A Family Christmas- Short Story
Christmas was always a big thing for the Johnson's. They always went all out with decorations and the big Christmas dinner.
The previous year had not gone to plan with Mary Johnson's brother, Andrew, staggering into their house with a bottle in hand and drunk. He had tripped and the Christmas tree had toppled over, breaking all the decorations. Mary's mother had then burnt the turkey and her youngest daughter, Amber, had dropped the homemade Christmas cake on the floor. The whole day had ended with Cousin Rose in hospital with a terrible allergic reaction.
This year, had to be better. They weren't going to ruin this Christmas too. In fact, this had to be the best Christmas ever.
Mary had been in the kitchen all week leading up to Christmas day cooking mince pies, Christmas cake, gingerbread men and pies. Nobody was allowed in the kitchen so that nothing could be messed with. Mary's husband, James, was in charge of decorating the front of the house and Aunt Josephine was in charge of the tree. The children were always pushed out the way, and were often sent upstairs with trays of snacks and a basket of their favourite Christmas movies.
Finally Christmas Eve Arrived....
Janet and her cousin Ruth tiptoed downstairs early on Christmas Eve morning, carrying the last of their wrapped presents with them to put under the Christmas tree. After putting them all in their place, Janet turned to Ruth.
"We should make breakfast and surprise everyone." Janet whispered.
"We shouldn't. Mother said none of us were allowed in the kitchen. Dad is going out to buy croissants and donuts when he wakes up. Let's just watch some TV. I think Home Alone is going to be on in a couple minutes. I love that movie."
"Oh come on, we aren't going to mess anything up. We can just make some pancakes and make hot chocolate. It'll be fun."
"Oh alright, but if anything goes wrong I'm blaming you."
The two girls tiptoed into the kitchen and closed the door behind them. Ruth took out the pans and the butter while Janet collected all the ingredients.
"Now," Janet whispered, "You go set the table and I'll make the mixture."
Ruth carefully moved the trays of mince pies and cupcakes off the table and placed them on the side counter and then quietly set the table. She hummed, "Santa Claus Is Coming To Town" as she set the table.
Meanwhile Janet mixed up the pancake mix. When Ruth finished one song she started to sing, "All I Want For Christmas". Janet, hearing her cousin singing her favourite Christmas song, spun around with the whisk in hand, holding it like a microphone, and was about to join in with the singing when there was a loud crash as two apple pies fell to the floor. Ruth spun around, and the two girls stared wide eyed at each other, then down to the slimy apple mess on the floor.
"You've done it now, you bumbling idiot. You fool!" Ruth growled.
"It was an accident. It's not like I threw them on the floor."
"You know how my mum wants Christmas, this year, to be perfect. She's going to kill me. Now, help me clean this up before she comes down."
Just as they bent down to clean up the mess, the kitchen door swung open and their stood Ruth's mother.
"GIRLS! What on earth happened here?" she shouted, seeing the mess on the floor.
"It was an accident, auntie. We were making breakfast and the pies just slipped of the counter."
She looked at the two girls in front of her and took a deep breath, "Just...get up....and get out. I'll clean up this mess. Go and get dressed and go do something else...NOW!!"
Janet and Ruth slowly stood up and scooted out of the kitchen as fast as they could.
The rest of the morning went smoothly. The aunts decided to stay home to prepare the food and finish the decorating while the men took out the children for a walk and do some last minute shopping. The grandparents stayed up in bed, getting in a well deserved lie in.
That afternoon the kids went upstairs to watch more Christmas movies while the adults relaxed in the living room.
"This is going to be a great Christmas." they reassured each other, "It's going to be a good one this year."
An hour later the twins, Joan and John, appeared in the living room. Joan's face was very pale and her brother didn't look too good either.
"We don't feel very well." they both said, at the same time.
The adults all looked at each other, all thinking the same thing... Not again!!
Josephine stood up, "come on, my dears. let's get you up in bed. All you need is a bit of a rest"
Joan turned around, her face turning a light green colour, "I'm going to..."
"MUUUMMMM!!" just at that moment there was the sound of some of the children running down the stairs, and just as they opened the living room door Joan threw up all over the carpet.
There was an eruption of shouting and pushing as children yellowed out in disgust and the adults jumped up to help remove the children and clean up.
John looked at his sister, his face turning greenish. Joan took a sudden step back just as John threw up. Behind them was a shout and a crash, as the Christmas Tree toppled down.
This year was going in a very similar direction as the previous year.
Joan and John were rushed up to bed. The men got up to pull back up the Christmas Tree and Mary cleaned the carpet, while the rest of the children were sent back upstairs.
Christmas Day...
Everyone had high hopes for Christmas Day. Everything so far had not gone to plan and the hopes of everyone was this day would be different.
Everyone woke up early and went downstairs to open one of their Christmas Gifts. Then after breakfast, which was homemade pastries and fruit salad, everyone got dressed and then those who weren't helping with the huge lunch, bundled into the cars and headed to church.
The service went well. Children showed off their Christmas Gifts, and there was a small performance of a nativity play, and a reading of the birth of Jesus.
After the service, there were refreshments put out for everyone to enjoy who weren't in any rush to get home.
Back at home there was a rush to put everything in order. The table was being set and the Turkey was just finishing off being cooked and the stuffing was ready. The potatoes were done and in the oven keeping warm and the vegetables were just finishing up.
Everything was looking up.
When everyone arrived home from church the kids were sent upstairs to watch TV while the adults talked and finished off the last bits of the preparations for Christmas lunch.
"Time for dinner." Aunt Josephine called up the stairs.
"Coming!" came the shouts back from all the excited children.
They all soon appeared in the kitchen and living room.
Joan and John, were still a little pale, but like the rest of the kids they were all smiles.
Everyone sat down and started to pile their plates.
"Mother, where's the turkey?"
Surprised and also a little shocked at the question Mary jumped from her seat and rushed over to the oven. She opened the oven door and stared shocked at what was inside. The turkey was almost completely black. They had burnt the turkey! How on earth had they managed that? The most important part of the Christmas meal was now I black lump.
She couldn't take it anymore. She looked at the turkey and then round at her family members then burst into tears, hurrying out of the room. Her husband followed her, apologising to everyone as he left the room, shutting the door behind him.
"It was meant to be a great Christmas. But everything is a mess. We don't have any apple pie. The twins were sick and the carpet is now ruined, the tree fell breaking all it's decorations and now the turkey. Today was meant to be perfect."
A small laugh erupted in the kitchen, as everyone started to pull open the crackers and read aloud their jokes. Everyone seemed to still be enjoying their day.
"Listen to that, love. They are all laughing and chatting away. Come on, don't worry about what has gone wrong Let's just think of what has gone right. Everyone is enjoying themselves. Now, let's go back in there and join in on the fun."
"But the turkey. The Christmas meal."
"We have plenty of food. Potatoes, bacon, pigs in blankets, sausage rolls, roast beef, Yorkshire pudding and all the vegetables. The feast isn't ruined. Now, let's go back in there and have some fun."
Getting up from where she sat on the sofa, she hugged her husband, and wiped away her tears. Then they headed back to join the rest of the family.
After the feast had been eaten everyone headed back into the living room to open the rest of their gifts. There was wrapping paper and gift bags everywhere but the room was full of laughter and smiles. Christmas wasn't a complete disaster after all.
After everything was cleaned up they all sat down to watch A Christmas Carol. Then the kids finished off their long day by decorating gingerbread men and gingerbread houses, and listened to Christmas songs on the radio, while the adults had a little nap.
Then as the sun set, everyone went into the back garden and made snowmen before a light dinner of finger foods, while sitting by the fire.
And that was their Family Christmas....
The previous year had not gone to plan with Mary Johnson's brother, Andrew, staggering into their house with a bottle in hand and drunk. He had tripped and the Christmas tree had toppled over, breaking all the decorations. Mary's mother had then burnt the turkey and her youngest daughter, Amber, had dropped the homemade Christmas cake on the floor. The whole day had ended with Cousin Rose in hospital with a terrible allergic reaction.
This year, had to be better. They weren't going to ruin this Christmas too. In fact, this had to be the best Christmas ever.
Mary had been in the kitchen all week leading up to Christmas day cooking mince pies, Christmas cake, gingerbread men and pies. Nobody was allowed in the kitchen so that nothing could be messed with. Mary's husband, James, was in charge of decorating the front of the house and Aunt Josephine was in charge of the tree. The children were always pushed out the way, and were often sent upstairs with trays of snacks and a basket of their favourite Christmas movies.
Finally Christmas Eve Arrived....
Janet and her cousin Ruth tiptoed downstairs early on Christmas Eve morning, carrying the last of their wrapped presents with them to put under the Christmas tree. After putting them all in their place, Janet turned to Ruth.
"We should make breakfast and surprise everyone." Janet whispered.
"We shouldn't. Mother said none of us were allowed in the kitchen. Dad is going out to buy croissants and donuts when he wakes up. Let's just watch some TV. I think Home Alone is going to be on in a couple minutes. I love that movie."
"Oh come on, we aren't going to mess anything up. We can just make some pancakes and make hot chocolate. It'll be fun."
"Oh alright, but if anything goes wrong I'm blaming you."
The two girls tiptoed into the kitchen and closed the door behind them. Ruth took out the pans and the butter while Janet collected all the ingredients.
"Now," Janet whispered, "You go set the table and I'll make the mixture."
Ruth carefully moved the trays of mince pies and cupcakes off the table and placed them on the side counter and then quietly set the table. She hummed, "Santa Claus Is Coming To Town" as she set the table.
Meanwhile Janet mixed up the pancake mix. When Ruth finished one song she started to sing, "All I Want For Christmas". Janet, hearing her cousin singing her favourite Christmas song, spun around with the whisk in hand, holding it like a microphone, and was about to join in with the singing when there was a loud crash as two apple pies fell to the floor. Ruth spun around, and the two girls stared wide eyed at each other, then down to the slimy apple mess on the floor.
"You've done it now, you bumbling idiot. You fool!" Ruth growled.
"It was an accident. It's not like I threw them on the floor."
"You know how my mum wants Christmas, this year, to be perfect. She's going to kill me. Now, help me clean this up before she comes down."
Just as they bent down to clean up the mess, the kitchen door swung open and their stood Ruth's mother.
"GIRLS! What on earth happened here?" she shouted, seeing the mess on the floor.
"It was an accident, auntie. We were making breakfast and the pies just slipped of the counter."
She looked at the two girls in front of her and took a deep breath, "Just...get up....and get out. I'll clean up this mess. Go and get dressed and go do something else...NOW!!"
Janet and Ruth slowly stood up and scooted out of the kitchen as fast as they could.
The rest of the morning went smoothly. The aunts decided to stay home to prepare the food and finish the decorating while the men took out the children for a walk and do some last minute shopping. The grandparents stayed up in bed, getting in a well deserved lie in.
That afternoon the kids went upstairs to watch more Christmas movies while the adults relaxed in the living room.
"This is going to be a great Christmas." they reassured each other, "It's going to be a good one this year."
An hour later the twins, Joan and John, appeared in the living room. Joan's face was very pale and her brother didn't look too good either.
"We don't feel very well." they both said, at the same time.
The adults all looked at each other, all thinking the same thing... Not again!!
Josephine stood up, "come on, my dears. let's get you up in bed. All you need is a bit of a rest"
Joan turned around, her face turning a light green colour, "I'm going to..."
"MUUUMMMM!!" just at that moment there was the sound of some of the children running down the stairs, and just as they opened the living room door Joan threw up all over the carpet.
There was an eruption of shouting and pushing as children yellowed out in disgust and the adults jumped up to help remove the children and clean up.
John looked at his sister, his face turning greenish. Joan took a sudden step back just as John threw up. Behind them was a shout and a crash, as the Christmas Tree toppled down.
This year was going in a very similar direction as the previous year.
Joan and John were rushed up to bed. The men got up to pull back up the Christmas Tree and Mary cleaned the carpet, while the rest of the children were sent back upstairs.
Christmas Day...
Everyone had high hopes for Christmas Day. Everything so far had not gone to plan and the hopes of everyone was this day would be different.
Everyone woke up early and went downstairs to open one of their Christmas Gifts. Then after breakfast, which was homemade pastries and fruit salad, everyone got dressed and then those who weren't helping with the huge lunch, bundled into the cars and headed to church.
The service went well. Children showed off their Christmas Gifts, and there was a small performance of a nativity play, and a reading of the birth of Jesus.
After the service, there were refreshments put out for everyone to enjoy who weren't in any rush to get home.
Back at home there was a rush to put everything in order. The table was being set and the Turkey was just finishing off being cooked and the stuffing was ready. The potatoes were done and in the oven keeping warm and the vegetables were just finishing up.
Everything was looking up.
When everyone arrived home from church the kids were sent upstairs to watch TV while the adults talked and finished off the last bits of the preparations for Christmas lunch.
"Time for dinner." Aunt Josephine called up the stairs.
"Coming!" came the shouts back from all the excited children.
They all soon appeared in the kitchen and living room.
Joan and John, were still a little pale, but like the rest of the kids they were all smiles.
Everyone sat down and started to pile their plates.
"Mother, where's the turkey?"
Surprised and also a little shocked at the question Mary jumped from her seat and rushed over to the oven. She opened the oven door and stared shocked at what was inside. The turkey was almost completely black. They had burnt the turkey! How on earth had they managed that? The most important part of the Christmas meal was now I black lump.
She couldn't take it anymore. She looked at the turkey and then round at her family members then burst into tears, hurrying out of the room. Her husband followed her, apologising to everyone as he left the room, shutting the door behind him.
"It was meant to be a great Christmas. But everything is a mess. We don't have any apple pie. The twins were sick and the carpet is now ruined, the tree fell breaking all it's decorations and now the turkey. Today was meant to be perfect."
A small laugh erupted in the kitchen, as everyone started to pull open the crackers and read aloud their jokes. Everyone seemed to still be enjoying their day.
"Listen to that, love. They are all laughing and chatting away. Come on, don't worry about what has gone wrong Let's just think of what has gone right. Everyone is enjoying themselves. Now, let's go back in there and join in on the fun."
"But the turkey. The Christmas meal."
"We have plenty of food. Potatoes, bacon, pigs in blankets, sausage rolls, roast beef, Yorkshire pudding and all the vegetables. The feast isn't ruined. Now, let's go back in there and have some fun."
Getting up from where she sat on the sofa, she hugged her husband, and wiped away her tears. Then they headed back to join the rest of the family.
After the feast had been eaten everyone headed back into the living room to open the rest of their gifts. There was wrapping paper and gift bags everywhere but the room was full of laughter and smiles. Christmas wasn't a complete disaster after all.
After everything was cleaned up they all sat down to watch A Christmas Carol. Then the kids finished off their long day by decorating gingerbread men and gingerbread houses, and listened to Christmas songs on the radio, while the adults had a little nap.
Then as the sun set, everyone went into the back garden and made snowmen before a light dinner of finger foods, while sitting by the fire.
And that was their Family Christmas....
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