Aliyah was a thirteen year old elf.  Her days were spent working in the doll workshop because girls were supposedly suited for making dolls although she was more mechanically inclined. She was a good natured elf and did not believe in whining.

One day, Santa stopped by in one of his morning strolls.  He walked up to Aliyah and addressed her, “ Aliyah, I have a special request in one of the letters to Santa.  It is a request for a ballerina music box for a girl in wheelchair.  I know that you like mechanical objects and ballet.  Please take care of this wish.”

Aliyah was delighted and she was eager to reply, “Yes, Santa.  I’d like to make the ballerina music box”.  Right away, Santa transferred her to the mechanical toy workshop.

Aliyah entered the unfamiliar workshop.  The workshop leader took her to her  worktable and pointed to the cupboards with all kinds of parts she might need.  Right away she decided to collect all she would require for constructing the music box.

Aliyah took a basket and went to the cupboards.  She picked up a white box with four legs and a curved lid.  Then she added pink satin, glue, scissors,  paints and brush, music mechanism, key, turntable, oval mirror and a ballerina figure in lavender tutu.

At first, Aliyah took the interior measurements of the box.  Then she cut a circular whole at the bottom of the box to insert the musical mechanism.  Using the measurements, she cut the pink satin for the lining of the interior of the box.  She left an oval space in the center of the lid’s inside.  She painted rose flowers on top of the lid.  Then she glued  the satin lining inside the box.  She attached the mirror in the space left in the center.

Now she had to take care of the  mechanical part.  Aliyah inserted the music mechanism through the hole in the bottom.  She inserted the key and played Tchaikovsky’s “SwanLake” and saw that the key worked.  She placed the turntable on top of the mechanism.  Above that, she attached the ballerina and turned the key.  The ballerina moved gracefully in time with the strains of music.  It was satisfying to see the mirror reflect the graceful movements of the ballerina.   When  the music ended, she closed the lid and made sure the ballerina figure folded neatly.

Aliyah was pleased with her work.  But she wanted to make it presentable.  She chose a red box and lined it with tissue paper.  Then she placed the ballerina music box on the tissue.   She closed the lid and tied a gold ribbon around the box.  As a final touch, she added a golden bow.  She took the gift box to Santa and returned for a well earned rest.

On Christmas morning, Santa came to see Aliyah.   “Aliyah, come with me to the library.”   They walked to the library and entered.  Santa went to the big antique desk on which there was a huge globe.   On the desk, there was a scope pointing to the globe.  Santa turned globe in such a way that the scope was pointing to Clinton, New York.  He explained to Aliyah, “ It is the Santa Scope and you can see anywhere in the world through it.”

Aliyah went up to the desk and looked through the eyepiece.   She was looking through the window of a dark grey house with white shutters.  She realized that she was looking at a living room with a ceiling high Christmas tree in all its glory.  Then she saw a girl of her age wheeling in.  Aliyah saw the girl picking up a red gift box with gold ribbon and bow.  The girl untied the ribbon and opened the box.  She made an “O” with her mouth.  In the box was the music box with roses.  Simultaneously Aliyah also said, “O” because itt was the music box she created.  The girl opened the box and turned the key.  The ballerina pirouetted to the strains of music and the girl’s joy was undeniable.  Aliyah was elated and she turned to Santa and said impulsively, “ Thank you, Santa.  This is the best Christmas gift for me.  It was wonderful that I could see the great smile on that girl’s face and to know that I gave her that joy.  Merry Christmas!”