Edward couldn't help smiling as he walked along the sidewalk. The scent of peppermint and cookies floated along the air, enticing him to come to explore what their stores had to offer. The happy bustle around the city was contagious, and he watched the people walking along, dressed in bright reds and deep greens, all sorts of patterns and styles. Gold and silver decorations caught the light and illuminated them in a metallic glow. How could you not love Christmas? He thought as he looked around at the shoppers. Perhaps they were rushing home to their family, or maybe a friends for a holiday party.
As Edward stopped to look in a store's display window, full of light and colour, he took a sip of the hot chocolate he’d made at home for the activity of people-watching. The rich chocolate flavour warmed him to his frozen fingertips, cold in the chilly winter air. He sighed in contentment. His gaze turned back to the window display, and it caught on the Christmas tree. It was stunning, with its golden ornaments and silver tinsel, lights wrapping around it like a form of wrapping paper.
He moved on from the window to the next display. It was filled with shiny red and green wrapping paper, with golden bows decorating many presents like their own crowns. A tiny mechanical train whirred around the ensemble of gifts like an army commander marching around their troops. He grinned, and moved on to the last window, excited to see what it held.
It wasn't bright or very flashy. But it was the most important one. The display held a nativity, with Mary and Joseph leaning over a manger. And just like the hot chocolate warmed his body, the sight warmed his heart. This was the reason they celebrated, he reminded himself. The reason for the season. He took a last look at the scene and smiled to himself. Christmas always filled him with joy, but Jesus’s coming was the reason he could feel joy.