It was Christmas Eve and snow was falling softly. The house smelled of gingerbread and orange peel. The Christmas tree stood in the corner, silent and tall. Mum was stirring borscht in a red pot. Dad slipped hay under the white tablecloth. Grandpa talked about the first star in the sky. Zosia hung her paper star on a twig. Under the Christmas tree was a box without a bow. On the card was the sentence: 'Zosia, don't open it yet. Listen." Zosia froze and held her breath for a moment. Then a quiet bell sounded from under the branch. It was not the clock in the corridor. The sound came from a place without decoration. On the needle hung a tiny bell with the letter Z. It rang when Zosia quietly blew on it. "Is that for me?" she whispered in surprise. Suddenly the lights flickered and dimmed for a moment. The shadow of a sleigh scrolled across the window. A small door appeared in the trunk of the Christmas tree. A warm golden light twinkled in them. From behind the door came a whisper and a thud. "Sophie, can you help us find the missing star?" The presents moved and formed a narrow path. A box without a bow rolled towards Zosia. The lid vibrated, as if someone had knocked on the inside. Zosia reached her hand over the lock and....