Broken lantern

“Tay, look, a broken lantern!” Anton picked up a Christmas star lantern from the pile of garbage where he and his father, Lino, were scavenging for pet bottles and tetra-packs.
Anton was awestruck by the colorful Christmas décor. He didn’t realize his father had come from behind to also examine the star.
“Here, let me see,” Lino asked.
Anton gently handed the flimsy but still intact lantern to his father.
“It’s actually not broken, son.”
“Then why would anyone throw it away?” Anton asked.
“Sadly, people think that old things aren’t worth anything, and are best thrown away.”
“It’s so beautiful, papa!” Anton continued to be dazzled by something he only saw high up in the balconies of huge houses and buildings.
Lino slipped a hand into the lantern.
“What are you doing, tay?”
“…so that’s probably why it was thrown away!” He said.
“Why, papa?”
“Because the light bulb is busted.”
“…and for that they throw away something so wonderful?”
“Even capiz has lost its beauty to some,” Lino lamented.
“Capiz?”
“Oh, something that comes from oysters or shells, I believe. I remember my grandfather, who was a fisherman in the province, telling me how they used it for many other things besides Christmas ornaments.”
“Lolo was a fisherman?” Anton never heard much about his grandfather.
“Yes, and much more than that,” Lino scratched his head examining the lantern more. “…much more than a fisherman, but that’s another story.”
Back home, father and son put to the task of repairing the lantern.
“What will you use to replace the missing capiz, papa?”
“That’s simple,” his father smiled. “We can cut from the plastic vinegar containers we just got from the garbage dump. Clean them a bit, and from afar they will look like capiz.”
Anton began doing what his father instructed him to do.
“It’s good you found this lantern. It would be our only decoration for Christmas and New Year!”
Anton smiled and felt good seeing his father happy.
“But where will we hang it, and how will we make it shine as before?” The boy asked.
“We don’t have bulbs. But I remember how your grandfather used a small kerosene lamp to light lanterns from inside.”
“Is that enough?”
“Of course, besides I think it’s more natural and warmer than plain electric bulbs.”
“And where do we hang it, tay?”
“What about the living room?” His dad chuckled.
“We have a living room?” Anton added.
“In this space where we stand, everything is house. So right above us would do perfectly!”
“So, hanging it in the center would literally cover the house,” Anton said.
“It’s the only place we could call home, son. And that makes a whole lot of a difference.”
Lino started hanging the capiz lantern in the ceiling.
“Wait, papa. Could I attach this little medal of mama Mary on the lantern?”
“Why would you want to do that with the medal that mom gave you?”
“I dunno. Maybe I just miss her and want something of her in what we have fixed. Or maybe I’m wishing that I could know if mom is already in heaven.”
Lino was touched with what his son said and attached the small medal of our Lady of Carmel. After a few more details, they took a meager supper and slept.
“Tomorrow’s a new year, son. Let’s prepare ourselves for the midnight mass to thank Jesus for all our blessings.” He stooped down to kiss Anton, they said a prayer before he blew out the candle.
* * *
That evening Anton had a dream. The lantern exploded with lights and colors. Then it spoke.
“Little boy, thank you for finding and repairing me!”
“I’m so happy that you’re back to normal,” Anton said.
“Not only that, but I can again shine again where God placed me!”
“Where was that?” Anton asked.
“In Bethlehem, at the Manger of the Child Jesus!”
The lantern replied and its light and colors began to grow brighter.
“But where do you get the light, when we didn’t even replace the bulb?”
“It is now the light from your caring and simple love that illumines me.”
* * *
Anton woke up and stared at the lantern above them. But he realized it was gone!
“Tay, tay, tay!” He nudged his father who was still deeply snoring in his sleep.
After searching the house for hours, they couldn’t find the lantern.
“Was it stolen?”
“I don’t think so, son,” Lino said. “It would mean that the robber had to stand over us to unhook the lantern. If he could fly or….”
Anton suddenly remembered his dream. “Dad, perhaps, the lantern just decided to leave after we fixed it.”
“Why would you say that?”
He told his father about his dream.
“That sounds too incredible to believe, but what the lantern said is so inspiring. Anyway, let’s do our daily chores and prepare for mass soon.”
That evening father and son entered the city’s cathedral. They admired the beautiful lights and Christmas decors inside.
“Look, tay, a Belen,” Anton pointed to the far end of the Church.
“Let’s check it out, son.”
They waded through a sea of people who had come for the midnight mass. When they reached the crèche, Anton suddenly pointed above the manger.
“Dad, look at our lantern!”
“Yes, but the one we… It can’t be…,” Lino suddenly gasped.
“It is! It is! Mom’s medal is even attached to it!” Anton excitedly said.
“What could that mean?”
“Maybe the star is saying that mom is in Heaven with Jesus!
Lino hugged his son. Indeed, it was a simple sign that only they knew. A perfect gift from heaven for their simple and good-willed hearts.