t was a sunny December Saturday in Bermuda. This was the day on which students had volunteered to help with the Island Christmas Cleanup Campaign. Ten-year-old Paige Barber and her seven-year-old sister, Laurie, had chosen their favourite beach, Grape Bay, and their mother had packed a picnic lunch for them.

They spread a blanket on the sand and began to collect trash in black bags. No one else was there that day. Mrs. Barber spoke: "Girls, they say one of the houses around here is supposed to be haunted!"

"Which one, Mummy?" Paige asked.

"I'm not sure." She smiled The girls looked around, but nothing seemed 'scary' to them.

When their bags were full, they dragged them over to the edge of the trees and ran down to the water's edge. Paige splashed water over Laurie's head and began teasing her.

"I've got more trash in my bag than you!"

"Stop it!" Laurie cried. "Mummy, make her stop!"

"Paige!" Her mother warned. Laurie ran back to the blanket and wiped her face with a warm towel.

"Why do you have to make her cry?" her mother said. "Come over here!" "Let's have our lunch."

Paige came, but as she did, she kicked some sand at Laurie's leg.

"Why do you always have to pick on me?" Laurie shouted.

Paige answered: "I didn't do anything to you, it was the wind!"

"I think you're both just tired."

"Let's relax and think about the meaning of this wonderful time of year, and try to be kind to each other."

They both sat in silence, while they ate their sandwiches and drank their drinks. After lunch, Laurie began to make something in the sand. She had learned how to do sculptures from classes at Horseshoe Bay that summer.

"Well, in spite of your mischief, you both did a good job today."

"I'm proud of you." Mrs. Barber said. "My back is really aching, though." I think I'll take a little nap for a while."

"Why don't you girls take one too? Perhaps you'll wake up in a better mood!"

"All right, Mummy," Laurie agreed. "As soon as I finish my surprise."

She had completed her modelling and was writing a message with a twig, She hid the words from her sister, and then curled up beside her mother.

Paige sat, staring at the waves. She always got blamed for everything, and they always took Laurie's side.

"I think I'll just take a walk to see if I can find that 'Haunted House'.

"Maybe it's over beyond the natural pool."

As she neared the pool, she saw a pile of rocks and some trash they hadn't noticed earlier. Suddenly, a kitten appeared from behind the rocks. It was white, with calico markings, just like her own kitten.

"I'd love to take you home! I wonder if you're a stray."

"No, I'm not a stray," it replied.

Paige was surprised. "You can talk!" She looked around.

"Are you from the Haunted House?"

"Maybe. You must have read that some animals can speak at Christmas time. Also, we're each given the chance to help someone, so I've chosen you."

Paige just listened in amazement.

"You probably wonder why I selected you.

"Well, I noticed that you tease your little sister a lot, when she doesn't really deserve it."

"They always take her side, because she complains about me all the time." Paige dug her foot into the sand.

The cat rubbed against her leg.

"I know it's not always easy to see our own faults, and I'm sure you are really a very caring person. You don't really want to be mean.

"Being the 'first-born' is hard.

"You got all the attention when you were the only one, and when she came along, it seemed that they forgot you, and gave everything to her.

"Well, that's not really true. They love both of you, but show it in different ways."

"My job is to make you see that, and to show you what a special role you can play in your sister's life."

Paige listened, wondering if, maybe, she really had been wrong.

"You've done a great job cleaning up the beach, but there's one thing you missed."

He pointed to a fish stuck between the rocks.

"It's not just an ordinary fish," the cat said.

Paige saw something in its mouth. It looked like it was the end of a fishing line, with something attached to it, covered with sand and seaweed. She removed it and washed it off in the pool. When most of the sand was gone, it was green and gold and shiny. The cat said: "Do you recognise it?".

"It's a piece of jewellery." She looked at it closely.

"Oh, my goodness! I've been going to the Underwater Institute for years, and we learned about this.

"It looks like the Teddy Tucker Cross that was stolen!"

"Well, it could be!"

"Maybe the thief was trying to get away in a boat, and it may have sunk, and this fish swallowed it!"

"You could take it in and find out if it's the real thing!"

"Yes. I could be famous! I'd have my picture in The Royal Gazette, and my parents would be proud of me then!"

She was excited. "Thank you for choosing me."

"But, remember my job is to help you, and, this cross is a part of the plan.

"You must learn to give, and by giving you'll receive so much more.

"Set an example for your little sister, by teaching her things you've learned, and she'll look up to you and admire you."

"That's not just a cross in your hand. It's an opportunity for you."

"Use it wisely?" with that, he disappeared as quickly as he had come.

Paige hurried to show her treasure to her mom and Laurie. The people at the Institute would be thrilled! They were still asleep.

For the first time, she saw Laurie's sculpture. It was a Christmas tree, with bay grapes as ornaments, and beside it were the words: 'For Paige ? Love, Laurie'. She was touched. Her sister really did care! She remembered the cat's words, and looked at the cross. How could this help her? It seemed to glow brightly, and a thought flashed through her mind! She would give it to Laurie, and let her get the credit for finding it! She carefully placed it into her little hand.

Then Paige plopped on the blanket and closed her eyes for a minute. She felt pleased with herself, and thought how nice life could be without the two of them fighting all the time. Drops of water on her head startled her! She looked up to see Laurie's smiling face. Mummy was packing the picnic basket. "Wake up, sleepyhead." "It's time to go!" "I haven't been sleeping!" "Where's the cross? She looked all around, but there was no sign of it.

"While you two were asleep, I went to the pool and found a fish with the Teddy Tucker Cross in its mouth!

"I brought it back and gave it to you, so you could take it to the Underwater Institute and get the credit for finding it!"

"No, Paige, you were sleeping, and I just woke you up."

"You never gave me a cross!" "But, see what I made for you!" She showed her the Christmas tree with its message.

"Yes, Laurie. I did see it, and it's great."

"Thanks!"

Paige rubbed her eyes. Could she have been asleep all the time and dreamed the whole thing? It must be true. There was no cross, no cat. There would be no fame. But, she must have had that dream to help her realise that she should try to get along with her sister. This Christmas was going to be better than ever!

As Mummy and Laurie were putting the bags into the trunk, a cat that looked just like the one in her dream appeared and began rubbing against her legs, purring. Was that cat really from the Haunted House? It didn't matter. She had got the message of the 'cross', and was going to try hard to follow the cat's advice.

She leaned to pet it, but it had disappeared into the Magic Wonderland of unexpected happenings at Christmas time.