The lone figure of a dark-haired, tanned person wandered through the halls of the large house. The heavy, dark drapes on the wall fluttered as he walked past them, the dark wood of the floor creaking slightly. Blake wasn’t quite sure where he was going, but he stopped when he saw the entrance hall of the house. It was so large and empty. He could remember the times when it would be bustling with people when his parents threw large parties for people to attend around this frigid, dim, busy time of year. Blake slowly sat on the top step. Thinking about the days when his family was actually with him was painful, and he tried not to think about it. Now that he had, though, memories were flooding in.
He remembered when from Christmas Eve to New Year’s Day the whole staff would have off. He could envision when he and his sister would go to the kitchens and look for recipes for cookies and fruitcakes and attempt to make them. His sister may have been several years older than him, but they’d always gotten along very well. Blake could still see himself dropping the carton of fresh eggs onto the floor and helping his sister clean them up, apologizing endlessly for his clumsiness. He also remembered helping decorate the gingerbread house, but not the results. Blake could even still envision what the house would look like around this time of year.
The house would be filled with light from the tangles of wires with brightly colored bulbs on them, extravagant wreaths on every door. There would be a feast inside made by the staff for anyone who wanted a warm meal. There would be two large Christmas trees standing on either side of the grand staircase, decorated by both the staff and the family. Candles would be lit in small lamps in the halls and the heavy curtains would be drawn, letting the cool light stream in.
Blake looked over the large, bare, empty halls, nothing but silence and dim light filling them. He took a deep, rattling breath before realizing that silent, hot tears were streaming down his face. He wiped his face on his sleeves, sniffling, and started to sob. He was all alone now. Alone in the large, empty house with no company except the thin layer of dust and his memories.
Christmas Dream (2nd Place Winner)
I’m falling, I’m falling, why am I falling? I land on the floor and grunt. I stand, brushing myself off when I realize, my hand is transparent. I look around, trying to figure out where I am. I’m what appears to be in a living room. There’s a fireplace in the right corner without a fire. Two brown leather recliners to the left, covered in blankets. A TV stand with a TV on the right. Directly behind me is a leather couch; this one isn’t covered in blankets. The walls are a creamy, milk coffee color. And right in the middle of the room: A Christmas tree. It’s covered in colorful lights, some broken and dim. Christmas decorations made out of straw, apples, and candy are mixed with the typical Christmas bulbs.
Then it hits me: This is my house.
“Mom, Dad, look!”
I turn to see where the voice is coming from. A little girl is running towards me through the doorway next to the leather couch. I reach out to grab her, to stop her, or something, but she runs through me. Two adults are walking next to each other through the doorway before going to sit on the recliners. The mom is smiling, knowing she is the reason for her daughter’s happiness. The dad records everything on his camera, knowing that this moment won’t last forever. I feel like I’ve seen these people before, I feel like I know them. They’re my parents. And that little girl is me, twelve years ago.
I feel a tear roll down my face. I remember being this happy, thinking Santa exists, wondering what’s in the presents. The little girl is smiling, and she picks up a box-
“Wake up, it’s Christmas!” My siblings yelled in my ear.
“Ughhhh” I groaned, waking up. I touch my face and feel the tears from my dream.
“Come on, let’s go, let’s go, let’s go!”
“I’m awake. Did you wake Mom and Dad?”
“No.”
“Then let’s go.”
Christmas Memories
by Taylor Jones (3rd Place Winner)
Christmas As a Kid
You’re 7 years old on December 25th. The feeling of happiness takes over all of your other feelings. You jump out of bed, forgetting how tired you are from not being able to fall asleep the night before. Your annoying little sister comes into your room and both of you eagerly sneak into your parents’ room to wake them up. They tell you that you have to wait for your brothers to wake up before you guys can open your gifts. You and your little sister grievously walk into her room and play with her Polly Pockets until you get very restless. You tiptoe into your brothers’ room being very shady, without your mom and dad seeing you guys and you wake them up. You all run into your parents’ room and jump on their bed with great thrill until they finally get up. They tell you they have to go downstairs first and they make you wait for what feels like hours. They make their coffee and let the dogs out before you can finally go downstairs and see your favorite sight.
Once they’re done making the coffee, they call you and your siblings downstairs. As soon as you get downstairs, the smell of coffee and baked cookies lingers in the room. You and all of your siblings all sit on the sofa and you wait until it is your turn to open your first gift. The looks of excitement on your siblings’ faces brighten up the room. After a few minutes, it is finally your turn.
You leap off of the couch and carefully pick out what looks like the biggest of your gifts. You have no patience, so you destroy the wrapping paper to see what is wrapped up inside. The gift inside was what seemed like the best gift in the world. It was the set of lego friends that you had been asking for. You jump up with enthusiasm and start to unbox your new lego set!
7 years ago, Christmas seemed like the most magical day of the year. Now, we’re 14 years old. We’re never the first kid awake, it’s always our little siblings dragging us out of bed. It isn’t as exciting anymore, almost boring. We help our moms pick out gifts for our little siblings and we always know all of our gifts. The excitement isn’t there anymore and the only thing to look forward to is seeing our family and our little siblings’ reactions to their gifts from “Santa”. Sometimes, we all wish we could be little kids again, even if it is for one day, just one day.
A 10-Year-Old’s Christmas
The day of Christmas has come. Being 10 years old, I was staggered in excitement to see all the gifts that I got. It was just about six in the morning. I got up almost falling out of my bed, rushing to my parents’ room. Getting completely ignored did not stop me from calling their names thirty times. “Mom, Dad, it’s Christmas, Mom, Dad, it’s Christmas, MOM, DAD, IT’S CHRISTMAS!” They told me to go back to my room and wait. My upset self sobbing went back in bed and laid there. A half an hour later passed and I did the same thing. “MOM, DAD, IT’S CHRISTMAS!” Once again they told me to go back and I did.
After trying to get them two times, I got out of my bed to go downstairs to see how many gifts were under the tree. I Swiftly snuck past my parents’ room trying to not make noise. Foot by foot stopping between each stair, I finally got down looking at the illuminated tree with the colorful boxes under. Once I got down there I shook a few things to get a feel of what was in there. After I rushed back up the stairs still trying to not make a sound, and went back into bed.
Finally, at about 7:30, I had enough courage to do the get my parents again. “MOM, DAD, IT’S CHRISTMAS!” This time they didn’t tell me to go back, but they told me to stay here while they make their coffee and let the dog out. Once they called my name after what felt like a whole other day, I flew down the stairs. Since I had to wait to open my gifts I sat there fidgeting while I waited for my parents to say I could.
After we were all ready I could finally open the gifts. Over what felt like a fast thirty minutes of ripping paper open and throwing it on the ground, I was done and no more excitement was in me. I played with my toys and the video games that I got until I had to get ready. Christmas morning was now over, but for the rest of the day, I would be with my family which is always what matters the most. Only if I could go back to that time when I was young.
Christmas Time
It's Christmas Eve -- there's wind blowing in the cold breeze air, snowflakes are falling down. Children are making warm chocolate chip cookies that fill the air. Outside, you hear the laughter of kids playing with snow and making snowmen. The air is filled with Christmas time. Houses are decorated in bright joyful lights that light up the night. Christmas movies playing on TV while families are making memories. At night, children get ready for bed; they put on their soft, fluffy Christmas pajamas. Santa and his reindeer friends head out to the city, flying on his bright red sleigh. The reindeers jingle while flying threw the cold winter night. Santa delivers all the shiny new toys and presents to the children. Morning now comes to town. Children now awake. Down the stairs, they run in a hurry to see what Santa brought them. Smiles light up the joyful houses. Dancing and singing fill up all through the neighborhoods. The smell of hot chocolate and cookies spread through the air. Families now sit and gather to make holiday memories.
Christmas As You Remember It
You wake up with the thrill and excitement for the day you’ve been waiting for, for months. As you try to get a sneak peek at the presents your parents are yelling at you to get back up stars and wait for your grandparents. As you’re waiting, the excitement is building as you think about all the long-awaited gifts waiting for you downstairs.
They finally arrived and you’re racing to get the first look at the presents. When you see the tree with all the presents’ you become filled with joy and happiness. The memories of past Christmases and Christmas joy fill your head. As you are daydreaming your siblings push pass you and run to the tree to see what pile of presents is theirs.
As you open your presents your grandmother starts making the grand Christmas breakfast and the smell of eggs and french toast fills the air. You are waiting for your mom’s side of the family to come over for the annual Christmas breakfast. While waiting, you rummage through the new gifts and decide on opening the new phone you got. As you open it you remember all the gifts in the past that made you so happy. You then feel saddened by the fact that you’re getting older and the magic of Christmas is slipping away.
Your extended family begins to show up as the smell of breakfast has filled your nose. The excitement for what is to come is showing on every face, young and old. Breakfast is savored for every last slice of french toast is enjoyed completely. Everyone knows what is to come and the most anticipated part of the day is approaching.
At last, it’s time for the gift exchange. The first round of gifts is given out and everyone is hardly able to wait their turn. Finally, it’s your turn to open your gift so you tear through the wrapping paper to get to the box. When you open it you see the gift you had been hoping for. Next to come is the wrapping paper fight. It starts as one of the boys tries to hit you from across the room. By the time you scrunch up a piece of paper the room is filled with laughter as everyone throws the balls of paper at one another.
Once the fight is over and family members begin to head home you feel the sadness of another Christmas passing. As you are thinking about the past Christmases you remember how joyful you were on this mornings when you were a child. You think about how Christmas day has changed as you got older.
Christmas Traditions
I love the holiday season, and spending time with my family. We don’t have many traditions, but one we always would do is to go to my grandparent’s house on Christmas eve. I remember when I was little I would walk into their great room and see a gigantic tree with so many presents. It would always feel so magical walking in and I would always be so excited and eager. My parents would always want to eat and socialize but my sister and I would only want to open presents. I just remember sitting under the tree and just waiting and waiting to open gifts. Now my grandparents have moved far away so I don’t think we will be going. This is very sad that we won’t be going there on Christmas eve but hopefully, we will have a new tradition.
On Christmas eve my sister and I would always have a sleepover in her room so we could wake up together. Christmas morning, we would wake up my parents before the sun would come up and scream at them to wake up. Then we would have to wait on the top of the steps until my mom made coffee and dad got the video camera. This would always be the most annoying part; we would always just want to come downstairs. After we would open all of our gifts, my other grandparents would come over for breakfast. While my dad was cooking breakfast, my mom would be setting the table. My sister and I would always be so excited about our gifts and show my grandparents all of them, then they would give us gifts from them. After my sister and I would receive our gifts we would give gifts to everyone. Usually, the night before we would make arts and crafts and they would probably still be wet in the morning. Now my grandparents can't walk now so now we will be having it at there house so it’s definitely going to be different.
During the day, we usually have Christmas with my mom’s side of the family. Everyone comes over and I would always love having parties. Every party we always tell my aunt to come 2 hours earlier than everyone else because she’s always late. She usually is still late with us telling her to come early. Recently, my grandma wanted Christmas and we let her, but we didn't eat until 8 o’clock at night! We are always so hungry so we don’t let her have Christmas anymore. So, I’m excited to have Christmas at my house again.
A Christmas (break) Miracle
You sigh in defeat as you realize that your chances of getting home are approaching absolute zero. The snow outside seems like a never-ending wall of pure white, blowing against the sides of your school bus. You have been stuck in traffic for 30 minutes now and your patience is wearing thin. The traffic, caused by the mad rush of school busses and office workers anxious to get home, is rivaling even your siblings in annoyance.
The bus driver informs you and the other students that it is going to take another hour and a half to get home. You tilt your head back against the chair and groan. The thought of your family drinking hot cocoa without you practically slam-dunks your heart into the cold imitation leather seat of the bus.
A half an hour later, only three people have gotten off so far. The snow, still falling like crazy, has grown to over two inches in height. The bus driver now informs you that you have about an hour and a half left to get home. You accept it for two whole seconds then remind yourself that she said that a half an hour ago. You shake your head and decide that nothing can be done.
You check your phone after what seems an eternity. 4:31. At this point, ten more people have gotten off. You’re the next stop! What a relief to finally be rid of this terrible-- What’s this? Your stop… The bus driver missed it. You have been waiting for an hour. You inform the driver of this and she responds with a halfhearted ‘mhmm.’ Your stomach turns into a butterfly pavilion as you prepare to wait even longer.
As the last person gets off the bus, you marvel at the time: 6:12. Almost three hours have passed since you got on this terrible trip. You remind the driver to double back to drop you off. After reminding them of the way for fifteen minutes, you finally arrive at home, and get this, your family waited to drink the hot chocolate! You sit down at home and drink that beautiful warm liquid. You smile to yourself and marvel at this Christmas break miracle.