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The Oakville Beaver, Tuesday D e c e m b e r 24, 2002 - D 7 A C H I L D ' S f I I RI S T M I S Christmas is Always Christmas Soft, feather-light flakes of snow, each one different and unique, floated to the ground to join their companions, forming a beautiful blanket if white over the world. In a small town in Northern Ontario, a young girl named Lauren viewed this peaceful scene from her bedroom window. It was the day before Christmas. At one time, this would have elated Lauren to no end, but no more. Since her parents had gotten divorced, everything had changed. She, her mother and younger sister had moved four hours away from the home Lauren had known since she was born, away from her friends, her school and the town she loved. Lauren gazed unhappily out of the window at the world of uniform white, thinking what Christmas would be like if her situation had not changed. She would probably be outside building snow people, or having a snowball fight with her friends. Or perhaps she would be inside, helping to decorate her home with garland', wreaths, and candy canes. Her moth er would be smiling. She was always so cheerful around the holidays, filling the house with her lighthearted laughter. But not now. Ever since Lauren's father had left, her mother had been quieter , more reserved, and full of grief. She tried to keep on a brave face for her daughters, but Lauren could tell that she still ached inside. By Heather J. E.J. James Public School, Grade 8 The Christmas Eve Journey It was Christmas Eve and 1 was trying to get to sleep, when I realized there was some one in my room. I sat lip and thought that I was dreaming. There was a man in my room but I could see through him. almost. I had just read "Scrooge" and thought that it was the "Spirit of Christmas Past" or something. "Who are you?" I asked, " Are you the spirit of Christmas Past?" "No, he said laughing. "I am The Angel of the First Christmas." He took my hand and suddenly we were in a bam. There were lots of animals and a man, a woman and a baby. too. "Do you know who that baby is?" the angel asked me. "No, "I answered. "He is the reason for the season", he told me. "Saint Nick?" I questioned. "No, " he said, "Jesus." "Jesus? Who is Jesus?" Then before he could answer, there was a knock on the bam door. The man got up to open the door and he walked right through me. "They can't see us, hear us or touch us," the angel explained quickly. The man had opened the door and some strange looking man came in. They had ani mal skins on and had a whole bunch o f sheep with them. I guess that they were shepherds. Then one spoke, "We are here to see the saviour of the world. The angels told us that we would find him here." "He is right here." the man said motioning to the baby. "Who is he?" I asked. "The saviour of the world and the son of God," he replied. I didn't understand but I didn't know what else to say so I drew my attention back to the strange men. They were talking about how some angels appeared and then started singing. Eventually, they left and the angel took my hand again. Then, like magic, we were in this room with the man, the woman, and the baby, but now they looked about two or three years older. Before I could ask where we were, there was a knock on the door, again. "Come in," said the woman. Three men in purple robes and large hats came in. "Where is the one who is to be the King of the Jews?" one asked. "We have come to worship him." another said. "We followed the star and it lead us here," said the third man. "This is him, Jesus", answered the woman holding the baby up. At that, they presented gifts to him and they bowed down and worshipped him. Then the angel took my hand and I saw Jesus grow ing up. He was helping, healing and teaching people. Then it paused on this scene when Jesus was an adult and he was hanging on a cross dead. The angel explained." He died so that your sins could be forgiven and people won't die." "But, I know lots o f people who died!" I said. "Physically yes. but not spiritually. If you believe that Jesus is the son of God and ask him to be your saviour, then when your body dies, your spirit will go on to live forever with Jesus and God." "But how?" I asked, because I still didn't understand. Then the scene started changing. People were putting Jesus in a hole in the side of a hill, to bury him. Then the next scene showed that he was alive. "He conquered death," the angel explained. "Wow," I said speechless. Then there was a scene of many people standing on a hill and Jesus was going up. "He's going to heaven to be with his Father." The angel told me, "And if you believe, you will see the Father." "I must go now," he said handing me a book. "Here, keep it. It has everything you need to know. Remember, Jesus is the reason for the season." Then, suddenly, I was in my room. I looked at the book in my hand. On the cover was the word BIBLE. Christina B. Oakville Christian School, Grade 6 Travel to Christmas Town Deep in the middle of Santa's Workshop, Mr. and Mrs. Claus were coughing up a storm. The elves were scurrying around like crazy trying to help them, but it was no use. Mr. and Mrs. Claus had caught the holiday flu, and with both of them sick, there was almost no hope that Christmas would come this year. Back in Oakville, little Sara Tompson was waiting for her babysitter to pick her up from kindergarten. Even though it was in the mid dle of winter, Sara was playing in the play ground, full of excitement because Christmas yelled at his sister. He wasn't really mad at her, he was mad at his mom and her company. His sister didn't really have anything to do with it, so David went to apologize to his sister. But he couldn't find her by her snow Santa. "You know," he said to himself. "This is a pretty good snow Santa for a five-year-old. In fact, it would almost be as good as mine if his shows were fixed up a bit." So David, trying to help his sister, bent down to fix the Santa's left show. But when he touched it. he disap peared and with only the sparkles remaining. "Wh...Where am I?" asked David. "Oh, hi David," Sara said cheerfully. David and Sara were in a place full of snow, but quite strangely, it wasn't cold. All around them were green spruce trees, covered in Christmas decorations, ready for the holi days. Sara was talking to a reindeer, and was not the least bit worried. David, however, was very worried. "Sara, where are we?" David asked his little sister. "I'm not really sure, one sec, let me ask Dancer," said Sara. Then Sara started to talk to the reindeer. "Dancer says that we're in Christmas Town," Sara replied. "What are we doing here? How did we get here?" asked David. "Oh David, you ask too many questions," laughed Sara. "But..."David started. "Not buts David, just wait and see what happens!" Sara smiled. "Now come on, Dancer said she'll take us to the Workshop." Listening to his younger sister, David did n't ask any more questions as he climbed onto Dancer. After about 15 minutes, Sara and David arrived at the Workshop. When they knocked on the door, little people greeted them. "Oh, come in, come in, she's waiting for you," said one elf. Resisting the urge to ask a question, David followed Sara and the little person into the next room. "Oh, I'm so glad you're here," greeted an old lady with a smile. "By now you're probably wondering what's happening. Now let me explain. My name is Mrs. Claus. My husband, Mr. Claus, or as you may know him, Santa Claus, is in the next room because he's very sick, although he was looking for ward to meeting you." At this point David made a face. "No David. I'm not lying, and no you're not dreaming either. Santa Claus and everything else is real, and if you still don't believe me, just take a look out of the window." David and Sara looked out the window, and saw three reindeer trying to fly. and a lit tle person like the one who greeted the m, try ing to teach them. "That tiny person you see out there is cough - Pepper, my top reindeer training elf cough, cough, cough," said Mrs. Claus. Then she pointed to the window on the door they had just came through. "Out there is the toy factory, where the elves make all the toys the little - cough - boys and - cough, cough - girls find under their Christmas tree after my husband drops them off - cough, cough. Oh dear, it looks like I need to take another does <5f my medicine. Well - cough - I'm just about done anyways cough." Mrs. Claus said. "I need your help, Sara and David-Tompson. As - cough - you two can see. I'm very sick, and so is my hus band - cough, cough. And even though we've been taking lots of medicine, we're still not well enough - cough - to deliver the presents cough - on Christmas Eve - cough, cough, cough." All of a sudden, six elves came in the room to help Mrs. Claus. "This is the most she talked all week." said one elf. "I'll do it Mrs. Claus. I'll help deliver the presents and you will too, right David?" Sara asked her brother. "Uh, ya," said David. He still wasn't certain about this. "Good," Mrs. Claus smiled at both of them. "The sleigh leaves tonight." For the rest of the day. Sara and David were free to do whatever they liked. They vis ited the reindeer class, where they watched Pepper the elf teach the reindeers how to fly, and they visited the toy shop, where Sara and David even got to make a toy! They also went to the Post Office, where the elves were run ning all over the place reading the letters and making the lists. All too quickly, the night came, and an uneasy David and an excited Sara stepped onto the sleigh. Since Sara and David didn't know how to fly the sleigh, on eof the elves. Ginger, flew the sleigh instead. With a quick good-bye. they were off. "How come one of the elves can't deliver the presents'?" asked Sara. "Well, you see," said Ginger. "We elves are afraid of the hairy house pets." You mean the cats and dogs?" asked David. "Oh. please don't say those words, you have no idea why type of horrible memories they bring back," shuddered Ginger. "Sorry," David apologized. As they flew to each house, they dropped presents under the kid's Christmas trees. "Hey, I think I'm getting the hang of this," said David. "Check list, slide, drop, check list, slide, drop!" "I wonder when we'll get to our house," said Sara. "Isn't that your house down there?" asked Ginger. "Ya!" said Sara. "Well, then go!" exclaimed Ginger. When David and Sara slid down the chim ney, they went upstairs to see their parents. They were fast asleep. When Sara and David went back to the sleigh. David had a question. "Ginger, why aren't our parents going looking for us? Normally, if they knew we were missing, they would be going crazy," asked David. "Cm not sure exactly how it works, but I do know that they go on with their life as if you were there." said Ginger. "But they go back to the way they were before, right?" David asked. As much as he was mad at his mom for not being here on Christmas, he still wanted her to be the same mom that he was used to. "Oh yes, your parents will go back to the same way they were before. Every single detail." guaranteed Ginger. Sara and David finished delivering the presents, and then it was time to go back. Why they got back to Christmas Town. Mrs. and Mr. Claus were waiting for them. "Bravo, you guys did a great job!" said Mr. Claus. "We watched you - cough - on our tracker and you were excellent! With a few more years of practice, you would be as good as - cough - me!" "Mr. and Mrs. Claus. I brought you some thing." said Sara. She held out her hand, and in it was a bottle of medicine and a teaspoon. "Thank you very much Sara," Mrs. Claus laughed. "I'm sure your mommy's medicine will make me better in no time." "Come on kids, you should be getting back now," said Mr. Claus. They all walked back to the workshop and said their good-byes. Sara and David had to touch a mini-snowman to get back. "Before I go Santa," said David. "How do you fit down the chimney if you're so....so...fat?" "Well David, that's just my little secret," winked Santa Claus. On Christmas morning. David went down stairs to make breakfast for him and Sara. But to his surprise, his mom was already there making it for him! "Mom, what are you doing here?" asked David. "The company let me stay here with you guys!" she said. "What's all the noise about?" asked Sara, as she arrived rubbing her eyes in the kitchen doorway. "Well, should there be noise on Christmas?" said their mom. "Now come on, let's go wake up your sleepy head dad with some of this Christmas noise!" By Chantel K. St. Luke's Elementary School By Courtney my mm £ 8 « « S i By Alanah O a r ih g for each other · >T ' u f* + * $ * : ? ` - * J / ilo jid a y memories for you and m e t;, % '/ n R eindeers puli S a n ta's sleigh - Ice cold hands that will w arm by the fire * '%>"$ o · ' ' ; j X - - ' . V I * " ·£ v ·: '# i C AV, T -- O n o w fla k e s falling everyw here i v 'J " J1 ' * "*4 ` ' ' , - . * ' ·· v : ^ ,,_1 -. V ' . > I rees are proudly decorated for ail to see 1 * yv ` .i / * * '· ^ " * « · / '* '* ' * ' 3 ' * * " » ' "r . »<$-"*?* , , ' '7 * ' " « * M e r r y Christm as an d a Happy N ew Y e a r A l l together for Christm as dinner and som e cheer S a n t a Claus is coming tonight! Rebecca Heame Gladys Speers Public School If I Had One Christmas Wish If I had one Christmas wish it would be to help my grandma, Mary. She has Alzheimer's. She can hardly get out of bed or barely speak English. She usually gets out of bed only to watch TV or eat. People are coming to help her and she's getting better, but she still is not 100%. I want her to be as healthy as Mom, Dad, Grandpa and me. Mom tells me stories about how Grandma would cook her wonder ful foods, and do things with her. Mom. Dad and Grandpa do that with me too but with Grandma, it would be perfect. Ahhhhh, if Grandma was that healthy we would have pic nics, go out shopping, go to my dance compe titions all together as a family; as in Mom, Dana, Grandpa, Grandma and me. That would be the best Christmas present ever! By Alex D. Oakville Christian School, Grade 4 By Rebecca H. wanted to watch it in peace and quiet, (or at least that's what she said). Sara rushed out to play in the snow as soon as Margrette said so. But David reluctantly walked out the door to watch his sister. "Come on. David, let's build a snowman," Sara said happily. "Everyone builds a snowman," David grumbled. He was sad and disappointed because he had just found out that his mom wasn't going to be here for Christmas, since she had to go to New York for a conference. No one had told Sara yet because they knew she wouldn't understand. Now, David didn't want to have anything to do with Christmas, including building a snowman. "We could build a snow Santa Claus then," suggested Sara. "Santa Claus doesn't even exist, don't you know that?" yelled David. "He's just some thing moms and dads tell you for fun!" "Yes, he does," Sara whispered, as her eyes filled with tears. She knew that David was mad about something besides Santa Claus, because he didn't usually yell at her. Nevertheless, Sara was still mad at him. "Fine, I'll build a snow Santa all by myself, and it will be the bestest Santa in the whole wide world!" Sara yelled as loud as she could. But David was too busy pouting to listen, so Sara went to work on her snow Santa. When Sara's snowman was complete, she remembered her present. She tiptoed into the house to get the present, careful not to distract Margrette from her T.V. show. When Sara brought out the present (luckily Margrette did n't hear her) she carefully took off the bow and wrapping paper not wanting to ruin them. Inside the box was glitter, the most sparkly, shiny glitter she had ever seen. In a forgiving mood, Sara rushed over to where David was sitting. But it was for noth ing. "Go away!" screamed David. Sara rushed back, afraid that David would yell again. "Fine then, I won't show you what's in my present," said Sara. After that she saw her Santa snowman. "I know what I'll do with it," she said. She sprin kled the glitter all over the Santa. "It's one of the prettiest Santa's in the world, but I'm not letting David see it." Sara said to herself. Suddenly, Sara noticed something that needed'fixing on her Santa Clause. But when she went to fix it, she disappeared, leaving only sparkles where she had stood. Meanwhile. David was regretting that he "Oohh, I just love Christmas!" she said cheerfully. "All the singing, and the snow, and the..." "Presents," someone finished. Sara turned around and saw an old lady coughing away in the front of the slide. "By golly Miss, you must be very sick with all that coughing," said Sara as she slid down the slide. "My mommy has some medi cine that would make you feel better in no time, and I can get it for you if you want," offered Sara kindly. "Oh no. I'll be all right. But speaking of presents, I've got one for you," offered the old lady. "Buy my mommy said to never take things from strangers," said Sara. "Oh, don't worry. I'm not a stranger," said the old lady convincingly. "I'm a friend." "Well, in that case, I can take it," decided Sara. "But are you certain that you don't want the medicine?" "Yes, I'm certain," laughed the old lady. The old lady handed her a small nicely wrapped present with a pretty little golden bow on top, something that any five-year-old girl would love to take. Sara's eyes sparkled with delight as she held it in her hands. But before she could thank the old lady, the old lady disappeared. Soon after that, Sara's babysitter Margrette came to pick her up. Sara's 11-year-old broth er. David, was with her, since his school had a P.A. day today. "Come on Sara, get in the car," said Margrette. Then she went on talking on her cell phone. "Sorry Betty, now as I was saying, blue is totally not in this season, blah. blah, blah..." If Margrette did this to you or me, we would probably be insulted. But Sara and David were used to her behaviour. This is how Margrette treated them every day. As Sara got in the car, David noticed the present in her hand. "What's that?" David asked. "An old lady..." Sara started to answer, but Margrette interrupted her. "Would you two be quiet back there. I'm trying to talk!" shouted Margrette. "Sorry Betty, it's just those bratty kids again, blah, blah. blah..." And Margrette went back to her conversation. When they got home, Margrette made Sara and David play outside in the snow, since her favourite show "Teen Life" was on and she < / 'W Christmas Sfeigh belts ringing in my ear, I t 's my favourite time of year. Snow ffakes jutting from the sky, tfie worfif is so white and p r e tty you coufd cry. ` E verything is so bright, since we decorated fast night. The tree so taff and brightfy fit, the star so shiny you can see your face in it. Tamify an d friends p faying in the snow, it'ff he very quiet when they afCgo. Carofers coming door to door, singing songs you can't ignore. Santa is coming tonight, his reindeer feading him through the night. In the morning we open our presents, a n d then we share our day an d a memorahfe meat with people who come from f a r a n d wide. ·M'Z'R'RY Ctfm ST'M AS'.U a ERIN VEDAM G L A D Y S S P E E R S P U B L IC S C H O O L By Erin V.