It was Christmas Eve in the flat where Hania lived with her mum. Outside the window, soft snow was falling around the lanterns. The room smelled of dumplings and pine, and the lights on the Christmas tree twinkled like little beetles on the branches. Hania had placed the angel and the star carefully on the very top. Suddenly, she heard a faint ringing beneath the window. It wasn’t the telephone or the television. The sound was like the jingling of a sleigh bell. Hania opened the window and looked out onto the balcony. On the windowsill lay a small red parcel. A silver bell and a star gleamed on the ribbon. She brought the parcel to the table beside the Christmas tree. On the attached card, written in big letters, were the words: “Open when the first star appears.” Hania looked toward the sky, but the clouds hid every sparkle. Then, suddenly, the bell chimed and the parcel quivered gently. A soft knock echoed from behind the door — once, twice. And then, a quiet voice whispered: “Hania... will you help?”