He'd seen one on a boat passing by over his head. Through the clear Caribbean water, he saw the green decorated tree lighting the stern of the boat, different colored lights blinking on and off.
The tree was surrounded by people admiring it and singing in the fair night. He heard someone say the word "Christmas" and thought it was a beautiful word. He knew what trees were because some grew on the beach just on the other side of the water.
Looking at himself, Charlie saw a big brownish rock covered with red, green and brown algae. There were holes in him which fish swam through and lobsters sometimes hid.
Most of the other coral were bigger than him. Charlie was still young and growing and while everyone thought he to be a handsome coral, Charlie wanted to be a Christmas Tree when he grew up.
Charlie had loved the tree ever since and thought Christmas must be wonderful. Under the Ocean, it didn't mean anything.
Most of the fish who lived with him weren't interested in talking about what Christmas might be as they darted pass, playing fishy games and trying to stay away from the bigger fish who might eat them.
The other coral scattered around the sandy Ocean floor were simply content being coral. But Charlie was different. He dreamed he could be anything he wanted ... even a Christmas Tree. The older coral told him to stop thinking foolish thoughts.
"You're coral and nothing else," old Mr. Coral told him. "It's a good life. There is plankton to live on and fish to keep us company. Sometimes people come down to see us. It's important to know your place in the world Charlie! Coral are supposed to be under the water. Christmas is for people ... NOT US! You don't see fish thinking about it! Or the Stingray! Dolphins certainly don't. Sharks either!"
Charlie listened wishing some fish would swim into his ears and plug them but finally asked, "You know about Christmas? What about the Tree of Lights?" and the excitement in his voice startled a school of fish who quickly darted away.
Glad someone was talking to him for a change, the old coral, puffed up a bit to show off his knowledge and spoke like a Teacher. "People believe putting lights on trees is pretty. Once a year they get them from the forest and put them in their homes. They decorate the trees to pay them honor ... once a year. The rest of the time, people don't pay much attention to trees. It's sad they don't get along more."
"But how do they bring the trees from the forest to their homes?" Charlie asked.
"They cut them down," old Mr. Coral answered.
Knowing how people can sometimes be, Charlie listed in horror as he'd once watched some drop an anchor on Lucy the Coral as they fished. The heavy anchor cut off one of her fingers and it now lay grey and dead near her. Whenever Lucy saw it, she cried. Charlie looked at her in the distance in silence.
"But the trees are so pretty. The stars rest on their branches and different colors dance around them," Charlie mused, not wanting to be cut down but still wishing he was a Christmas Tree.
Old Mr. Coral looked sternly at Charlie. "Listen, coral are coral. Our place is here in the water. We are food and shelter to the fish. We are important to the world. Being coral is better than being a Christmas Tree so put all of this foolishness out of your mind right now!"
Charlie signed looking at the rusty anchor that had cut off Lucy's finger. Old Mr. Coral was probably right.
That night Charlie dreamed people came and cut him down. They used a big saw and cut him off right at the bottom. It hurt and he cried when they took him to the boat. Setting him in the stern, they placed stars and bright lights and colored balls all over him. At first it made him feel good until he saw a real Christmas Tree beside him and was ashamed and embarrassed.
Charlie woke in the dark night-time water and was glad to still be home between Old Mr. Coral and Lucy. His friends floated nearby. It was only a dream. Charlie began to cry.
Finny Fish woke and asked, "What's wrong Charlie?"
"I want to be a Christmas Tree," Charlie explained, "but I don't want to leave home. I am coral and that's important but I'm more than that too! I want to shine underwater with bright colors on me to make everyone feel good when they see me ... even Old Mr. Coral. Lucy could look at me and forget about the anchor that broke her finger."
Finny Fish listened patiently to his friend and replied, "But Charlie the fish need you. You are our home. You give us food. You are my friend."
"I know," Charlie cried, "but I still want to be more."
Now Finny Fish was smart and thought about how to help his friend.
He thought and thought and thought until finally he said, "Charlie please tell me exactly what a Christmas Tree looks like."
So Charlie the Coral, who loved Christmas Trees, told Finny the Fish all about them.
Finny listened carefully and then told Charlie his idea. Charlie nodded ... happy, excited and scared all at the same time.
Finny swam to his school and to other ones too asking for their help.
Soon hundreds of fish swam around Charlie the Coral and Finny Fish smiled and yelled, "Is everyone ready?"
"YES!" they bubbled.
"OKAY! GO" Finny shouted.
Hundreds of fish began to eat, most at the top and just a little at the bottom. It took a long time because the tiny fish had to scrape their teeth against Charlie to eat the algae. As they did, bits and pieces of coral fell away.
When they finished, Charlie was broad and round at the bottom, slender in the middle and came to a point at the top. There was no algae left on him but Charlie knew it would grow back.
The next morning Old Mr. Coral woke, yawned and looked at the sun shinning above the blue Ocean. He nodded greetings to Lucy Coral and said, "Good Morning" to the fish who seemed full and sleepy floating around him.
But when he look towards Charlie, he couldn't believe what he saw.
Charlie the Coral looked like a Christmas Tree.
"The fish did it!' Charlie happily explained. "They ate all night long in just the right places."
"But Charlie," Old Mr. Coral sighed, "you're still not a Christmas Tree. You are coral."
"I know and I want to be coral," Charlie grinned, "but watch this!"
Finny Fish and Charlie's other fishy friends swam to him, circling around and through his holes ... green, blue, yellow and red ... lighting up the Ocean bottom in color.
"He looks just like a Christmas Tree," Old Mr. Coral laughed.
"You are beautiful Charlie," Lucy Coral called.
Old Mr. Coral nodded in agreement. Charlie and his friends were right.
Soon every Dolphin, shark, stingray, shrimp and lobster came to see for themselves and everyone thought Charlie was a wonderful sight.
Now if someone feels bad, they look for Charlie. If Lucy is sad because the anchor cut off her finger or Old Mr. Coral is sick or on special days and days that aren't so special, Finny Fish and his friends swim around and through Charlie the Christmas Coral and everyone is happy again.
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