Our Journey

6. Traditions

As the week before the Christmas holidays approached, the atmosphere in the classroom was electric. Children were bubbling with excitement, their chatter echoing off the walls as they engaged in festive activities. Hidayah glanced around at the colorful decorations, a mix of twinkling lights and handmade crafts. Even the math equations on the board had a holiday twist, featuring Santa's sleigh and Christmas trees.

"Okay, everyone," Hidayah called out, her smile bright. "Let's settle down for a moment! I know you're all excited, but we still have some learning to do before the holidays!"

"Miss Hidayah! Can we just do fun stuff all day?" one little boy piped up, bouncing in his seat.

Hidayah chuckled. "I promise we'll have some fun! But let's start with a quick writing exercise. How about you all write a short story about your favorite holiday tradition?"

As the students scribbled away, Aaron wandered over to Hidayah's desk, leaning against it. "You know, it's funny seeing them so excited about Christmas. It reminds me of my childhood," he said, a nostalgic smile creeping across his face.

"Really? What's your favorite memory?" Hidayah asked, intrigued.

Aaron leaned closer, lowering his voice as if sharing a secret. "Well, one year, I convinced my younger brother that I'd seen Santa's sleigh land on our roof. I told him that if he listened closely, he could hear the reindeer's hooves."

Hidayah burst out laughing, the image of young Aaron whispering conspiracies to his brother making her grin. "What did your brother do?"

"He ran outside in his pajamas, looking for the sleigh, of course! We had to drag him back inside before he caught a cold," Aaron continued, chuckling at the memory. "My mum was not impressed."

The bell rang, signaling the end of the lesson, and the children cheered, eagerly gathering their things. That afternoon, they would have a Christmas assembly, where Aaron had been roped into wearing the Santa suit, a task he had reluctantly accepted.

As the children filed into the assembly hall, Hidayah caught Aaron's eye from across the room. "Good luck, Santa!" she teased, unable to suppress a grin.

"Thanks, but I'm not sure who needs luck more—me or the kids," he replied with a playful wink, his confidence radiating through the festive atmosphere.

The assembly was a lively affair, filled with songs, laughter, and a nativity play put on by the older students. When it was finally Aaron's turn to make his grand entrance, the kids erupted into cheers as he donned the red suit, complete with a fluffy white beard.

"Ho, ho, ho!" he boomed, his voice deep and jovial. "Merry Christmas, everyone!"

As he handed out presents, Hidayah watched the joy on the children's faces, feeling a warmth in her heart. Despite their differences in tradition, moments like this reminded her of the beauty in shared experiences.

Later that evening, after a long day filled with festive cheer, the staff gathered for their Christmas dinner in the cozy staff room, adorned with more decorations and a table piled high with food. Hidayah found herself sitting across from Sara, a fellow teacher with whom she had developed a good rapport.

"Can you believe how crazy these kids get around the holidays?" Sara laughed, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. "It's like they've had too much sugar already!"

"Right? I swear, they were bouncing off the walls today," Hidayah replied, shaking her head with a smile. "But it's nice to see them so excited about something."

Across the table, Mr. Patel chimed in, "I overheard one kid trying to convince another that Santa lives in a castle made of candy. I had to hold back my laughter!"