Where Did Christmas Go?

Inside, the house is like an oven. Too many people are crammed under one roof. Being in close quarters for so long with nothing to do, we get antsy. Harsh words are exchanged.

I need to get some air. I stomp down the sidewalk in boots a size too small. My own boots are back in my apartment and I’m not going to drive all the way back to get them. So old boots it is for me. The sidewalks have been salted, turning the snow into slush. There was a blizzard only last night bad enough to block the roads, but now it grows balmy.

My family always decorates the house, but it looks rundown this year. The lightbulbs are dead. Our inflatable santa is ready to retire. Christmas doesn’t feel like Christmas anymore. The magic and joy has been sucked away.

A man runs passed me with a sled of laughing children. Once he’s built up enough speed he stops and lets the rope go. They fly down the road screaming with glee. Once they lose momentum they beg to go again. I used to love that, didn’t I? But now I see what the kids don’t see, which is how tired the man is. All he wants is to go inside for that second cup of hot coffee.

I guess the holidays have always been like this. I just know better now. Time to go inside. The cookies are hot out of the oven, ready to decorate.