Adrielle shuffled through the festival crowds, determined to make it to the marketplace alive. There were nearly twice as many people at this City Christmas Festival than last year, which meant more shops selling gifts, and even more people buying them. Stumbling through, she nearly suffocated against all the coats and boots surrounding her, her height restricting her view of the shops. The only place she could look was up, where the sky was decorated with faint stars and strings of colourful lights.
There was a light snowfall that night, scattering on everyone’s heads like powdered sugar. Somewhere in the distance was the faint scent of cinnamon and gingerbread, which Adrielle used to guide her way out, pushing and shoving until she found herself in front of a snow globe stand. The contents of each globe told different stories with painted figures topped with glaze. She rubbed her hands together as she observed the table, trying to restore the warmth escaping her fingertips. As she browsed, one particular snow globe grabbed her interest.
It was roughly the size of her fist and rested on a bright red stand adorned with gold accents and jewels. Inside was a little Christmas tree decorated in gold, with a miniature nutcracker, mouse, and ballerina in front of it. She picked up the globe and rotated it in her hands, feeling the chill of the glass as she watched the artificial snowfall. Real snow settled onto the globe and melted upon contact with her hands. While she was observing, she noticed a little knob on the bottom and twisted it. Melodies began to flow from the snow globe as if it were a music box, filling Adrielle’s heart with nostalgia.
Adrielle thought of a friend who played in The Nutcracker with her a few years before. No one buys snow globes anymore, but it would be a sweet and sentimental gift, even if this friend didn’t do ballet anymore.
“How much for this snow globe?”