The Worst Christmas

The Worst Christmas

Gracie sat in the Hawaiian sun and pouted. Her cherubic cheeks stung from the combination of sun, sand, and tears and her lower lip had gone dry from her silent protest. This was the worst Christmas ever! All year she looked forward to Christmas. She loved winter and counted the days until the first snowfall. She watched the weather on the evening news every night to find out when it would come. With the snow came sledding, snowball fights, hot chocolate, but best of all Christmas.

But this year was different. Her parents had announced that this year Santa was giving them a vacation instead. This Christmas they were going to Hawaii. Everyone seemed so excited. They had packed up all their summer clothes and headed to the airport. It was Gracie's first time on a plane, and she found herself getting overwhelmed by the new experiences she was having. She often caught herself smiling and would have to clamp down her lips. She had to show them she was not going to have fun. She wanted Christmas to always be the same. It's not Christmas without snow!

She watched her brother and father play in the surf while her mother set up a picnic for them. This morning, Santa had left a few presents under their "Christmas" palm tree. She dug absently in the sand with her new bucket and trowel, and noticed the light reflecting off her shiny new swimsuit. Mom and Dad did seem happier than usual. Even her big brother was being nice to her. Maybe she should try a little harder to make Santa happy. He had given them a present none of her other friends were getting this year. It was just so new and different. She was homesick and wanted things back to normal. She wanted to play in the snow and make snow angels and snowmen. Hawaii was really nice, but it didn't feel like Christmas.

"Gracie, it's time for lunch." She could hear her mom calling. She got up and tried to dust all the sand off of her. Man, this place had so much sand! She could never seem to get rid of it. Her big brother came to get her and put her on his shoulders.

"Hey Gracie, I've got a surprise for you." Usually she'd be excited, but lately the surprises hadn't turned out so well. "I know you're missing the snow and Christmas at home, and I want you to try and have fun with us. So," He crested a sandy hill and she saw it, the bestest snowman ever. But he wasn't made of snow, he was made of sand. She yelped and her brother swung her down to the ground. She ran up to the snow..sandman to get a better look.

"Oh Bobby." She said reaching out to feel the texture of his starfish buttons. "He's so cool. He's even wearing sunglasses." She smiled and clapped her hands. What a great Christmas present. A snowman that couldn't melt. Her brother had given her a little touch of Christmas.

"Mom...Mom" She called trudging through the sand dune pulling her brother behind her. "Look what Bobby made! Isn't it soooo cool." Her mother smiled at her and they all sat down for their picnic lunch. After a few days of trying, Gracie couldn't do it anymore. She couldn't hold on to that anger or that grudge of not having her Christmas. Her heart lifted as she decided that she'd just try to enjoy herself. She had to show Santa that she loved him and just appreciate what he'd given her.

She was going to enjoy what she had thought was going to be the worst Christmas.