This story was written for a January 1, 2007 community celebration to show love and support for Joshua Barker and his family as he pursued medical treatment for his heart condition.

Like it does, time passed since the Spin Skater of Pinpoint Pond won the contest in the big city.

He was still a champion, but he had forgotten how that felt.

Flowers had bloomed and become bouquets on dining room tables.
Fireworks had spidered and sparkled across the dark summer sky.
Apples had been picked and juiced themselves into cider.
Children grew out of their sweaters and socks.
Some families welcomed new babies. Other families said goodbye to elders.
Sunrises came up behind pine tree covered islands, and sunsets touched the sacred shore at moonbeam time.

On one such day, Miss Cecille “Yoohooed” to the Quoddy Kids who were all at the beach looking for treasures left by the tide. The six Kids came running to the Square House by the Sea where Miss Cecille had some news to tell them.

“I have just heard from the mother of the Spin Skater of Pinpoint Pond,” Miss Cecille said. The Quoddy Kids all looked at each other with big eyes and happy faces. “But I must tell you that our Spin Skater needs our help. His body is tired and his spirit sometimes feels sad. Most of all, his heart is sick, and his mother said that he needs a new heart to be all well again.”

The happy looks changed. The Quoddy Kids could see from Miss Cecille’s face and hear in her voice that she was worried. “The Spin Skater has not been feeling well for some time” she said. “His mother said he hasn’t looked at his trophy or ribbon from when he won the skating contest in the big city for a long time. And, she doesn’t believe he even thinks about the wonderful silver top that Wise Miss Anna gave him when she told him he could learn to spin like a glittering top himself.

“Oh, my,” said the Kids almost like they were just one child talking.

“The Spin Skater sometimes feels afraid and all alone, “ Miss Cecille said. “It’s a sad time for him.”

“We could make him a card, “ said Shellbert.
“Or draw him a picture”, added ShellZee.
Roshelle thought it might be good to write him a poem.
Shelldon and Shell Boy said they could bake some cookies for him.
Everyone thought about what they could do.

“Let’s all get together and have a show for him, “ said Shellie. “We could ask all of our very good neighbors to come. We could ask the Spin Skater and his family to come and maybe that would help him feel better.”

“Maybe he’d even feel like he did the day he won the big contest, “ said Shelldon.

“It sounds great”, said ShellZee.
“Cool idea, “ said Shellbert.

Miss Cecille just listened and made a smile that showed just a little. She knew whenever the Quoddy Kids set their hearts to something, their minds always came up with a very good idea. “Sounds like you’re creating a ‘Celebration of Life’, Miss Cecille said as she listened to all of their plans.

“Yes” the Kids said, “let’s call it a ‘Celebration of Life’.

Each Kid got a job to do so that everything would be ready. Neighbors got notes that said, “Please come to the Big Art Center on Monday at 2 o’clock to a Celebration of Life for our Spin Skater of Pinpoint Pond. He is sick and needs our help to feel well again.

Things started happening. Everyone was busy.

Monday came. It was 2 o’clock.
Lots of very good neighbors started coming into the Big Art Center.

It was all very exciting and everyone’s stomach felt a little wiggly and jiggly.
Faces had smiles like they knew a very good secret.

“Welcome, neighbors, “ said Shellie. “we’re so glad you came today.”

All of the very good neighbors clapped their hands which meant, “We’re glad we came too.”

The the show for the Spin Skater began.

First was a poem that was made special for the Celebration. A very good neighbor whose grandmother named her Willow spoke the poem she had written. It was all about rainbows and ravens and sacred stones.

Next Mrs. Carver juggled lemons while Mr. Carver played the harmonica. Mrs. Carver said, “Sometimes life hands us lemons and we have to learn how to make them into lemonade.” It was great, and she didn’t drop even one lemon.

Mr. Art stepped up holding a large sheet of paper. He folded it and folded it and folded it and then began cutting with big scissors. All of a sudden, he opened the paper and there was a beautiful surprise. “Wow,” said everyone when they saw the grand snowflake.

Then Mr. Knows-Alot did some funny things. He told a little joke. He played a tune by putting a plastic thing under his nose and blowing air. He made some sounds with his mouth -- like cutting up a log, and a race car driving by fast, and a water dripping sound that made some folks look up to see if the roof of the Big Art Center had a leak. Then, he magically pulled a shiny quarter right out of Shellie’s ear, and no one could believe it happened.

The Puppet Man made a raven that looked like a real one fly and dance to the music played by a bunch of children that call themselves Pieces of String because they all play violins and a guitar with lots of strings on them.

And, Wise Miss Anna sang a gentle song. She looked right at the Spin Skater and his family and it seemed like she was singing a prayer just for them.

Finally, Mr. Vocalman came to the stage and said, “When we celebrate life like this, it feels like its a birthday party for everyone in the room.

And, when the Spin Skater’s heart is better, it’ll be just like his birthday. Life is very good when we get together and show one another we love and care. Let’s all sing Happy Birthday — first to the Spin Skater, then to Shellie and Miss Cecille, because it really is their real birthday, and then lets sing to Everyone because it will just feel good to sing to ourselves.”

While everyone was singing, two very good neighbor girls brought a candle and carefully lit it.

When the singing stopped, Mr. Keys went to the piano and sang a very nice song about “If everyone lights just one little candle, what a bright world it will be.”

ShellZee and Roshelle came onto the stage carrying the trophy and ribbon that the Spin Skater had won years ago at the contest in the big city. They put them on a table very carefully because they knew how important they were.

Then Shellie came to the center of the room. She stood very straight and looked right at the Spin Skater and his family. She was carrying a red box. She opened the lid.

“Spin Skater of Pinpoint Pond, “ she said, “you made all of us understand that you can be from a very small place and only have a very small space but if you always do your best you can be a winner. You made us all so proud of you. And you showed all of us how to spin and sparkle. You taught us that anything and everything is possible when you believe in yourself, and that others who love you will always help you achieve your dream.

Shellie reached into the box and took out a little silver top that glittered and sparkled. “Oh” and Ah” said the very good neighbors.

“This is the special top that Wise Miss Anna gave you some time ago, “ said Shellie. “You thought you had lost it and you’d never find it again. But your Mother knew right where it was all the time. It helped you be a winner before, and it will help you again.”

Shellie placed the top in the center of the table and gave it a spin. It glittered and sparkled and all of the very good neighbors clapped and clapped. The Spin Skater smiled and waved from where he was sitting with his family.

“Now,” said Shellie, its yours again. We believe in you and we love you, Spin Skater. And all of your very good neighbors hope you will feel better soon. “ She put the top back into the red box and carried it to the Spin Skater.

The Very Good Neighbors clapped again.

Miss Cecille came forward. “My what a lovely show you Quoddy Kids and our very good neighbors gave,” she said. “Now let’s all go downstairs to have some happy and healthy cookies and make some cards and drawings for the Spin Skater to take with him when he goes to get well.”

All of the very good neighbors—the ones who were in the show and the ones who came to the show—all went past the Spin Skater and his family. They waved to him. Some patted him on his shoulder. Some blew him a kiss. Some wiped a tear from their eyes they were so happy for him.

For the rest of the time, the Very Good Neighbors had fun together -- cutting, pasting, drawing, coloring, eating cookies and making good wishes for the Spin Skater to take on his journey to feel better. He had enough good wishes to last forever.

The Spin Skater sat in a big chair that had balloons all around it. He looked like a King. He felt like a champion again. It was just like he felt when he won the skating contest in the big city. “Thank you , thank you, “ he said to all. “ I feel better already. You are very good neighbors indeed.”