Beth and Noelle the Fir Tree
by Richard Valentini

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The story "Beth and Noelle the Fir Tree" is about a girl and her family during the depression era of the thirties, when all families were struggling to make ends meet. She too, comes from a family that cannot afford much for her for Christmas. Beth realizes this but has but one wish, a Christmas tree. She and her father both agree to search and set out to find the perfect one. They drive out in her Dad's 1930's old jalopy which has a rumble seat in the back instead of a trunk. At first Beth was disappointed at an empty tree lot. Her father then decides to take her to a nearby tree farm. With so many trees she can't decide on which one to choose but with the help of a magical elf she finds her perfect tree. It is a story told in poetry form, which centers on, even though you may be very poor, you still may have your wish come true. That no matter what your circumstances are in life - with your parents, some unexpected help and by not giving up hope, your dream may come true. And even now, at age ninety-three, Beth looks back with wonder and appreciation at the gift she received.

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Dedicated to all of the students I've taught in my almost fifty years of teaching in public schools. Whatever your age now, I hope you enjoy my story and remember the good times we had performing plays and skits in my classes.

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Richard Valentini lives in northern California but originally is from Connecticut. The US Air Force brought him to the Yuba City area in the 1970's. He was trained as a war skill medic and had a clearance for many military matters. As a child he sometimes lived in public housing projects and by the age of ten helped his family as a paperboy, delivering 220 newspapers a day. This experience taught him from an early age what it was like for some people to struggle with earning a living. In some ways he was a lot like Beth, the girl in his story, wanting some things but understanding life's limitations and learning to share. He also learned not to judge people by what they had or didn't have and that sometimes not having a whole lot of material items, really didn't actually matter and made you a better person. Early in his life he learned to appreciate what he had and to be grateful for what he was given. Rich became a Special Ed teacher. He has a Master's Degree in Special Education, with teaching credentials in Special Education, Social Science and Math. He has worked with teenagers for almost fifty-two years and still tutors in mathematics, part time, at a local charter school. Rich enjoys writing stories, poetry and plays. "Beth and Noelle the Fir Tree" will be his third published book. Rich also plays tennis and pickle ball whenever he can. He and his wife Alice have a small cottage in Madison, Connecticut and travel there during the summer season.

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Richard Valentini

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