The Watchful Ornament

The Johnson family bought a new ornament that year—a shiny red bulb with gold trim,

hand-blown glass—perfectly reflective... almost too reflective. At first it was beautiful; it shimmered no matter

where you stood. But then... it started turning on its own. Every morning they

woke up to find the ornament in a new position, always angled downward,

always facing someone—first the baby, then the mother, then the father. They thought it

was a prank, until the night the father stayed up late watching the tree in

the darkness. At 2:16 AM, the ornament rotated—smoothly, silently—until its surface pointed straight at

him. He stood up, walked closer and saw—well, not his reflection,