By the Magic Fountain...

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                   I saw a little girl by the fountain today as my bus drove past her. I had just left my office and was on my way home. She was standing there in a white frock with pastel blue laces for the frill and a matching hairband. "What a cutie I thought." 

It was almost Christmas and the roads were full of people hustling, yet she stood out in that crowd. I reached home, finished my chores, had my dinner, and went to sleep. Next day after my office I took the same bus. I almost forgot about that little girl, as the fountain there was a tourist spot and it's being visited by hundreds of people. It was nothing special. But I saw her again today as my bus drove past the fountain. She was sitting this time on the edge of the fountain, moving her legs, looking here and there. I saw she held something in her little hands but couldn't really see what, as my bus quickly drove past. "What a surprise! I didn't think I would see her again today." I thought to myself. I reached home, went about my usual chores. I thought to myself," if I see her tomorrow I will try to get her attention." 

Surely I didn't want to get down and go to her. Her parents must be around I thought, and maybe I was just feeling too awkward to do so. Next day on my return journey I saw her again. Sitting there on the edge looking here and there. I looked through the window of my bus with a big smile. I tried to wave in her direction. One could easily tell how excited I seemed. Unfortunately, I couldn't grab her attention. I sat there on the bus disappointed thinking, Maybe I should've got down. I reach home thinking, tomorrow I will try my best to get her attention. I did all my chores, had dinner and tried to sleep. I couldn't stop thinking about that little girl. I had no idea who she was. I didn't know her name. I never saw her before. But seeing her every day now. Would make me soo excited. I wasn't a paedophile of some kind, but seeing her with her cute dresses with something clenched in her little hands made me curious. I had questions in my mind as to, who was she? Why was she there alone? What was she doing there every day at that exact same time?

 It was Christmas tomorrow. I'm always working on Christmas nights too. But this time i thought to take an off. I didn't think much as to why but i made up my mind to take an off on the Christmas day and buy that little girl a gift, i thought to myself, by noon i would go looking for the perfect gift and by evening I would go to the fountain. Meet her, talk to her, give her the gift. The curiosity was at the peak now. I thought of buying her a little doll, Just like her. Dressed in a beautiful frilled frock, with two ponies on her head, a beautiful hairband and two tiny little shoes. My excitement didn't let me sleep that night. It was some 3 years ago when I last celebrated Christmas and Abigail was by my side. I remembered the first time I held her in my arms. She was so tiny and pink, no hair on her head and could barely open her eyes. I wouldn't leave her alone for even an hour. As she grew up she truly became a momma's girl. Tears filled my eyes as I reminisced. I soon fell asleep though, I was tired from working the whole day. 

Next day I woke up early. Finished my chores and left for shopping. I searched many stores to find the perfect doll and after searching for hours I found it. I asked them to pack it and left for the fountain. I reached near the fountain 1 hour early than the time i usually see her there. So I go to the coffee shop nearby and order a latte. I sip my latte as I sit near the window and keep a look at the fountain. Unable to tame my excitement I sip on 3 lattes. I think and I calculate," I leave by around 6 and that little girl is always here around 6:15-6:30 so maybe she comes here around... N..d..., "excuse me, mam, do you mind if I sit here." I look at this stranger. "I'm sorry, but the rest of the cafe is full and this is the only sit vacant. Hope you don't mind." He goes on. Irritated I regain my senses. Smile and tell him to sit as I was about to leave anyway. I get up and walk straight to the fountain. A lot of people walking by, some sitting on the edge of the fountain. I sit on it too.. I sit exactly where I saw the little girl on the very first day. My patience running low. Excitement is clearly visible on my face. I keep moving my body back and forth. My legs tapping on the ground and my hands rubbing against each other. I peek inside my handbag and take the gift out. I smile and remember, how once Abigail was adamant on a toy in a nearby shop. She was just 3 years old. But very smart for her age. I remembered how she threw tantrums every time I denied to buy her something or the other. I remembered her tiny hands and her chubby face. Her cute angry eyes and I giggle to myself. 

Suddenly a thought strikes, "Is it okay to give her the gift? I have only seen her, never talked. I absolutely don't know her. What if her mother is with her this time? What am I even going to tell her, who am I? And I surely don't want to come as some creep abducting children by luring them with gifts. I sigh, keep the gift on the edge of the fountain, thinking how silly it was of me to act so irrationally, I stand up, pick up my handbag. Look at the fountain for the last time, and take a step toward the bus stop.

I suddenly feel a light hold on my hand. I turn around to see that little girl holding my finger. My face lits up, My eyes twinkle and i gleamingly smile, then I kneel down and I place my hand on her tiny hand, " Hey Darling, Who are you?" I ask. A woman rushes in and interrupts, "Madison! Love, what are you doing? I stand up and tell her not to worry, and it's okay. She tells me, she's the mother and her daughter can get real chatty with anyone she meets, that's why she always has to be alert. She apologizes with an awkward smile. " Momma, Gift! A little voice interrupts. We both look down and find Madison with the gift I left on the edge, her little hands extending to me and her chubby face pouts and she looks at me, confused. I kneel down again and take the gift from her hands. She bursts out in excitement, "is there a doll inside?". Her mother in a firm tone, "Madison, No! " I giggle and say, " well, indeed there is". Would you like to have this gift? I ask Madison. Her face brightens as she hears there's a doll inside the gift and I'm asking her to keep it. She glances at her mom. Her mother interrupts, " I'm sorry we can't accept this gift. We got to go, Madiso..n..n... "It's okay, I don't mind Madison keeping this gift. In fact, I'd love for her to have it. Her mother looks at me like I'm some kind of a creep, And I don't blame her for that. 

I explain everything, how I saw Madison from my bus one day and how this gift was meant for her. I ask her to sit on the edge of the fountain with me as I explain to her everything that lead me to her daughter. She holds Madison's hand and holds her close as she hears me out. " I had a daughter named Abigail. She was just like Madison. One Christmas we were driving back home after our Christmas shopping. We bought a lot of dolls and toys. And she was sitting in the backseat playing with them as I drove us home. She dressed just like Madison and her hair was always tied up in ponies. I was driving when I looked back to check on Abby and lost control of my car because of the slippery road from all the ice that had fallen. The car crashed obviously, I survived but she didn't." I tear up as Madison's mother look at me in disbelief. I apologise to her if I may have seemed a creep and tell her my intentions were pure and I wasn't going to do anything to her daughter. I tell her that i lost my trust in the Christmas spirit and never celebrated Christmas since that accident. I also told her how seeing her daughter gave me joy and brought some of my hope back of the Christmas spirit. She gives me an accepting smile and pats on my shoulder. I smile back seeing she understands my intentions.

 Just then Madison reaches out her little hands to me and gives me a coin. I look at her confused, "What is this?" I ask. "That's a wish coin aunty, Momma gave it to me. I look at her in more confusion. She continues, " Throw it in the fountain, close your eyes and wish, and soon Abigail will be back, just like my little brother did, " she exclaims! 

I look at her mother in disbelief. Her mother explains, how she was pregnant and how excited everyone was. But there were complications and the baby was lost. She adds, " Madison was the most affected so I brought her near the fountain one day and gave her the coin and told her to make a wish. And soon When I got pregnant again, Madison thought it was because of these magic coins and fountain. Madison believes this is a magic fountain and loves to come here every day instead of going to the park. I hear her and think, " How easy it is for kids to believe in magic and how simple is happiness for them. We both look down to find Madison open the gift. I insist them to keep the gift. We all wish each other Merry Christmas and part our ways. 

I still see them every day from the window of my bus. Sometimes I see Madison with the doll I gifted. She waves at me every day and I wave back. And once in a while, I get down from my bus and we both throw some coins in, and sit and wish by the magic fountain.