Christmas Short Story

Janie's Christmas

This Christmas I came home from school with the expectation of having a great holiday. Christmas hasn't felt like it used to in a very long time and that is why I was so hopeful this year. Nothing turned out how I planned it in my head.

My mother, grandmother, and sister came to pick me up, as they do every year. We got on the road with high spirits. My sister and I singing to the top of our lungs and our mother getting frustrated with the noise.

Once I was home everything continued as normal. My sister, Layla, and I had a few arguments, but what pair of sisters don't. My mother and grandmother started their shopping for Christmas dinner. All was calm and normal; until Christmas Day.

We exchanged presents when everyone arrived at our house, just like every year. My uncles received their gifts first, which was the same as usual, clothes. My grandparents got things to go around their house and my mother got pajamas and some collectables. My sister got something to do with these YouTubers that she likes. Then it was my turn.

I had the biggest smile on my face as I tore the paper and opened the box. My smile dropped and I turned to my mother with a very confused expression.

"A gay pride flag? Why did you get me that?" I asked.

"I thought it was time you told me the truth. I figured if I got you this then you would see that I accept you no matter what or who you like," she said.

"What made you think that I was holding something back?"

"I know my own daughter. I raised you and I've known since you were young. I figured it was time to show you that you don't have to fight it and experience the pain that I have heard so many others have faced," she said.

Tears began to gather in my eyes, " Thank you mommy. I love you and you're right."

"It is time that I told you all the truth. I'm bisexual," I said after a deep breath.

My mother got up and came to me and hugged me tight. We smiled at each other and cried. That was all great until my grandmother spoke up.

"What does that mean child. You are dating girls? I told you I had better never hear that about you. You are going against everything you were raised to believe. What happened to your religion? Do you even believe anymore? It's that school isn't it? I knew that was too far away from home. You need to come back now and you will stay here for good," she said.

My tears began to fall for a different reason now. My own grandmother, who has treated me best of all of us was now rejecting me and demanding that I stop my education so that I could go back to being controlled and influenced by a book I didn't entirely believe. I felt so betrayed.

"I can't just uproot myself because you think something turned me this way. Did you listen to anything mommy just said? She said that she has known since I was little which means no one turned me. I have always been this way. I forced myself to ignore an entire half of myself because of the things you used to say when I was just discovering the feelings existed. I refuse to go back to that part of myself."

"You must if you ever want God to accept you," she said.

"Why? Because it's in the Bible. That same book you used to say was written by man and parts could have been written just for their gain. That is so hypocritical of you. I can't even believe I'm hearing this right after one of the greatest and most relieving times of my life. I'm going outside."

I walked out and stood in the cold to cool from our argument. I was heartbroken and began to cry so hard I fell to my knees. Layla came out to sit with me.

Once I calmed, Layla looked at me and said, " We talked to her and explained some things to her. She agreed to not bring it up for the rest of the day as long as we got you bus ticket back to school in the next few days. I think you should take her offer so that you both can clear your heads away from each other. We will continue to talk to her though so don't worry we have your back and we love you ok."

Two days after Christmas, I went back to school and stayed in my apartment by myself until my roommates returned from their vacation. I never talked to my grandmother about the subject again. She had taken to ignoring anything to do with it. Even when I met Amy and brought her home for spring break to meet my family. We all went to church together that week and my grandmother continuously introduced her to her church friends as my roommate who didn't have anywhere to go for the week. I've given up hope that she would ever love me as she did.