The Holiday Box

Durga Puja - Credit: Partho Roy / Unsplash

This is my entry for the #FallWritingFrenzy contest. I’m so grateful for the opportunity. I selected the Durga Puja image which inspired this short story. I’ve been a writer for as long as I can remember and I’m so excited to connect with the #KidLit community through this contest. Thank you so much for reading!

-Preeti

On Monday morning, Aarya watched in delight as her teacher drew a box on the blackboard. Ms. Henry did this every day to symbolize the date on the calendar. If it was a holiday, the class would talk and learn about it. Aarya couldn’t wait for the class to learn about her favorite holiday: Durga Puja. She missed celebrating it how she used to in Kolkata.

Ms. Henry consulted her clipboard and then simply wrote the date in the box. “No holiday today. Just Monday.” Aarya frowned. It wasn’t just Monday, she thought. It was the first day of her favorite holiday. She raised her hand to inform Ms. Henry, but Ms. Henry didn’t notice.

That evening, Mama gave Aarya an intricately carved, wooden box. Aarya recognized it instantly from their old house in Kolkata.

“It’s our holiday box,” Mama said. “A piece of home.” Aarya cradled the box in her arms and gently placed it on the sofa. She carefully lifted the lid, taking in a deep breath as her eyes rested on the holiday decorations.

Aarya closed her eyes. It will all be okay. Because even though that box was empty, this one certainly wasn’t.