Summary
The Best Christmas Present in the World, written by Michael Morpurgo, is a heartwarming story about the devastating effects of war, the universal longing for peace, and the power of human connection. The story begins with the narrator buying a damaged roll-top desk from a junk shop in Bridport. Although the desk was in poor condition, it was reasonably priced, and he decided to restore it. He brought it home and began working on it on Christmas Eve. While pulling out its damaged drawers, he discovered a hidden compartment that contained a small tin box.
The box was labeled with a note: “Jim’s last letter, received January 25, 1915. To be buried with me when the time comes.” Inside, the narrator found an envelope addressed to Mrs. Jim Macpherson, 12 Copper Beeches, Bridport, Dorset. Curious, he opened the letter and read its contents. It was dated December 26, 1914 and written in pencil by a British soldier named Jim Macpherson, who had been stationed on the front lines during World War I.
In the letter, Jim narrated an extraordinary event that occurred on Christmas Day. Both the British and German armies, who had been fighting fiercely, decided to call a temporary truce. The German soldiers initiated this ceasefire by waving a white flag and shouting Christmas greetings to the British troops. Initially, the British soldiers, including Jim, were cautious, suspecting it could be a trap. But soon, soldiers from both sides met in no man’s land, exchanging handshakes, laughter, and goodwill.
Jim described how the German soldiers brought wine and canned meat to share, while the British offered their own food. They celebrated together, putting aside their weapons and hostility for one day. A German officer named Hans Wolf approached Jim, and the two men struck up a conversation. Hans revealed that he had been a musician in Dusseldorf, playing the cello in an orchestra, before the war. He expressed his love for English literature, especially Far from the Madding Crowd by Thomas Hardy. Jim introduced himself as a schoolteacher from Dorset, and Hans shared that he had read about Dorset in books, even though he had never been to England.
The two men bonded over their shared love for music, books, and peace. Hans tasted a piece of Christmas cake that Jim had and declared it the best he had ever eaten. Later, a football match broke out between the soldiers, with both sides playing in good spirits. Jim and Hans cheered for their respective teams, and the Germans ultimately won the match. Jim wrote that, during those moments, he wished the war could be resolved with football matches rather than violence, as no one would die, children would not lose their parents, and wives would not lose their husbands.
As the truce ended, Hans and Jim bid farewell, expressing their hope for peace and a return to their families. That night, both armies sang carols, with the Germans singing Silent Night and the British responding with While Shepherds Watched. Jim ended the letter by telling his wife, Connie, that the Christmas truce was the happiest memory of his life, and he longed for the war to end so they could be together again.
After reading the letter, the narrator felt deeply moved and decided to deliver it to Mrs. Macpherson, the intended recipient. The next morning, he traveled to Bridport to find her. However, upon reaching her house, he discovered that it had been destroyed in a fire. A neighbor informed him that Mrs. Macpherson had survived but now lived in a nursing home, as the fire had started when she accidentally left candles burning.
The narrator visited the nursing home and found Mrs. Macpherson, an elderly woman confined to a wheelchair. He introduced himself and handed her the letter. When she saw it, her eyes lit up with joy, and she clutched it tightly. Mistaking the narrator for her husband, she spoke to him with love and longing, saying that she had missed him terribly all these years and had even prepared a special Christmas cake for him, knowing how much he loved it.
Conclusion
The story ends on a poignant note, highlighting the lasting impact of war on individuals and their families. It conveys a powerful message about the futility of war and the universal desire for peace. Through the lens of a small but significant act of humanity during a brutal conflict, the story reminds readers of the importance of love, hope, and reconciliation in overcoming the horrors of war.