The Christmas Letter
Prologue
It was a peaceful day, the first day of winter vacation. Everyone was off doing their own thing in the Barbosa household. It was all so perfect, until someone shouted, "Mom, Dad, Monica, Jason! Come to the living room, quick! This came in my room!" Katie ran down the stairs, her shoulder-length, brown hair bouncing, holding in her hand a blue capsule, shaped like a giant pill. She sat down in the middle of the couch.
About 2 yards and a corner away from the foot of the stairs a door opened and out came a girl and a boy. The girl's chocolate skin shone in the light, and her natural hair, braided in cornrows, glistened. The boy's hair, jet black, went around his hair, bowl-shaped. It shook as he clumped to where Katie was sitting. She clutched the capsule like someone may pry it from her hands. The 15 year old boy, named Jason, flopped on the left side of Katie The girl, 14 years old, sat on the right.
"Monica, what happened? What's up with Jason?" Katie questioned. Monica grinned as she faced her, "I beat him in video games again."
"For the 4th time in a row," Jason added in a dull, flat tone. Katie and Monica hi-fived. They always would beat Jason at his own games.
"So why did you call us?" Jason asked. "Wait for Mom and Dad! Goodness!" Monica snapped. At the same time, a door cracked open and out came a Hispanic couple. The woman had long, brown, wavy hair and brown eyes. She reminded the 3 kids a lot like Thalia. The man had a full head of black hair and a small mustache. They both glided over and sat on the love seat at the side,
To explain something, Katie, Monica, and Jason are all adopted. Katie is an American white, Monica is Jamaican-American, and Jason is Japanese-American. The mom and dad are from Mexico.
"What's wrong, Katie?" Dad said, his face showing true worry.
"This," said Katie, placing the capsule in the middle of the living room table. Everyone else got on the edge of their seats to see this peculiar object. "What is it?" Mom asked in wonder.
"I don't know," Katie responded. "I was just doing my English honors homework…"
"8th grade is so hard," Monica butted in.
"I'm sure you know since you've been in honors all your life," Katie shot back. "Now, can you be quiet? Anyway, I was doing homework and there was this bright light and then this appeared." To tell the truth, she was writing in her private blog online. She hated English.
"Well, how do you open it?" Jason peered at it.
"Open it?"
"It looks hollow. Maybe something's in it."
"Fine." She picked it up and twisted it. "It won't budge."
"Let me see." She passed it to Jason. He pulled at both the opposite ends and handed it to Monica. Monica tried to pull and twist it at the same time, but it didn't work. Monica handed it to Dad. He motioned something to Mom and she got up and held one side of the capsule.
"1…2…3!" Dad said and they started pulling on each side. Soon they both slipped and fell, throwing the capsule up in the air. Katie instantly got up, jumped, and caught it. "Whew!" she exclaimed, flopping back on the couch. She felt it to see if anything broke, when her hand fell upon something. She lifted her hand off. "Humph, there's a button."
"All that work for nothing," Jason moaned.
"Press it!" Monica looked closer at it.
"Okay," she pressed the button and the top part opened, revealing sheets of paper.
"What is it, honey?" Mom eyed the paper. They looked unbelievably white and crisp, even though it was rolled up.
"Let me see," said Monica as she picked up the papers and unfurled it. Katie leaned next to her to see what it said.
"Dear Katie and the Barbosa Family…'" Monica read aloud.
"How did they know our names?" Jason asked.
"I don't know, now can I please continue?" Jason remained silent. "Thank you. Anyway, 'Dear Katie and the Barbosa Family, you probably don't know who this is…'"
"Duh!" Katie said.
"'But I know you. This is Mary, mother of Jesus'"
"Is this a joke?" Jason asked
"'No, this is not a joke. I am writing to you from after the end of the world, when you're all here with me.'"
"But, how did it get here?" Dad said.
"'The capsule I sent this in can travel through time and space.'"
"Woah, that's major," Jason marveled.
"But why would she write to us?" said Mom.
"'When you came to me and met me, there were many questions for me from you all, especially Katie.'" Katie blushed, her peach-colored skin turning bright red.
"'Other people other that you have asked many questions, too. So I sent this to you so you can put it on, what do you call it? Oh, yes, the "Internet", so a lot of people's questions maybe answered.
"'I think you should all finish some things and get some food before you continue because this is a long story.'"
"Okay," Jason got up. "I'll get the snacks." He went into the kitchen.
"And I'll help, he's gonna get a lot," Katie followed. At the opening of the living room, she stopped. "When we get back, I'm reading the letter because it was mainly addressed to me."
"We'll just pass it around, take turns," said Mom.
"Okay." She went into the kitchen as Monica shook her head at her.