Izzy Laperuta

Izzy LaPeruta, 7, was playing with a ball inside her New Jersey living room, next to a Christmas tree wrapped in colorful lights. She had bad aim, or the ball bounced, or ricocheted off the tree - who can be sure? - all that matters is that in the living room chaos, a little elf doll sitting in a red felt stocking plummeted onto the carpet.

Izzy LaPeruta, 7, was playing with a ball inside her New Jersey living room, next to a Christmas tree wrapped in colorful lights. She had bad aim, or the ball bounced, or ricocheted off the tree - who can be sure? - all that matters is that in the living room chaos, a little elf doll sitting in a red felt stocking plummeted onto the carpet.