, I don’t know how much longer it will stay hidden.”

Joe nodded and smiled. “Are you sure you really want the star and to destroy Christmas?”

“More than ever, there is nothing but lies in the promise of possibilities,” Exspes said. “I’m doing the world a favor.”

“Okay,” Joe said, sliding the backpack off his shoulder and holding it out.

“Joe, what are you doing?” Hope said.

“Trust me on this.”

Exspes grabbed the backpack and moved away. He undid the straps and pulled open the cover.

“It’s empty! You lied,” he said. “You’ll pay for this,”

“And yet a moment ago,” Joe said, “you believed the star was inside there. You believed in the possibility, didn’t you?”

“I didn’t…I… I…ah,” and Exspes went silent.

 Joe walked over to stand next to Exspes. “Just because some possibilities never happen, doesn’t mean they all are impossible. That’s what you’ve forgotten. Christmas isn’t about everyone getting all their wishes. It’s about enjoying the ones that do come true and being part of making possibilities for others that come true.

“You’ve always had the possibility of believing that within you. And by opening the backpack you’ve brought it back.”

“I’m sorry,” Exspes said, handing the backpack to Joe.

“No need to apologize for the past, as long as you learn from it, remember to embrace the present, and believe in the possibilities of the future.”

“I will,” Exspes said.

And right at the moment, the star reappeared in the sky, lighting up the outside world.

Climbing back aboard the sleigh, they headed off. First stop was taking Hope and her grandfather home. Then they flew back to Joe’s home.

“Until next time, boys,” Joe’s grandfather said, waving as the sled rocketed into the sky.

“Okay, pal,” Joe’s grandfather said. “Good job, I knew you were ready. See you next time.”

“What do you mean?” Joe said. “Aren’t you coming with me? It is Christmas Eve.”

“Oh, I’ll be there. I’ll always be there in your heart. I’ve got some plans with your grandmother. We’ll talk again soon.”

Joe watched as his grandfather walked away, fading into the night.  Joe glanced at the star, now a bit brighter than before. The door to his house opened and his mother came out.

“What are you doing out here, Joe? It’s freezing,” his mother said, looking around. “Who were you talking to?”

“Just grandfather, talking about grandmother, and all the Christmas stories they’ve shared.”

“Look, Joe,” his mother said, putting her arms around him. “We all miss them, we do. And it’s good that you keep their memory alive in your heart, but you know they are no longer with us, right?”

Joe just smiled.

“Now come on inside,” his mom said, taking his hand, “and I’ll make hot chocolate.”

As they made their way to the door, the star seemed to grow brighter.

“Is that the star you told me about?” his mother asked, stopping to gaze at the light.

“Yup, that’s the one.”

Joe’s mother smiled, looking at the sky. “I wonder how he knew?” she said softly.

“Who?” Joe said.

“Your grandfather… Ah, never mind, it was just story he once told me.”

Joe smiled and nodded, then tilted his head to look past his mother. His grandfather appeared again, smiling and laughing. He could hear the old man’s words in his heart, as he always did.

“It doesn’t matter who believes you, Joe, as long as you believe. You and I both know the story is true. The gift from the Christmas star will be with you all your life. And someday, when you have your own grandkids, you can tell them all about it.

“There is no better gift than believing in possibilities.”

The End!

And with another year gone by and another Christmas upon us, I wish you all the merriest of holiday celebrations. Always remember, anything is possible if you believe! Merry Christmas!

Joe Broadmeadow
December/2025

Click the play button below for a memory of Christmases past and all the possibilities ahead.

Go ahead and dance like nobody’s watching—or like everyone is staring, judging, and secretly wishing they had your moves!