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Short Stories |
The Christmas Star |
Author: Zoe Ball |
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It was a year ago tonight that my little girl became the most famous astronomer in the world. As she was only eight at the time, you may find this rather hard to believe. But, for one moment, she held the attention of astronomers everywhere.
It was eight o’clock on Christmas Eve night. A wave of freezing sleet earlier in the day had given way to an icy cold, star-filled night. We were staying with my Mum, as we always did over Christmas. We made a happy party, me, Mum and Jessie. Dad had died ten years ago, and we sorely missed him. It has always been my greatest regret that he never had the chance to meet Jessie- how he would have loved her.
She was born dyslexic. My erstwhile partner, Matthew, was never keen on having children. We’d been together for three years when I fell pregnant. At first, he seemed to accept the idea of being a father- but, when he was told of her condition, he turned and ran for his life. About all I could expect from a man, I suppose. It broke my heart at the time- he’d been my first boyfriend. I’d met him at the age of sixteen, and we were friends for two years before anything more happened. We did all the usual romantic stuff, swore we’d be together forever- but, when push came to shove, he deserted me, and I was left to bring Jessie up alone.
At first, times were very hard, and money was short. I’d never have coped without my Mum. After leaving Matthew’s flat, I was living alone for the first time in my life, which didn’t make things any easier. But I had sworn to make it on my own, and, eventually, I got a better job working in an office- I’d been a cleaner before- and life improved.
This meant more money, which enabled me to put a deposit down on a little house- and to begin once more to indulge my greatest passion, astronomy. I bought a large-but-cheap Dobsonian, some eyepieces and filters, and was happier than I’d ever been.
I also began to very tentatively introduce Jessie to the subject. I had no idea if she would develop any interest in it, but she astounded me. Even though she can’t put her thoughts onto paper very well, she’s incredibly clever. She took to it like a duck to water. Every weekend and holiday, she couldn’t wait for it to get dark so that we could start observing, and winter has always been her favourite time of year, because of the long, clear nights.
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So here we were on Christmas Eve. Jessie was alternately rushing outside to look at the stars and running round the house with excitement. I was starting to think about getting her to bed when, all of a sudden, I heard her shouting loudly to me from the garden.
“Mummy, Mummy, come and look at this!”
“What is it, Sweetheart?” I called back.
She came running back in. Breathless, she said, “There’s a new star in the sky, Mummy.”
I smiled, thinking she had probably seen the ISS. I knew that she had a good knowledge of the sky, and guessed that in her excitement, she hadn’t noticed that it was moving.
“Was it moving, Love?” I asked her gently.
“No, Mummy. It’s a new star! It is, it is! Come and see!”
Intrigued, but still thinking she was mistaken, I followed her outside and looked up where she was pointing. And all the breath in my body abruptly left it.
A star far brighter than any I had ever seen was hanging in the sky, about half way up in the west. For about thirty seconds, I stood staring at it with my mouth hanging open, every moment expecting it to move and reveal itself as an aeroplane or artificial satellite.
But it didn’t. It simply hung there, glistening in every conceivable colour. I had never seen anything so beautiful, and, for a long time, I couldn’t drag my gaze away from it. But, after a while, it slowly began to dawn on me just what it might be.
“It is a new star, isn’t it, Mummy?” Jessie asked from my side, where she had been standing all this time, just as enraptured as I was.
“I think it might be, Love,” I answered her softly, unwilling to break this priceless moment by speaking too loudly. But, already, I was beginning to wonder who I could contact about this at eight in the evening on Christmas Eve. The chances were enormous that someone else had already noticed and reported it. But just maybe…
“I think we need to tell someone about this, Jessie,” I told her. I was trembling in sheer disbelief, my mind unable to accept that this could really be what it appeared to be.
“Why, Mummy?” she asked innocently.
“Because…” and here I faltered. Jessie was very good at astronomy, but how on Earth would I explain to her what a supernova was?
I started again. “Because I think this might be a supernova. They’re what happens to a heavy star when it dies, and they’re extremely rare in our galaxy. One this bright hasn’t been seen in at least four hundred years.”
“Who will we tell, then?”
“I’m not sure, Darling.”
Even as I said this, I was running back indoors to rummage amongst my magazines for websites or contact numbers.
Finding no help there, I went on the internet, which, luckily, I had left on a short time ago. Eventually, I found a site exclusively dedicated to supernovae, which included a facility for reporting new finds. I quickly rang the number provided, and the rest is history.
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My Jessie was the first to see the new supernova. For weeks, it was the brightest thing in the sky apart from the Sun and Moon- it was clearly visible even in the daytime. On any other night of the year, she would in all probability have been beaten to it. But I couldn’t have been more proud of her. She didn’t understand what all the fuss was about, of course. We were swamped for a short time with requests for newspaper interviews, even television appearances. We did a few, but ignored the majority.
Jessie stayed cool throughout, taking it all in her stride. She was the little girl who discovered the Christmas Star. Of course, various religious groups all over the world made much of it, and I’m very much afraid that the families of the world’s astronomers didn’t see much of them over that Christmas.
But then, gradually, the brief hysteria that had gripped so many passed, and normality took over once more. Cries of the returning Messiah faded, and the scientists settled down to seriously study their data.
And here we are, one year on, on a night very similar to that other one. It hasn’t been dark for long, and we stepped outside a few minutes ago to catch a look at the stars. We stood side-by-side for a moment, gazing upwards. Then we turned to each other and laughed.
My Jessie will never forget that night, and neither will I. What I hope to make her understand is that she is even more precious and beautiful than the supernova she discovered. She is my star.
About the author:
"I was born in Milton Keynes in 1987, where I have lived nearly all my life. I lived in Kendal, Cumbria for three years, and moved back to MK in November 2006. I have a lifelong obsession with astronomy which started when I was about four and I watched the stars rising at dusk. I have loved them ever since, and I am now a member of Milton Keynes Astronomical Society, where I hold the position of Director of Observations, which sounds much grander than it is!
I am a part-time cashier in Somerfield at the moment, though I am looking for a new, full-time job. I would love to make writing my career, though that is obviously a long way off yet.
I was badly bullied at school, and was removed at the age of seven to be taught at home. Due to domestic troubles, I never had the chance to take any exams, though I think I could have done, but I have just achieved the national test, which is GCSE equivalent, in English, and, hopefully, I will have it in maths in about three weeks.
I have always loved to read, and I try to get as much variety as possible. The only thing I won’t read is chick lit! I am also a complete bibliophile- I keep most of the books I read- my bookcase is overflowing!
I have a passion for ancient mythology, especially Greek and Roman, as well as Middle-Earth- the works of Tolkien are my favourite books. I am also quite a Trekkie, sad as it is! My other loves include Formula 1 motor racing and all things to do with nature.
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By Zoe Ball
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