Isaac
Christmas is always pretty special around here. It's the one holiday we all really go out for. The day after Thanksgiving, we wake up early in the morning and we drive out to a tree farm. We walk around until we've found the perfect tree. Then, we take it home and put some Christmas tunes on the CD player. We then set the tree up in its stand. Mom puts the lights and garland on it while the rest of us bring up boxes and boxes full of ornaments and decorations for the house. After all the boxes are brought up, and the garland and lights are strung, we start putting ornaments up. I always put up the Kermit head. Taylor puts up the Ziggy ornament (he has never even read a comic strip of Ziggy, but he always puts Ziggy up because Grandma loved the Ziggy comics). Zac dives for the penguin. Jessie always claims the Snoopy ornament. Avery will pitch a fit if she doesn't get to put up the miniature Rudolph. Mackie loves to put up a sand dollar ornament we got from a friend. Zoe doesn't have a favorite ornament yet, but give her a year or two, and she'll have one.
After the tree is completely set up (with Dad putting the angel on top), we put up the other decorations. This usually takes close to all day. Mom and Avery go shopping to get some candles and some good cinnamon smelling stuff. Jessie and Dad put up the lights outside (well, actually, Jessie unravels the lights and hands them up to Dad). Taylor, Zac, Mackie, and I decorate the upstairs. For a team of four guys, you'd be impressed. Well, actually, I can't say that. Mom and Avery help when they get back. Then, we go downstairs and decorate down there. We put up our miniature tree and hang up on it ornaments we made as kids. Then, we hang the stockings over the fireplace. The stockings are really cool. Mom made them for us the year we were born. I have Snoopy on mine, as does Taylor. Zac has Santa and his reindeer. Jessie has a ballerina and a bear. Avery has a Christmas tree with presents under it. Mackie has a train and a toy soldier. Zoe's stocking has angels all over it.
After we've all finished our jobs, we sit downstairs in front of the TV, with big mugs of hot chocolate, and we watch a Christmas movie, usually a funny one like National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation, or A Christmas Story. I'm personally a fan of Nat'l Lampoon's Christmas Vacation.
On November 30th, we all get these special Christmas calendars. Starting on December 1st, you open one door each day, and you get a piece of chocolate behind it. There's usually a little picture, too. I remember the first year Mackie got his calendar.
* * * * * * * * * * *
"What's this, Mommy?" Mackie asked.
"It's a Christmas calendar, sweetie. Starting tomorrow, you get to open a door. After all the doors are opened, it will be Christmas," Mom explained.
"Cool!" Mackie said.
"Why don't you take your calendars up to your room now?" Mom said. Taylor, Zac, Mackie, and I walked upstairs to our room. We had two sets of bunk beds in there. We had the master bedroom, but you also gotta remember that we have four people in there, two sets of dressers, etc. I set mine on top of my desk. Taylor and Zac left theirs on their bed and went downstairs to play a game.
"Hey Ike," Mackie said.
"What, Mackie?"
"What Mommy said, is it true? After all the doors are opened, will it really be Christmas?"
"Yeah, Mackie. It's true," I said. Mackie's eyes got big, and a grin came on his face.
"This is the coolest thing I have ever seen!!" He yelled.
"Well, I'm glad you like it," I said. I wondered why Mackie was so excited about a calendar. I shrugged and left my room. I decided to go over to Nick's and see what he was doing.
Later that night, Mom and Dad went to tuck Mackie into bed. I was stretched out on the top bunk, doing some math homework.
"Isaac, shouldn't you be working at a desk?" Dad asked.
"I'm comfortable up here," I said.
"Just make sure the homework gets done," he replied.
"Good night, Mackie," Mom said.
"Night Mommy, night Daddy," he said.
Mom and Dad tucked him in and kissed his head. "Remember to say your prayers, sweetie," Mom said. They blew him a kiss and flipped the light switch off. I reached over and turned my bedside lamp on. I could hear Mackie whispering prayers. I decided to move to another room so he could get to sleep. I flicked my desk light off and climbed down the ladder. My foot missed a rung, and I fell down the ladder.
"Are you okay, Ike?" Mackie asked me.
"Yeah, I'm cool, little man. Go to sleep, okay?" I said.
"All right," Mackie said. He curled up with a teddy bear and was out soon. I picked up my things and I left.
The next morning, we were all sitting around the breakfast table, eating cereal and english muffins, and anything else we wanted.
"Did you all open a door this morning?" Dad asked.
"Yeah," we all said.
"One less day until Christmas," Dad said. "Too bad you guys won't be getting anything," he said, grinning.
"Oh yeah? How do you know, did you talk to Santa?" Jessie asked with a smirk.
"I sure did," Dad said.
"Wow," Avery said. Dad and Mom laughed.
"Finish breakfast. We're going to start school in 30 minutes," she said.
"And I gotta leave," Dad said. He kissed us all good bye, and was out the door. I finished my wonderful bowl of Cocoa Puffs and went upstairs to get dressed. I noticed that today, Mackie was very excited.
"It's Christmas! It's Christmas!" he yelled.
"Almost, Mack," I told him. "It'll be here soon."
Mackie just kept on grinning and yelling "It's Christmas!" I left the room and brushed my hair and my teeth. I got my homework and everything I'd need. Taylor was giving a presentation this morning on a president of his choice. He chose Harry S. Truman. We listened through that. Then, Mom started with Social Studies. Taylor and I were continuing learning about presidents. Zac, Jessie, and Avery were learning about the 13 colonies. Mackie was just coloring. He was in a preschool type of thing. Zoe wasn't born yet.
The rest of the day went on normally. That evening, when I was in my room, Mackie was sitting on his bed, crying. Zac was sitting with him.
"Hey, what's wrong?" I asked.
"I don't know, he's crying about it not being Christmas," Zac said.
"The doors are open! It should be Christmas today!" Mackie cried.
"See? I'm confused," Zac said.
I was, too, at first. The doors? What did he mean? Suddenly, I caught a view of my advent calendar.
"Hey Zac, I got this one," I said. "Mackie, can I see your calendar?"
Mackie handed me his calendar. All the doors were open, and all the chocolate was gone.
"Mackie, why did you open all the doors to your calendar?"
"Because you guys said that when all the doors are open, Christmas will be here," Mackie said.
"So you opened all of the doors to your calendar so Christmas would be here today," I finished. Mackie nodded and sniffled.
"Mackie, you only open one door a day. There are 24 doors on the calendar. Each door represents a day. After you open the last door on the 24th day, the next morning will be Christmas Day. Do you understand?"
"Yeah," he said. "Does this mean I'm still getting presents?"
"Yeah, you'll still get presents," I said.
"Okay," he said. I gave him a hug and I left the room. I told Mom and Dad what happened. They laughed, but went to go talk to Mackie, as well. With the rest of the days until Christmas, I let Mackie open the doors on my calendar and we'd split the chocolate.
* * * * * * * * * * *
Zac
I have a favorite Christmas memory of my own. Mine takes place on Christmas eve, last year, but before I tell the story, I gotta back up a little. I have a best friend who's a girl, her name is Amy. We had known each other our whole life, and nothing ever really happened between us, it was a thing where a friendship is better than a relationship (plus, we're only 13). Amy moved out of state over the summer. We'd been writing and everything, talking on the phone, you get the idea. Anyways, she and her family were going to come in for Christmas over their break to visit family in Tulsa and we'd be able to see each other, but things looked like they weren't going to work out the way they were planned.
* * * * * * * * * * *
"What? You're not coming in? I can't believe this!" I yelled.
"I'm sorry, Zac, but I can't help that my dad has a major court case. Maybe we can visit in the spring," Amy suggested.
"No, I don't want that. I want you to come when you promised. I had so much fun stuff planned for us, and now you're not coming. This isn't fair!"
"Zac, I'm sorry, but now you're making me feel bad! This isn't my fault! It can't be helped!"
"Well, I'm sorry, I was just looking forward to seeing you."
"I know, I was looking forward to seeing you. I gotta go, I'll call you soon."
"Okay, bye," I said. I hung up the phone. I went to go sulk. Taylor was sprawled out on his bed playing Game Boy.
"What's up with you?" he asked.
"Amy's not coming."
"Oh, I'm sorry," Taylor said. "Guess what I'm going to do on Christmas?"
"What?" I asked.
"I'm going to rent a Santa suit-- well, I have already, actually-- and dress up as Santa! Won't that be cool?"
"Yeah, great, grand," I said.
"Geez, cheer up," he said.
"Leave me alone," I said. I left the room and headed for the kitchen. Christmas just wasn't going to be the same this year.
"Hey Zac, I just found out that Amy can't come, I'm really sorry," Mom said. "I do have some other news. Your uncle Matt and aunt Julie are coming over for Christmas."
"Great," I said.
"Jeff, Aidan, and Liz will be coming too," she added.
"Wonderful," I said. Jeff, Aidan, and Liz are my cousins. Liz and Jeff are twins, and they're a year older than me. Aidan is 17.
"Uncle Matt has a surprise, too. You kids'll love it," she said.
"Super," I added.
Mom sighed. "Lets change the attitude, Zachary." She left the room. I don't have anything against Uncle Matt, Aunt Julie, or my cousins, I was just looking forward to seeing Amy. Nothing could cheer me up at this point.
Christmas eve finally came. I was in a better mood, but I still wished Amy was coming. I hadn't heard from her in a week, which was when she told me she wouldn't be here. I dressed up in nice clothes, a pair of khakis and a navy blue sweater with brown shoes. I went downstairs to the living room and I walked in. Mom and Dad were putting presents under the tree. Dad saw me.
"Zachary, go away! I don't want your brothers and sisters to see us!" he hissed.
"Sorry," I said. I went upstairs into our room. Mackie wasn't dressed yet.
"Hey dude, we gotta put you in some nice clothes," I said.
"No way," Mackie said.
"Yes way. If it's any consolation, everybody else has to wear nice clothes, too."
"I don't care," Mackie said.
"Come on, Mack," I pleaded. Then, I had a flash of brilliancy. I went to the closet. I pulled out a pair of khakis, a navy blue sweater, and brown shoes. "Mackie, what if you wear the same outfit as me?"
"We can be twins!" Mackie yelled. "Yeah!"
"Thank God," I muttered. I helped Mackie get the clothes on and I brushed his hair. I picked him up so he could see the mirror.
"Don't we look good?" I said.
"Yeah, we're sexy bitches!" Mackie yelled.
"Where'd you hear that?" I asked him.
"It was on your Austin Powers movie," he said.
"Oh okay. Don't say that, though."
"Why?"
"There's a bad word in there."
"Don't tell Mommy!" he yelled.
"I won't if you won't. Lets go downstairs." I set Mackie down and we walked down the steps. Everybody else was down there.
"You two look great!" Mom said. "Twins! That's sweet." I grinned. Then, I saw Taylor. He was wearing normal clothes. I elbowed him.
"Where's the Santa suit?" I asked him.
"I'm going to put it on when everybody's here," he said.
"Oh okay." After Mom and Dad took about a million pictures of us, we got to open our family presents. I got everything on my list, two new games for the computer, a bunch of drawing supplies, some CDs, and new rollerblades, plus the normal clothes and small gifts. Our big gift this year was a trampoline for the backyard. We put our gifts in our rooms and helped clean the paper up. There were still gifts left under the tree for everybody else. People started coming, first our aunt and uncle, then a bunch of family friends. Soon, the place was packed. All of a sudden, I felt a Santa tap my shoulder.
"Hey Santa, or should I say Taylor?" I asked. Santa just grinned and poked me again.
"Hey, I'm still not really in the mood for it, I'm still upset that Amy's not here," I said. "I'm really upset that she can't be here, I miss her so much."
All of a sudden, I heard a loud "ho ho ho" come from the upstairs. Another Santa was coming down the steps! Then, one came from the kitchen! Taylor took off his beard and grinned. Then, another Santa took off his beard and it was uncle Matt. That left the Santa in front of me.
"Who are you? Isaac? Dad?" I asked. The Santa didn't answer. Instead, he wrapped me up in a big hug.
"Wait, hold on, who are you?" I asked. I took the beard off, and the Santa knocked his hat off. The Santa turned out to be a she!
"Hi Zac!"
"AMY! What are you doing here?" I asked her.
"Dad's case got over faster than we expected. We told your parents, but I wanted to surprise you!" she said.
"Wow!" Was all I could manage. We hugged again. Then, we looked up.
"Hey Zac, isn't that mistletoe?" Amy asked.
I looked up. "Yeah, I think it is."
Amy and I looked at each other and kissed each other on the lips. We always remained friends, nothing ever came out of it, but that's the story of my favorite Christmas moment and the story of my first kiss.
Chapter 2 - New Year's Eve
Hanson Tales
While We Grow
