The War Is Over

By Yuan Yi

It was Christmas Eve. Along with my parents and our children, we made a trip in to New York's Rockefeller Center to see the greatest Christmas tree ever.

Even my parents were excited. Not just because of the outing, but they too had been infected by my husband's enthusiasm and encouragement. Several days before our trip, he had rushed round to my parents to tell them that a huge Christmas tree was to be set up at the Rockefeller Center. This year's tree had been chosen in the State of Ohio and it had been transported by air to New York City. He insisted that we all go to see it.

It was late afternoon when we set out. The children were really excited and sang, laughed and shouted as we drove along the road.

Personally, had it not been for my parents and the children, I would never have bothered to go in to the City. I always felt nervous about getting stuck in the endless heavy traffic or losing my way in the maze of zigzagging streets. Once a friend of ours had invited us to tea in the Greenwich area. Our little girl had wet her pants and I ended up running up and down the street with her in my arms, looking for somewhere to buy her some new pants - it had been a nasty experience.

On our way to the City, I said a little prayer. The kids were already tired and by the time we entered the City they had fallen asleep.

As the fog lifted, it got very cold. Visibility was high and the lights of the city were shining brilliantly. Because of the holiday, the streets glowed with beautiful lights. Everywhere we looked there were Christmas trees loaded down with decorations.

Manhattan is built on an island and its sparkling streetlights were reflected in the water. From a distance the colored lights on the tops of the tallest buildings had already caught our attention. Even the great bridges connecting Manhattan with other areas were outlined in twinkling lights. The whole city looked magnificent.

We entered the City through a tunnel. The City was as crowded as it usually was. Even though it was after 10:00 in the evening the streets were still teeming with pedestrians. The people pouring out of the theaters, standing at the bus stops or just bustling by, they all seemed to be filled with the holiday spirit.

The colored lights were in all kinds of different shapes. Even the trees along the streets were decorated with lights. We turned from one street in to another, searching for the greatest Christmas tree ever.

Near the center of the City was a huge advertisement bulletin board almost the size of a building. On the board was a headline The War Is Over, followed by a line in smaller font: - if you want it to be.

It took us just a few seconds to drive past the board. But that was enough for the huge board to catch my attention. It reminded me of the scenes after the war with people running around joyously shouting, "The war is over! The war is over!" What a beautiful and comforting message it was for those who had suffered so much and were scarred with the wounds of war and who had grown up in a land devastated by gunfire!

Finally we reached the greatest Christmas tree at the Rockefeller Center. The entire square was packed with people who had come to see the tree. In the center of the square many were roller-skating.

The tree was decorated with colorful lights. It stood high above all the others. Its wonder was beyond words. Watching it from afar, I felt that the City of New York too was also beyond words.

It began to snow. Snowflakes fell on the tree, on the square and on the people.

When the King of Peace comes, then the war is over. Then peace dwells among us - if you want it to.

The author came from Beijing. She is now a graduate student in Physics in New York State University.