It was the 4th of July again.
Except it wasn't.
It was actually the 18th of December.
But John 2 and his family were stuck celebrating Independence Day, all day, every day, even as the Holidays drew nearer. It was like Groundhog Day - a movie John 2 had seen because John 4 had a TV and was leeching the Netflix from some random Imagineer.
'I hate Independence Day,' said John 2, after his shift was over.
'You don't,' said Sarah 2. 'You just hate having to repeat it every five minutes when it isn't Independence Day.'
'It's almost Christmas, Sarah,' said John 2.
'Then we'll just have to go out and make the most of it,' said Sarah 2.
'We're going out?' asked Jimmy.
'For Christmas, yes,' said Sarah 2.
'Why not right now?' Patricia 2 suggested.
'It's not Christmas yet,' said John 2.
'I want to see the decorations,' Jimmy whined. 'It's the 4th of July here, we don't get a Christmas tree.'
Rover the dog looked up at a John and barked.
'We'll see the Christmas tree,' said John 2. 'Then there's only a week to go until Christmas, so you can wait until then for more Christmas, surely?'
'Away in a manger
No crib for a bed -' Patricia 2 sang.
'I take it that's a "no", said John 2 with a slight sigh.
'There's no real harm seeing the decorations,' Sarah 2 said. 'It's not like we'll be spotted by Guests.'
John 2 shook his head. 'I suppose not.'
'Yeah, Dad, it'll be fun!' said Jimmy. 'It's always great seeing the futuristic Christmas trees.'
'And we can still see the others at John 4's scene for Christmas,' said Sarah 2.
'Alright, let's go,' said John 2.
'Anyone for frozen pizza?' Patricia 2 asked sarcastically.
Rover barked excitedly.
I don't know why we Brits and the Americans sing Away In A Manger differently, but we do. I had no idea until I went to America for Christmas and Shazam'd it. The words are exactly the same, but the melody is completely different. So strange.