Wednesday 8th December 2010
"We're on the Island of Misfit toys
Here we don't want to stay
We want to travel with Santa Claus
In his magic sleigh..."
Erin loved Christmas.
Her dad loved decorating for special occasions and always went all out. At Easter he'd hang pastel bunting around the house and, even as she and Xander grew older and stopped believing in the easter bunny, made the most elaborate easter egg hunts. On Valentine's day the house would be decked out in hearts, red, and pink. Her and Xander's birthday decorations had stayed up for a whole week every year… except last year.
November 6th (the day after bonfire night) to January 7th was always Christmas season in the Bailey household, but this year the new house was devoid of even a sprig of holly.
So Erin jumped at the chance to decorate the choir room with everyone. It was practically her home away from home anyway, especially after all the rehearsals leading up to sectionals, she was almost certain she'd spent more time in this room than her own house the last week. They even had the Jazz band helping them. Well, they were mostly just providing a backing track for all of their songs like usual.
Now they were singing The Most Wonderful Time of The Year as they danced around the threadbare Christmas tree Finn had dragged into school that morning (Kurt trailing him with a look of fond incredulity), decorating it with the box of ornaments Santana had brought in, and placing wrapped empty boxes at it's base that Puck had brought triumphantly into the choir room. It was a surprisingly coordinated effort from the trio, but Erin was just glad to be decorating somewhere for Christmas.
"A pack full of toys means a sack full of joys
For millions of girls and for millions of boys
When Christmas Day is here
The most wonderful day of the year," Artie sang as he wheeled around the tree, placing fake presents as he went.
"A jack-in-the-box waits for children to shout-" Sam interjected, taking an ornament from Erin and hanging it in the top section of the tree.
"-Wake up!
Don't you know that it's time to come out!" Kurt sung back, moving the ornament down a branch and patting Sam on the shoulder in a slightly condescending manner before moving to help Mercedes. Erin and Sam shared a laughing smile at the weirdly apt lyrics.
"When Christmas Day is here
The most wonderful day of the year..."
The tree was getting beautifully full, the cheer of the holiday filling the choir room as well as Erin's heart.
"...The most wonderful, wonderful
Wonderful, wonderful
Wonderful day of the year!"
As the song ended Mr. Schue arrived in the choir room, a tiny little Christmas tree in his arms.
"Hey guys, what's this?" He asked.
"Oh," Finn said awkwardly, "We were trying to get into the Christmas spirit Mr. Schue. Christmas is totally my favorite holiday. And check out this awesome tree! I found it on the side of the road, it must have fell off some guy's car."
Well that explained the origin and state of the tree, Erin thought as she placed the ornament she was still holding onto a threadbare branch.
"And the ornaments?" Mr. Schue asked slowly.
"The Guy who lived next door finally killed off his elderly mother and when they carted him off they left the house, like, wide open, so…" Santana answered and Erin backed away from the tree, sharing a distressed look with Kurt who had hastily placed his ornament on the tree and backed away too. "I think she was a holiday hoarder."
Mr. Schue looked suitably surprised at the answer. Blinking a few times.
"Uh… And the presents?"
"I lifted them from a display at the Mall, but don't worry they're empty."
The present in Sam's arms fell to the floor with a muffled thud.
"This school is not normal." He said under his breath and Erin smothered a laugh.
"Guys, look, I appreciate the effort, but this isn't what Christmas is supposed to be like." Mr. Schue said.
"For us it is," Mercedes said, staring up at the top of the tree. "This tree is like a mascot for Glee Club. We won sectionals two years in a row and according to everyone at this school, we still suck."
Erin remembered just yesterday when every member of the Glee Club had been slushied by either red or green slushies.
"I'm pretty sure they just added food colouring from real slush in the parking lot." Mike said dejectedly.
"That would explain the lack of green apple or cherry flavoring, and the staining." Kurt said, shaking his head.
"No, no, I am not gonna let you guys throw yourselves a pity party." Mr. Schue said, moving to put his tiny tree on the piano. "Look, I'm the first one to say that things haven't turned out exactly how I would have liked them to this year, but Christmas is all about being grateful for the things that did."
"I thought that was Thanksgiving," Erin whispered to Sam in confusion.
"And this year, Glee Club is going to lend a hand to the McKinney-Vento Homeless Children and Youth program right here in Lima."
"How are we going to do that?" Rachel asked.
"The only way we know how!" Mr. Schue said with excitement colouring his voice, "By singing about it! We're going to go classroom to classroom, caroling, to raise money for McKinney-Vento."
"Wait," Tina interjected, "Classrooms in this school? With like, students in them?"
"Well, if there are no students in them, there would be no one to put money in the collection box as we sing!"
"We're going to be killed." Quinn deadpanned as everyone else shuffled nervously at the idea. Erin silently agreed with a nod, thinking about how much the rest of the school seemed to hate them. (Though there were also instances where the school seemed to love them, the Toxic sex riot coming to mind straight away.)
"No, guys, it's Christmas, a time for miracles." Finn said. "We got to try this."
"Finn's right, so, let's start rehearsing!" Mr. Schue said, "This year, Glee Club's going full Santa."
Thursday 9th December 2010
"Haul out the holly
Put up the tree before my spirit falls again," Mercedes sang as the rest of the New Directions swayed behind her with large show smiles on their faces.
"For we need a little Christmas
Right this very minute…"
Everyone sang as their peers started heckling them, their smiles falling.
And then the teacher threw a shoe at them.
They retreated to the Choir room.
"I guess we're done carolling." Tina sighed, hanging a popcorn garland on the new tree Mr. Schue had gotten them for the choir room, to replace the threadbare, and slightly illegal, one.
"No, we're not, guys." Finn said, "We can't let what just happened ruin our Christmas Spirit. Mr. Schue got this beautiful tree to inspire us!"
"We could sing, you know, somewhere not filled with teens who hate us." Erin piped up as she sucked on a candy cane.
"The Warblers apparently perform at Old Folks homes." Kurt said and everyone looked at him incredulously.
"Don't tell me you're still talking to the competition!" Rachel complained, turning on Kurt who simply shrugged.
"It's just Blaine." He said, handing a bauble to Sam.
"WHO'S THE LEAD SOLOIST!" Rachel shouted back.
Kurt rolled his eyes, deciding to ignore Rachel as he put a bauble on the tree.
"We could do something like that," Kurt continued as if Rachel had never spoken, "or carol somewhere in town, outside, with a collection bucket. As long as the money's for charity we can't be disqualified for Regionals and it would be good practice."
"Definitely a better idea than classroom to classroom," Sam said. "I don't get it, the whole school practically rioted when you guys sang at the pep assembly, we're made up of, like, over 50% cheerleaders and Jocks, and yet we're still losers?"
"Last year there was a time where all but 4 of us were jocks or cheerleaders." Kurt piped up. Erin looked around at them all.
"Which four?" She asked.
Kurt shared a conspiratorial smile with the old Glee Club members.
"Artie, Rachel, Tina and Quinn." He said flippantly, but that meant…
"You were a Footballer?" Erin asked.
"Dude! You were a cheerleader?" Sam asked at the same time.
Erin looked over at Sam and saw his mouth hanging open as he took Kurt in, blinking rapidly.
"Yep." Was all Kurt said, getting back to hanging ornaments on the tree, humming We Need A Little Christmas under his breath.
"He was the best kicker we ever had." Puck said simply, with a hint of awe, while Quinn rolled her eyes.
"He was the Cheerios star member, led us to a nationals championship with a 15 minute Celine Dion medley… in French."
"And the Glee Club are still considered losers?" Erin asked incredulously, turning to share a look with Sam who was still looking, slightly starry-eyed, at Kurt. Not that Kurt seemed to notice as he decorated the tree, humming.
Erin nudged Sam in the side with her elbow and shot him a look that hopefully translated to 'I know the idea of Kurt in a Cheerios uniform, AND a football jersey is hot but your staring is getting sort of creepy and obvious.'
He seemed to get it and closed his mouth with a snap, shaking his head to clear the thought and placing a bow on the tree.
"Well pretty soon no one will bully us." Brittany piped up from where she was untangling some fairy lights. "Santa Clause can do anything and this year, I asked for the Glee Club to stop getting picked on."
"That's nice and everything, Britt." Kurt began with a laugh, not looking up from where he was fixing Sam's bow placement, "but-"
Artie slammed into the side of his legs, knocking him off balance.
"Artie, what the hell?!" Kurt hissed, crouching slightly to rub at his abused calves.
"Brittany still believes in Santa Claus." Artie hissed back, voice just loud enough for everyone but Brittany to hear and people tried to stifle their laughter.
"You cannot be serious!" Mercedes said.
"I mean, last week Brittany did believe a comb had magic powers." Sam pointed out.
"She did?" Erin asked, sneaking a look at Brittany.
Brittany was lovely, she was kind and a bit ditzy, but believing in Santa and Magic Combs at her age? That just wasn't right. What were her parents thinking?
"She's going to find out sooner or later." Quinn said.
Kurt looked slightly distressed as he sighed and stepped away from the circle and towards Brittany. Artie looked after him in panic.
"Brittany," Kurt started and she turned to him with a smile on her face. "You do know Santa isn't real right?"
Brittany's smile morphed into a look of confusion.
"Of course he is, my sister and I get presents from him every year." Brittany said, "He comes down the chimney and leaves presents for the good kids and coal for the bad ones."
"Santa is a story parents tell their kids to keep them in line." Kurt said in a gentle but matter-of-fact tone. "Your parents get you your presents, Brittany."
"Oh," She said, her head falling to look at the ground for a few seconds as the rest of the Glee Club held their collective breath.
Her head rose again and instead of the tears and sadness the Glee Club had expected a smile was on Brittany's face.
"That actually explains a lot." She said, "Thanks Kurt."
The club let out a collective breath.
"Well, I guess that means we're still going to get bullied for no reason." Brittany concluded with a shrug, going back to untangling the lights. "Well, some of us, Santana and I will be fine."
"The tree looks brilliant, guys!" Mr. Schue said from the doorway, before he walked into the room properly,taking it in. "I heard about what happened, but we can't let that stop us from raising funds!"
"Miss. Raymond threw a shoe at us." Tina said.
"Well, yes, but…"
"How about we go carolling in town instead." Kurt piped up, "The Warblers apparently perform around Westerville to raise money for charity, and it doesn't go against the Show Choir rules, I checked."
"And people will probably be less likely to throw shoes at us." Mercedes added.
"Well, as long as we keep away from the Library and Patches." Quinn remarked.
"I could probably ask my mom if we can go carolling at the hospital!" Finn added, bouncing on the balls of his feet in excitement, "Give them some Christmas cheer."
"That's a great idea you guys!" Mr. Schue enthused, clapping his hands, "Now, on another note, does anyone have any ideas of what I could get Coach Sylvester for Secret Santa."
They spent the last couple of weeks of the semester learning Christmas songs and creating new arrangements. Messing around and having fun, high on the Christmas spirit. There was the usual insanity surrounding McKinley, with a rigged faculty secret Santa, and an attempted kidnapping of their tree - Sue, dressed up like the Grinch getting caught out by Brittany. But the Christmas cheer continued to surround the New Directions regardless.
They performed all around Lima - In the pediatrics ward at St Rita's, the YMCA on East Elm, outside Hummel's Tires and Lube - and raised a good amount of money for the McKinney-Vento Homeless Children and Youth Programme.
But every time Erin got home she felt the Christmas cheer evaporate at the sight of the decoration-less house. Her mum was usually holed up in her office grading papers, Alex was off doing god knows what with his soccer friends.
And Erin was just… alone.
So she didn't stay at home much, usually opting to pop next door to the Hudson-Hummel's - or The Hudmel's as the Glee Club had started calling the new family. Their house was filled to the brim with Christmas and life.
Carole baked up a storm with Kurt and Erin, and, on occasion, Mercedes, or Tina, or Sam.
Finn took over the living room. Usually playing Call of Duty with Mike, or Sam, or Artie, or - despite him being one of the reasons for the Finchel break up - Puck. Sometimes watching some sport with Burt. Always shouting at the television.
Occasionally she and Kurt would play Mario Kart with Finn and whichever Glee Jock had turned up for video games. And, Saturday afternoon after caroling, she, Kurt, Sam, Mercedes, and Finn had all iced Christmas cookies together - Sam's was by far the best, and he flushed at the surprised praise from Mercedes, Kurt, and Finn as they witnessed his artistic talent for the first time.
But, still, the Christmas cheer would disappear as soon as she returned home, hopping over the low fence that divided her driveway from the Hudmel's. No tree with twinkling lights in the window, no wreath on the front door, and no carols being hummed as she walked through the door.
It was almost like, in her house, Christmas didn't exist.