A Place To Call Home

Christmas Day

Snow covered the backyard of Joel's house, but the sky was bright blue this morning. It was finally Christmas day, the community was in full celebration mode. The Tipsy Bison Bar was serving meals for people who had no families, it was a yearly tradition so Ellie had been told by Maria. It was nice knowing that no one would be spending the day alone, Ellie felt lucky that she had Joel. He had told her that it would be a traditional Christmas with presents and a big lunch, there would also be board games and Christmas movies in the evening. She couldn't wait to celebrate the day, it would be her first Christmas surrounded by family and friends. 

Ellie had wrapped Joel's present in brown wrapping paper, she had also framed the portrait she had drawn of Joel. Cat had given her a few tips about shading, she couldn't have finished it without Cat's advice and help. She had also found some books for Maria and Tommy outside of the community, she had sneaked out with Dina a few days ago. They hadn't gone far, they just explored some abandoned stores and houses near the community. That's where she had found the books, they were about gardening and wildlife. She planned on telling them that she had found them at the library, she would be in so much trouble if they found out that she had broken the rules by sneaking out at night with Dina. She left her garage apartment with the presents in her arms and headed towards Joel's house, she could already smell the turkey cooking. The kitchen's window was open, she could see Maria peeling potatoes at the window. She hurried up the porches steps and entered the house through the back door, she could hear some Christmas music playing from the living room. She walked along the hallway and saw Tommy setting the table, she gave him a smile before she hung her coat up on a coat peg. She looked over her shoulder when she heard Maria's voice coming from the kitchen, she saw Maria peeping her head around the kitchen's door frame

" There you are, we thought you had overslept." Maria said.

" I nearly did, luckily Cat set my alarm clock for me before she left mine last night." Ellie said, she turned around to face Maria. " Where's Joel?"

" He's upstairs, he should be down soon." Maria said.

" Okay, do you need any help?" Ellie asked.

" I could do with an assistant in the kitchen, how do you feel about peeling carrots?" Maria asked.

" I'm cool with it." Ellie replied.

Maria told Ellie to put the presents underneath the tree before she joined her, she then returned to the kitchen. Ellie took her time walking to the living room, she headed towards the tree and knelt in front of it. She placed the presents underneath it and looked up at the tree, Joel had managed to get some lights from one of the stores in town about a week ago. She left the living room and headed to the kitchen, Maria had already left her a potato peeler and a pile of carrots for her to peel on the counter. She began to peel the carrots, she was going to chop them when she had finished peeling them to save a little bit of time.

" Hey there, Ellie." Tommy said.

" Hey Tommy." Ellie said, she glanced up at him from the carrot she was peeling. " Happy Christmas!"

" Why thank you, little lady." Tommy smiled.

" You're such a dork." Ellie laughed.

" I know." Tommy smiled.

Ellie listened to Maria telling Tommy about using the best china and to get the silverware out, she wanted the day to be perfect since it was the first time they would be celebrating Christmas together as a family. It wasn't long until the carrots were peeled and chopped, Ellie had put the chopped carrots into a boiling saucepan of water on the stove. Mostly everything had been done now in the kitchen, the stuffing was in the oven and the turkey had been based for the fourth time by Tommy. Maria had poured Ellie a cup of eggnog, she went to sit in the dining room while she waited for Joel to come and join them. She took a sip of her festive drink and watched Tommy putting out the silverware, he was making idol chat with her.