Angela's Christmas Wish

In Limerick, 1913, a young girl named Angela watches with a heavy heart as her father departs for Australia. She longs for the chance to sing a song to him before he leaves, feeling a deep sense of loss even before he is gone.

Two years later, on Christmas Eve, Angela expresses her wish to Baby Jesus for a doll from the toy shop. However, her mother's strict adherence to house duties prevents this wish from coming true, leaving Angela disappointed.

While at home, Angela's mother shares a story with the children about a King and a Pauper who each receive a wish from a Genie. The story remains incomplete, leaving the Pauper's wish hanging in the air, merely stating, 'I wish, I wish, I wish...'.

During a cleaning session, Angela and her brother Tom discuss their mother's strictness. Tom reveals that their mother is deeply affected by their father's absence, prompting Angela to invent clever plans to bring him back from Australia.

Angela and her brother Pat initiate their first plan by digging holes in both their backyard and the neighbor's yard. Unfortunately, their attempts are futile, adding to the frustration of their mission to reunite with their father.

Seeking more information, Angela and Pat head to the library where they mistakenly believe that Australia is very close to Ireland. This misguided belief leads them to think they could simply take a train to reach their father, showcasing their innocence.

Angela encounters Mr. McGinty, who shares his plight about his cow giving birth and needing money for a vet. Inspired to help, Angela takes up the challenge of earning money, demonstrating her empathy towards others in need.

Desperate to earn money, Angela tries singing in a bar but initially goes unnoticed. Pat, seeing her struggle, joins in, and together they perform Angela's song, gaining enough attention to earn a considerable amount of money.

Angela visits the vet's house, where she meets a kind girl named Dorothy. The vet explains that traveling to Australia by train is impossible, leading to a difficult moment when Angela and Pat must part ways over this revelation.

Angela and Pat attempt to reach a ship dock to sail to Australia, fervently trying to bring her father back home. In a tense moment, they narrowly escape detection by a dock worker, but Angela misses the ship and cannot board it.

After their thwarted attempt at sailing, Angela returns home despondent and tells her mother of the day's events. Her mother reassures her by sharing the final wish of the pauper from the story, which focuses on finding happiness.

Feeling inspired, Angela takes a picture of her father and clutches it tightly to her heart. She starts wishing for her father in a moment of deep yearning, captured by the love and hope she feels in that moment.

To Angela's astonishment, just as she finishes her wish, her father magically returns home. Filled with shock and joy, Angela realizes that her heartfelt wish may have been answered in a way she never expected.

As time passes, Angela helps Mr. McGinty's cow recover, while learning more about Australia from her father. With the family reunited, they begin to live a more fulfilling and joyous life, embracing new possibilities.

After a long day, her father kisses Angela goodnight, embodying the warmth of family love. Angela drifts off to sleep, finally feeling content and surrounded by the love that was once lost.