5 – The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting On an Open Fire)
"Okay everyone, be quiet please!" Chiron said with loud voice and clapped his hands, trying to get the horde of demigod kids to stop talking, a task not as easy as it sounds as all of the children had ADHS and were way too excited for what was about to come. Still, the centaur managed to quiet the crowd of cheerful children and they turned around, facing him and the bored god standing beside him and sipping on a diet coke.
"As you all know our annual Christmas celebration is coming up this week," Chiron said, "And therefore, normal lessons will be cancelled."
The children broke out in happy chatter, some of them whooping, and again the centaur clapped his hands and shushed, until he was finally able to return to his information speech.
"But each cabin will get a task list and if necessary split up in some smaller groups," He glanced at the Hermes cabin's table, "in which you're going to help preparing the celebration. This includes decoration, managing the Secret Santa Action and setting up the Christmas trees. I will hand out the task and group lists to the cabin leaders and you will start after breakfast. I hope this year's preparations will turn out a bit… less chaotic as last year," Chiron's eyes wandered to the children of Ares, "and we will all have a wonderful time." Beside Chiron Mr. D made a face, obviously annoyed by the extra time he would be forced watching the young demigods.
"Yeah, enough talking, whatever. Enjoy breakfast." The god of wine added and then sat down, Chiron following his example, and the camp took up its loudness again, eating and joking with their brothers and sisters.
After they'd finished the cabin leaders got up and went over to Chiron to collect their task sheets and each cabin gathered to get their instructions; the Demeter cabin was in charge of the Christmas trees and the mistletoe, which they immediately started to grow, the Apollo children started rehearsing Christmas carols for the performance they'd be giving at the celebrations while the Hephaestus cabin went back to their forge to prepare the ornaments who mysteriously seemed to vanish every year. The Aphrodite boys and girls arranged the Secret Santa action while Dionysus' children started cooking glühwein and eggnog and the Ares and Athena girls and boys split up, helping wherever they could. Soon the whole Camp was buzzing about, hanging mistletoe over doors, humming Christmas songs, carrying wrapping paper and gifts to the Hermes cabin that had set up a gift wrapping service.
The only person who was not at all content with the whole situation at camp was Mr. D. He sat in his office, sipping on his diet coke and now and then trying to snatch a glass of glühwein but even on Christmas Eve his punishment wasn't reversed. And as if that wasn't enough he still had to put up with these unbearable children. He groaned ill-temperedly as the glühwein turned into water for the millionth time that day and Chiron, who had just entered the god's study, shook his head.
"Come on, Dionysus. Can't you be jolly for one day? Admit it, even you love Christmas!" But the god only shot him a deadly look.
"I have no idea what you're talking about!" He said grumpily and finally gave up chasing the glühwein across the table. Chiron opened his mouth to reply but thought better, not wanting to risk being the first victim to actually be turned into a dolphin which Mr. D frequently threatened doing to anyone bothering him, and on a day like this the probability of an event like this happening was twice as likely. So he just shrugged and updated the god on the progress of preparations. Then he left the grumpy old man alone to join the joyful campers and help the different cabins sort out all kind of problems (most of them involving the sudden growth of way too many trees).
The Afternoon went by in a heartbeat and before anyone noticed evening had fallen and the celebration was about to start. The campers swarmed into the dining pavilion one by one, carrying their Secret Santa surprises and wearing Christmas jumpers knit by the Athena kids, and soon happy jabber filled the air. Finally, when everyone was present and sitting on their chairs, Mr. D stood up.
"Another year over I guess," he said boredly and yawned. "Have a merry Christmas and a happy new year." And with that, the god took his place and Christmas had officially begun. Satyrs appeared, carrying the Christmas dinner, pizza, turkey, vegetables, Christmas cookies; everything the children's hearts (or stomachs) desired and the campers filled their plates with food. Then every demigod got up and walked over to the stove to sacrifice a part of their dinner to their godly parent. They took seat again and finally started eating, tearing open Christmas crackers once in a while, telling jokes and putting on the paper hats, until even the most hungry kid was stuffed and happy.
The Secret Santa surprises came next and the little daughter of Athena was getting nervous. She'd spent a long time thinking of a good present to get her recipient, and she still was afraid he wouldn't like it or think of it as stupid and childish. It wasn't just someone she'd drawn this year; Annabeth had had a crush on him since she'd met him for the first time two years ago. And even though he was seven years older than her, she hoped that one day, he'd notice her the way she noticed him.
Her present was simple, but nice. She'd made the leather bracelet herself and woven two wing charms into it, symbolising the winged shoes of Hermes, Luke's father. They were made of celestial bronze and Charles Beckendorf, one of the sons of Hephaestus had promised her they'd protect the bearer from all evil. Annabeth just hoped that he wasn't lying about it.
When it was time to give her gift, she stood up with shaking legs and waited until the leader of the Hermes cabin had gone to give his gift, then she darted over to the Hermes table and as quick as a wink put down the present, hoping none of his brothers had noticed her. But why wouldn't they? Annabeth was a shy, nine-year-old Athena girl who only opened up when she was battling another camper in the arena.
She almost didn't notice Connor Stoll placing a present in front of her, she was too focused on Luke, hoping to catch his reaction to her present, and hoping it would manage to put a smile on his serious face. She smiled at Connor and said a timid "Thank you" just before the son of Hermes disappeared again, just as Luke returned to his seat, noticing the present that had been placed in his absence. She saw him looking around, trying to figure out whom his present had come from, but after a moment he shrugged and untied the bow. He removed the cover and peered inside the box Annabeth had carefully wrapped, and took out the bracelet, carefully looking at it. He didn't smile. For a moment Annabeth thought she'd seen a shadow flicker over Luke's face, a shadow of disappointment and anger, then he pushed the bracelet in the pocket of his jeans and the shadow, if it hadn't been Annabeth's imagination, was gone.
She looked away, to her own untouched present, and feeling a sting in her heart, she untied the beautiful bow and carefully removed the wrapping paper, uncovering a beautiful book.
"Merry Christmas, Annabeth" Connor had written on a small card that was lying on the book's cover and in spite of her stinging heart she smiled, pleased with the wonderful gift she'd gotten. Even though Connor could be a nuisance, he was a nice guy, Annabeth realized and when she looked up she saw the Hermes son's eyes on her and smiled.
"Thank you!" she mouthed and Connor smiled back, then, after a moment, turned away towards his twin brother who was sitting next to him, and Annabeth's gaze wandered back to the book as she tried not to think about Luke's reaction.
Finally, the Apollo cabin got up and sang their Christmas carols, until eventually the whole camp joined in and the Hephaestus cabin ended the celebration with a self-made firework. On the way back to her cabin Annabeth caught Luke's gaze and he smiled.
"Merry Christmas, Annie!" He smiled and again she felt a sting in her heart as she remembered the bracelet she'd spent hours on making. But she forced a smile anyway.
"Merry Christmas" she replied and then quickly followed her brothers back to their cabin.