It's a Wonderful Life, page 28
Acknowledgements
As ever, a massive thank you has to go out to the amazing team at Avon who have been very supportive. Particular thanks go to Phoebe Morgan, Natasha Harding and Eloise Wood. A big thank you to my agent Oli Munson for his support.
When writing this book I asked a lot of people for help on a variety of matters, so I would also like to thank: Anne Booth, Deirdre Cleary, Peter Graham, Catherine Johnson, Lucy Pepper and Nina Wadcock for answering a lot of my questions.
Finally a big thank you to my twin sister, Virginia Moffatt who as always was my first cheerleader and gave me useful feedback.
The Littlest Angel
By Beth King
The Littlest Angel was very excited. The whole Heavenly Host were preparing for a Big Event.
‘The Big Event,’ Gabriel said.
There had already been a buzz around a baby born a few months earlier, but Gabriel said this baby was going to be even more important. This baby was going to save the world.
The Heavenly Host were going to go and tell people, and for the first time the Littlest Angel was going to be allowed to come too.
‘Is it today?’ the Angel asked her mother.
‘Not today,’ said her mother.
‘Is it today?’ asked the Angel.
‘Not today,’ said her mother, ‘but soon.’
The days went by and still it wasn’t the right day, until finally the Littlest Angel asked, ‘Is it today?’
And her mother said, ‘Yes, it’s today.’
‘Yippee!’ cried the Littlest Angel. And she got ready to go.
The Littlest Angel was so excited she flew straight to her room to pick up her trumpet. But she couldn’t find it anywhere.
‘Hurry!’ said her mother, ‘Or we’ll leave without you.’
The Littlest Angel searched high and low, but it was nowhere to be seen.
‘I can’t find it!’ she said to her mother, who was busy gathering together the other little angels by the Pearly Gates as the Heavenly Host got ready to leave.
‘Go and look again,’ said the Angel’s mother, ‘but be quick!’
The Littlest Angel had just found her trumpet under the bed when she heard a huge flurry, the blowing of trumpets and a chorus of Hallelujahs.
Oh no! The Heavenly Host were about to set off on their journey.
‘Wait for me!’ cried the Littlest Angel, but it was too late; by the time she’d got to the Pearly Gates, the Heavenly Host had left in a blaze of glory.
The Littlest Angel flew after them with all her might, but she was too little and they were too fast. They swirled in a huge golden mass far ahead of her in the dark of night. She flew and flew but as hard as she tried she couldn’t catch up with them. Before long the Littlest Angel was all alone and very lost.
The Littlest Angel flew this way and that, but it was no good, she couldn’t see the Heavenly Host anywhere. How would she find the new baby now? Sadly, she flew down to earth to take a rest. She landed on a hillside, overlooking a large plain. In the distance she could see lights sparkling from some far off town. Was that where the baby was going to be born? Without the Heavenly Host to guide her, how would she ever know?
The Littlest Angel started to cry. She didn’t know where she was, or what to do.
‘Are you all right, little angel?’ A small boy who was cradling a lamb in his arms came shyly up to meet her. ‘You seem sad.’
‘I am sad,’ said the Angel. ‘I’m looking for the new baby who is going to be born on this special night, but I’ve lost the other angels and I’ll never find him now.’
‘But the angels were here!’ said the boy. ‘They came singing songs of praise, and asked the other shepherds to go and worship at the baby’s feet.’
‘Where did they go?’ said the Littlest Angel.
‘They went that way,’ said the little boy, pointing in the direction of the faraway town.
He looked a little sad too.
‘Didn’t you go with them?’ said the Angel.
‘No,’ said the boy, ‘I must stay and guard the sheep. Will you come back and tell me about the baby?’
‘Of course I will,’ said the Littlest Angel. ‘But now I must go. I’m to sing at the baby’s cradle and I mustn’t be late.’
‘The angels told the shepherds to follow that star,’ said the shepherd boy, pointing to the brightest star in the sky. ‘You will find the baby where the star rests.’
Of course! The star. The Littlest Angel had forgotten that the star would lead them to where the baby lay. She could see it shining bright far away in the distance.
‘Thank you,’ said the Littlest Angel, and she went on her way.
The Littlest Angel set off feeling much happier. She knew which way to go, and soon she would find the baby. She flew into the night sky, but still she could see no sign of the Heavenly Host. The star looked very far away, and she wondered if she would ever reach it. Then below her, she spotted a camel train riding across. Maybe they had seen the Heavenly Host.
The Littlest Angel flew down to the ground and landed beside a grumpy-looking camel.
‘Have you seen the Heavenly Host?’ she asked.
The camel stared at her in disdain.
‘I don’t know,’ said the camel. ‘I think they went that way.’
‘I saw them,’ said a page boy who was walking behind the camel. He was holding a precious looking box.
‘What have you got there?’ she said.
‘Gold for the new king,’ said the page.
‘Do you mean the baby who is going to be born tonight?’ asked the Littlest Angel.
‘Yes,’ said the page boy. ‘My masters are looking for a king. The angels told them to follow a star, and it would lead us to him.’
‘Oh,’ said the Littlest Angel. ‘I think you’re going the wrong way.’
‘I’ll tell them,’ said the page boy, and the angel went on her way.
The Littlest Angel was growing excited. She couldn’t be too far behind the Heavenly Host now. The star was growing brighter in the sky, yet somehow the further she flew, the further away it seemed. Sometimes the Littlest Angel thought she would never get there. But she couldn’t give up. She had to be at the new baby’s birth.
At last, the Littlest Angel could see the lights of the town she had seen from the hill so many hours ago. To her surprise, the star seemed to have stopped over a small building. Maybe that was where the new baby was going to be born. Her journey was nearly over!
But the star had stopped above a stable. The Littlest Angel was puzzled. Surely the special baby wouldn’t be born in a stable?
She flew down to the ground, and saw a donkey tethered against the stable door.
‘Hello,’ said the Littlest Angel. ‘I’m looking for the new baby. Do you know when it’s going to be born?’
‘Oh,’ said the donkey. ‘I think it’s tonight. I’ve carried his mother all the way here. He’s going to be a very special baby.’
‘I know,’ said the angel. ‘That’s why I’m here.’
The Littlest Angel pushed open the door of the stable and crept forward.
There she saw a lady and a man. The lady was holding a baby, and laying it in a cradle. The Littlest Angel’s heart was filled with joy. Here at last was the special new baby. And she was the first to see him.
‘Would you like to see the baby?’ Mary called her over.
‘Oh, yes,’ said the Angel. She flew over to look at the baby. He was sleeping and looked so calm.
‘What is his name?’
‘His name is Jesus,’ said Mary. ‘And he’s the most important baby in the world.’
Just then there was the sound of trumpets, and the most beautiful singing. The Heavenly Host had arrived! The Littlest Angel flew to greet them, and together they sang songs of praise for the baby who would save the world.
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About the author
Julia has always made up stories in her head, and until recently she thought everyone else did too. She grew up in London, one of eight children, including a twin sister. She married Dave, a dentist, in 1989, and they have four daughters. After the birth of the second, Julia went freelance and decided to try her hand at writing. Ten bestselling books later, it’s safe to say the gamble paid off! Her books have sold across Europe, and she has sold half a million copies of her novels to date.
To find out more about Julia go to her website at www.juliawilliamsauthor.com or follow Julia on Twitter @JCCWilliams.
By the same author
Pastures New
Strictly Love
Last Christmas
The Bridesmaid Pact
The Summer Season
A Merry Little Christmas
Midsummer Magic
Coming Home for Christmas
A Hope Christmas Love Story
Make a Christmas Wish
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Julia Williams, It's a Wonderful Life
