This is a short story that I wrote which recently tied for second place in The Not So Cynical Holiday Writing Contest.

The Candy Filled Box
By Dawn Wilson -- Contest Entrant

It was only a little cardboard box that she had bought several years ago at a crafts fair just after Thanksgiving. It was covered with royal blue crêpe paper, and there was a little papier-mâché angel that sat on the top. Ellen had thought it was cute, and bought it to hold holiday candy for the kids. Jenny and Caitlyn had loved it, and it was always a big treat to see what kind of candy their mother had put inside. Sometimes the box held wrapped chocolates, other times miniature candy canes, but it was always filled with their favorite sweets, beginning with the day after Thanksgiving. When all the other Christmas decorations had been put away, the angel box, as her girls had called it, was always the last thing to go. Only after all of the candy had been eaten, would it finally be packed away, not making its reappearance until the following year.

Ellen hadn’t put the box out for several years now, ever since Jenny and Caitlyn had gone away to college. It occasionally crossed her mind during the holiday season, but in all honesty, she didn’t see much point to it. In recent years, the girls had never given it so much as a second glance, and although Ellen had filled it, it sat under the tree untouched. Now, as she sat on the floor of the attic, she pulled off the lid, and brought the box up to her nose, noticing it smelled faintly of peppermint. Ellen smiled wistfully as the scent brought back memories of a house once full and bustling at Christmas.

She proceeded to go downstairs, taking the box with her, and after dusting it off, she filled it with the girl’s favorite peppermint swirls, and placed it beneath the tree.

Caitlyn and Jenny arrived home for the holidays shortly before Christmas, and stayed until just after New Year’s. Ellen checked the box several times during their first days at home, only to find it still filled with the mints she had placed inside weeks before. Eventually she had forgotten about it, until it came time to put the holiday decorations away.

As she picked the box up off the floor, she was able to tell by its weight that it was still full. After removing the lid to empty it out, she was pleasantly surprised. The peppermint swirls had been replaced with her favorite licorice, and sitting on top, was a small envelope containing a card. She read its message through tear-filled eyes.

Mom,

Thanks for remembering the angel box, and filling it with candy. It brought back memories of many happy Christmases. We’re hoping it makes a comeback next year, and we’ve put something special inside for a very special mom. We love you…..Caitlin and Jenny...xo

And all this time she thought they had outgrown this simple tradition! Ellen smiled through her tears clutching the box, thinking her daughters unknowingly had given her the most wonderful gift she could ask for.