The Blinded Boy and The Santa Girl

Once upon a time there was a boy named Etoh, who lived in the small village far to the north. Etoh grew up in the orphanage, and he was blind from birth. But Etoh was always cheerful, and worked very hard every day. Today Etoh was doing his best to help out around the house.

“Etoh, Etoh, where are you?” said a girl with a white hair while looking around. Her name is Charles. Charles is the most beautiful girl in the village and she is the only daughter of the family who adopted the Blind Etoh from Orphanage.

“I’m here, Charlie” said Etoh while he look back to the source of the sound even though he can’t see.

“Oh, you were drawing water huh ?” said the beautiful Charles. They were very close, and they were raised as a real brother and sister. And the people who watched over them warmly were Nicolas and Claire. They were Charles’s grandfather and Charles’s mother. The family loved Etoh very much, they never differentiated their treatment toward Etoh and Charles, and Etoh lived a very happy life. However there was one thing that Etoh always concerned about.

“Ah, what a nice sister Charlie is” Etoh mumbling to himself “I can’t see, but I’m sure her visage is as beautiful as her soul” said Etoh. That’s right Etoh was deeply in love with Charles, however.

“However, all I do is just to trouble her. I have to work harder. I have to work harder so that I don’t trouble Charlie” said Etoh to himself. Etoh believed that he was burden to Charles, who took care of him. Charles, on the other hand, had no slightly idea of what Etoh felt. She was helping out around the house with him.

“Charles, Etoh, can you go buy some vegetables and meat for the dinner ?” ask Claire to both of them.

“Of course mom” said Etoh

“Let’s go Etoh” said Charles to Etoh while taking his arm.

“Sure, Charlie” said Etoh.

One day.

“It’s almost Christmas” said a villager.

“Yeah, it’s almost Christmas” said another villager.

“The Christmas is almost here” said everyone.

The entire village is was so excited about Christmas. On Christmas, Santa Claus comes down to earth once a year to give presents to people. All children and adults on the village, they all waited for the arrival of Santa Claus.

“It’s this time of the year again” said Nicolas to Claire in front of fireplace in the living room.

“Yes, father. This will be such a joyous year when Charles debuts as a Santa” replied Claire.

That’s right. As a matter of fact, Charles’s family was  Santa Claus’s family. However, nobody in the village even Etoh, who lived with them, knew about this fact.

“Speaking of joyous event, what happened to the man from the other day who wanted to marry Charles ? the proposal from our land’s feudal lord, the rich Count Fred ?” asked Nicolas.

“That. . .  actually I haven’t talked to Charles about it” replied Claire.

“What? Its such a good offer. You must have a word with her” said Nicolas

“I understand” said Claire.

Meanwhile, Charles was experiencing such an excitement and uneasiness about debuting as Santa that year.

“Hey, Etoh” called Charles in her room.

“What is it Charlie ?” Etoh replied.

“What do you want from Santa for the Christmas ?” asked Charles.

“Let’s see” said Etoh “There’s a lot things I want, but I’ll keep them a secret” he added.

“Why ?” asked Charles

“That’s because I’m embarrassed” Etoh replied.

“Hee-hee-hee, tell me. I won’t tell anyone” said Charles

“No way. Ah, I need to draw water” he said as he reached for his cane and gone out from Charles’s room.

“Ah, Etoh. . . !” called Charles. But, Etoh keep walking and gone out of the house.

“Too bad, I couldn’t find out what he wants” she said. “I wonder if I can really become Santa Claus. A fine Santa Clause, just like daddy and grampa” she added

“Sure, I can. I know I can. Because. . . “ she said. “Because I’m going to give Etoh present.” She added.

“I wonder what he wants. I want to give him whatever he wants.” Said Charles mumbling to herself.

“Because I. . . “

“I Love Etoh” said Charles.

“Oh, my beautiful Charles” said Fred the land’s feudal lord.

“Charles, my wife to be. Please accept my love” he added.

A nobleman, Fred, came from outside the village on a white horse. He came to learn Charles’s answer.

“Charles, I’m sure that your answer is yes, correct ?” asked Count Fred.

But no matter how many approaches Count Fred made or how many gift and flower he gave, Charles still loved Etoh dearly. However, he can’t tell him that directly.

“I won’t be your wife” she replied

“oh, my gooooood! Why !? Why!?” asked Count Fred.

“I. . . I. . .  I must take care of Etoh” replied Charles.

Etoh who was secretly listening in on the conversation, was shocked.

“No. . . I can’t believe she turned down a marriage proposal because of me. I don’t want her to. I want Charlie to be happy” Etoh mumbled to himself.

“Ah, Santa. Please let Charlie be happy. Let me be a burden upon her no more. Let me burden her no more” the young Etoh could only pray for that.

Soon, the village was covered with snow. It was Christmas, the day everyone had been waiting for.

“Merry Christmas” Everyone said to one another on every corner on the village. Everyone looked happy. But, Etoh wasn’t happy at all.

“Etoh, why are you avoiding me ?” asked Charles in the middle of the village street.

“I’m not avoiding you” he replied.

“That’s not true. You don’t go shopping with me, or go draw water with me” said Charles

“I can do everything by myself” said Etoh.

“Eh ?” Charles shocked by Etoh’s answer.

“I don’t need your help anymore. I can do everything by myself” said Etoh.

“Etoh. . .” she called while putting her hand on Etoh shoulder.

“Therefore, just. . . just. . . leave me alone!” said Etoh while running away.

“Etoh!” she called him once again

“. . . He’s gone. Does Etoh dislike me ? Why ? Eventhough I actually love him” said Charles to herself.

It was the night of Christmas Eve. Charles, in her guise as Santa Claus, was going one house at a time.

“This child’s present is. . . a big teddy bear. Mazerika Majorika, please grant my wish. Please give this child a big teddy bear” Charles chanted the magic spell. Then a big teddy bear appeared next to the sleeping child.

“Be a good girl again next year” said Charles to the sleeping child.

“Okay, the next house is. . .” she mumbled to herself.

Before long, the dawn was breaking. Charles came to last house. That’s right. She came to her house, where Etoh was asleep.

“Etoh. . .”she mumbled.

“You don’t dislike me, do you ?” she added

“I . . . I. . .*Sniffle*. Well I had to give him a present. I wonder what he wants” she said and start reading Etoh’s letter

“Dear Santa, I love Charlie more than anyone. However, because I’m blind, I’ve become a burden to her. Because of me, Charlie turned down a marriage proposal. Santa, please make me disappear. Make me disappear and be forgotten by anyone, so Charlie can be happy. That’s the present I want.” Said the letter.

“Etoh. . . Why ? Why did you say such a thing ?” Charles mumbled

“I don’t know you felt that way. You were. . .!” Tears were flowing down Charles’s cheeks.

“If you disappeared. . . I would be so unhappy, don’t you see that ?  I can’t be happy without you" Charles cried quietly. And then, her tears fell unto Etoh eye lids.

“Mr. Santa ?” said Etoh while waking up.

“Good evening Etoh” replied Charles

“Good evening Mr. Santa” he said

“Did you read the letter I wrote about the present I want ?” said Etoh.

“. . .” Charles can’t give any reply so she just stand there in her silence.

“I love everyone in this family. I especially love Charlie. Charlie did everything for me. That’s why I want her to be happy. I don’t want to be a burden to her. So please, Mr. Santa. The present I want is for you to make me disappear. And for Charlie to be happy forever” said Etoh to the Charles in guise of Santa.

“Unfortunately, I don’t have a present for you, Etoh” she replied.

“Why?” asked Etoh.

“Because. . .

If I gave you the present. . .

Charles’s beloved Etoh would disappear. . . That’s why” Charles said

“Eh ?”Etoh confused.

“I can’t perform such a magic. . .” she said.

“Mr. Santa ?” said Etoh still confused.

“Etoh, Charles loves you. She doesn’t think of you as a burden.” Said Charles

“The reason she turned down that marriage proposal was because she loves you, Etoh. I love you. I didn’t want to be apart from you!” she said

“Therefore, please. . .

Please don’t wish for a present like that!” she begged

“Charlie is that you ?” asked Etoh

“Yes, it’s me Etoh” she replied

Charles crying in front of confused Etoh.

“Are you crying ?” asked Etoh.

Etoh didn’t realize that he was crying, himself

“I’m crying too, but. . . no, these are your tears, Etoh” she said

“Your sad feelings came into me and. . . I’m crying, right ?” asked Etoh

“Yes. Your sad feelings came across to me too, Etoh” she replied. And then Etoh and Charles embraced each other. That was when. . .

“. . .”

“It’s bright,, very bright. But, it such a warm light” said Etoh.

“Etoh ?” called Charles confused.

“. . . I can see” said Etoh

“Eh ?” Charles still confused by what Etoh said.

“I can see your face, Charlie” he said.

“Etoh!” called Charles

A miracle occurred. Etoh was now able to see.

“I can see. I can see your face, Charlie!” said Etoh.

“I’m so happy, Etoh!” she said.

And then the two tightly embraced each other again. Etoh and Charles’s love for each other made a miracle happen on the Christmas. And Charles said to Etoh

“I already find my happiness”