MANILA, Philippines ? Bella Stella noticed a group of other stars huddled in close conference. What could it be that they were so interested in? Perhaps they were talking about her ? she was new here (she had been created just three million years ago). With her heart fluttering with excitement, she edged closer to the group of stars and cocked her ear. She recognized Stella Furiosa, who was reputed to be the oldest among all the stars, and was just in time for what she was saying.

?I say I should be chosen,? she boomed assertively, as her volcanoes spewed flame and molten rocks. ?I?m the oldest here, and I know my way around. Anybody who thinks otherwise is crazy. What do you say, Stella Timida?? The small, anemic star looked at her and wheezed.

No contest

?Just as you say ? there is no contest at all.? A few other stars nodded in assent. Bella Stella tapped one star on the shoulder, and when she turned, she asked.

?What are you so excited about? It seems to be something extra big, to have Stella Furiosa so worked up.?

?It is big!? whispered the other star. ?The Good Lord has announced that he will choose a star to go down to planet Earth and stand over a stable and...?

?A stable?? gasped Bella Stella. ?What in the world for??

?You didn?t let me finish. God the Son is becoming a man called Jesus, and He will go down to the stable to sleep.?

?Well,? said Bella Stella, ?that?s certainly silly. Whoever heard of a multi-zillionaire sleeping in a stable? The customs here in Heaven are sure mighty strange!? She thanked the star, slipped back into her orbit and promptly forgot the whole incident.

Huge sign

The next day, a huge sign in gold-plated letters was put up in the town square. After spelling through it, Bella Stella found out that it said this:

?Announcing the ?Signal Star Contest,? to decide which star will act as consort for our Prince, God the Son, in his descent to Earth. All entries must be accompanied with two empty cartons of Star Soap and a full-page photograph of the applicant. Stars under 10,000,000 years old need not apply.?

All the other stars were keyed up by the contest, but Bella Stella was just not interested. It was silly, and besides, she was underage. So, she whiled away the time by engaging in her favorite pastime, chasing meteors as they whizzed past her.

When the contest had ended and the results were known, it was announced that Stella Furiosa had won the coveted first prize. The date of her descent was set for Dec. 24th and the whole of Heaven was a tangled ball of yarn as it prepared itself for the historic event.

The dawn of December 24th came, and the Sun lit Heaven with a radiant, golden glow. Bella Stella, the only star who had not left her orbit to join in the celebration, was far, far out in space, enjoying a bird?s eye view of the proceedings.

At about 6 o?clock in the evening, she saw that the launching ceremonies were about to begin. She leaned forward, but an arching trail of light caught the corner of her eye. A meteor!

Immediately, she forgot all about the pageantry and excitement, slipped out of her orbit, and headed for the meteor, her heart beating fast, the cold air cutting her face as she dove from the ionosphere through all the other spheres she could think of. The meteor, she noticed, seemed to be getting smaller as it fell. Half an hour later, it was gone. And suddenly, Bella Stella was afraid.

Goosebumps

She looked around, her skin a whole mass of goosebumps. She had never been this far down before, and all the stars and planets were unfamiliar to her. The air was warmer, and the sky was not as inky-black as it was before. ?I must get back to Heaven,? she thought.

But, do what she would, she could not check her fall. It was as if a great, invisible hand was dragging her down, down to ... what? She dared not imagine it. And, all the time, she fell... and fell!

One hour later, she had calmed down, and was looking around her. It was then that she made the mistake of looking down. Her stomach heaved, rumbled, and she gasped. But it was what she saw that shook her, for she saw ? Earth.

She bucked, she struggled, but she could not shake off the shackles that dragged her down. She fell... and fell... and then, stopped. She saw tiny mounds that were mountains; threads, silvery and winding, that were rivers. She waited, for she knew that something would happen. And soon, something did happen. But, it was happening thousands of miles away form her, down on Earth...

Unfathomable light

The couple had just been denied a bed at the inn. The man, rugged and big, sadly led the mule, upon which his wife sat, away. She was young, this wife of his, but her eyes shone with a mature, unfathomable light. They were about to go to another inn, when the girl looked up and breathed.

?Joseph, up there, atop that hill ? there, that one illuminated by that strange star ? that is a stable, is it not??

?Why, so it is, Mary,? the man smiled through his tears, ?so it is!? And, they went up that hill and entered the stable, and ?She brought forth a son and laid him in the manger. And a host of Angels came from heaven and sang, ?Glory to God in the Highest, and on Earth peace to Men of Goodwill!?

And, there, Bella Stella shines and twinkles to this day. She is happy, for she has gotten to like her position, and has become quite famous. Maybe you have read about her ? she is the Christmas Star of Bethlehem.