The True Gift (5 page)

We have hung decorations on the tree, including two small cows that Grandpa brings; one white, one brown.

Mama and Papa will come tomorrow morning.

White Cow and Brown Cow are close together in the old barn, and Liam and I go to bed; Liam with Emmet, me with Charlie, watching the stars and a huge full
moon appearing over the meadow.

“Lily. Lily!”

It's very late when Liam shakes me awake.

“Lily. Something's happening.”

“What?” I sit up, frightened. “What's wrong?”

There is the sound of dogs barking somewhere.

There are lights outside and muffled noises, the sound of a truck on the road.

I hear Gran and Grandpa talking downstairs.

“Come,” says Liam, pulling me out of bed.

We run downstairs.

The porch light is on.

Grandpa is putting on his coat.

“What's wrong?” I ask.

“Don't know,” he says. “I am going out to check. You should stay here.”

“I will not,” says Gran, putting on her coat and hat.

“I'm coming too,” says Liam.

I grab my coat and boots and follow them out the door.

The moon is so bright that the meadow looks white. We walk down the sidewalk and across the driveway to the meadow fence. Our feet crunch in the snow.

“Look!” says Grandpa.

There in the meadow is a small decorated Christmas tree; silver balls and chains gleam in the moonlight.

“Wherever did that come from?” says Gran.

And there is more.

White Cow and Brown Cow turn their heads to look at us. But with them are more cows.

“There,” says Grandpa. “And there!”

“And more cows over there!” Liam says.

I can't count all the cows. When they look at us, we can see the moon in their big eyes.

We walk closer.

So many cows. It feels like a dream.

We can't speak.

“What happened?” I ask Grandpa, leaning against him.

Gran picks up a stack of papers. They are Liam's notices.

“The people in town read about White Cow,” she says.

“There's a note,” says Grandpa.

Merry Christmas,
White Cow. You shouldn't be
alone for Christmas.

“Will all these cows stay here forever?” asks Liam.

“No,” says Gran, laughing. “I think this is a Christmas visit.”

“A Christmas visitation of cows,” says Grandpa with a smile.

“She will always have Brown Cow,” says Gran.

We are quiet again, looking at the cows in the snow-covered meadow. All those big faces.

“That is quite a sight,” says Grandpa.

“It is,” says Gran. She looks at her watch. “It's Christmas,” she says.

“I'll say it is,” says Grandpa.

“Merry Christmas, White Cow,” I call to her.

“Merry Christmas, Brown Cow,” calls Liam.

“Merry Christmas, all cows!” says Gran.

And when we walk back to the house and turn to look at the meadow, an ocean of eyes looks back at us in the moonlight.

Patricia MacLachlan is the bestselling author of beloved books for young readers, including
Arthur, For the Very First Time,
winner of the Golden Kite Award for fiction;
Baby; Journey; Sarah, Plain and Tall,
winner of the Newbery Medal; and her most recent book,
Edward's Eyes.
She is also the recipient of the National Humanities Medal, and is a board member of the National Children's Book and Literacy Alliance. Patricia lives with her husband in Williamsburg, Massachusetts.