A Not So Special Christmas
It was Christmas Eve and the room was buzzing with excitement. Caryl and Brian, Jacks parents, stood on and individual ladder each reaching up to the roof of the 1st floor of their 2 story family home. They were not overly rich but not poor either. They had just enough money the buy the house and everything in it.
Zander and Abigail, the oldest of the 6 children, hung up the outdoor decorations for the world to see. Alex bolted down the endless hallways, hanging boughs of holly and mistletoe everywhere. Grace quietly, quickly and neatly stack the presents and put them gently down underneath their Christmas tree that even she could not reach the top of.
Jack was told to supervise and help the people that needed a hand when he saw the youngest of the 6, Layla, struggling to put Jacks favourite Christmas decoration, the snow angel, somewhere around the middle of the 6 foot tree. He rushed over to help her. Layla grunted with effort as she jump as high as her tiny little legs would allow her to put the decoration where she wanted to put it.
"You want some help, Layla" Jack asked her. Layla nodded quietly and pointed to where she wanted to put the special decoration. Jack rested the 4 and ½ year old on his hip and placed right where she wanted it.
"Let's put it right there" Jack smiled when he heard Layla laugh. He put her down and turned to walk away when he heard her say "Jack, can you give me a boost so that I can reach the top to put the star on?" She felt herself being lifted onto jack's shoulders and everyone gathered round. She gently placed the golden star on the top. Every broke into applause as the tree lit up.
Soon after, everyone was allowed to open 1 special present on Christmas Eve. Grace cranked up the modern day versions of the Christmas carols for them all to sing along to.
The 6 kids had had an eventful and tiring day. Within 15 minutes of being asleep, Jack woke up with a fright and rushed into the kitchen where his mother was washing up.
"Jack, sweetheart, what's wrong" Caryl asked concerned. She listened intently to her son's nightmare as he told it to her. Caryl realized that the more Jack spoke about it, the more it scared him. She pulled her son into a tight hug. Until she heard soft footsteps coming down the stairs. Layla appeared from the darkness of the staircase. She walked up to Jack and her mother. "I had a bad dream" Layla said, rubbing her little blue eyes as if she were still half asleep. Caryl asked if they both wanted to come into her bed and sleep with her and Brian for the night. Luckily the bed was just big enough to fit 4 people in.