Charlie and the Chocolate Factory: Stories Untold

Happy Holidays

The Bucket family was a happy family. Especially this time of year. The winter holiday, know as Christmas. The Bucket family was filled to the brim with holiday cheer. Even so, they were starving, cold and shivering.

They could afford only a few presents for Christmas. Still, they were an excited bunch, this being the baby's first Christmas. Well, the not-yet-baby-baby. But they were all awaiting the day, that the child will make his or her first appearance.

Virginia Bucket hummed "Deck the Halls" while hanging the popcorn and cranberry string. The Buckets helped decorate the Christmas branch. The put homemade ornaments on it, and a star Mr. Bucket made out of sticks.

Mrs. Bucket smiled and touched her abdomen whilst He heard her husband and the grandparents struggling to find where to put the Christmas branch.

She stepped outside and felt the first snow of the season fall onto her head. She walked back inside and lit a fire in their fireplace.

The fire warmed her instantly. Beside her, James sat next to her. She placed her head on his lap and curled up next to him. She wished She could live in this moment forever.

"Want to go see the nursery?" James asked. Virginia has not been allowed inside the nursery. She followed her husband into the small room. Her eyes took in the pale yellow walls. The soft furry carpet warmed her frozen toes.

Tears rolled down her cheek as she stared at the crib. White paint covered it. A rocking chair sat in the corner. She could imagine singing to her baby. She kissed her husband. She could smell pine on his collar. She wanted more.

A knock at the door interrupted them. It was Margerie, holding in her hands a pie. Warm apple pie. Virginia hugged her friend.

"Oh Virginia, let us watch the snow." exclaimed Margerie, twinkles in her eyes.

Virginia smiled at her friend, as happy as a child. James brought out blankets to watch the snowflakes falling down. They cuddled up against one another and watched the millions of feathers floating down with grace.

Out in the street, they saw a figure, it looked like a dog. The dog saw them and ran up to join the huddle. It licked everyone, anywhere he could, his wet, warm tongue sliming all over them.

"Oh my goodness!" Cried Virginia.

The dog settled down and slept in their laps. The snow landed on the sleeping dog's  head. Outside the house, Christmas carolers sang joyous songs, such as "Jingle Bells".

They stood up and carried the dog inside.

"Wouldn't want it to freeze." Reasoned James. Surprisingly, when it hopped up on the Grandparents, they enjoyed it. Joe was the happiest of all. It was nice to hear Josephine and Georgina squealing with delight.

They all sat at the table and helped themselves to warm apple pie.

"A toast!" George proclaimed. "To Christmas, that dog over there, and little baby VirJamesia, to happiness!"

Everyone laughed.

"VirJamesia?" James asked.

"YES. It's your baby's name, currently. Your names combined." George replied.

Margerie laughed loudly.

"That is my new number one OTP!" she cried.

Everyone stared at her. She looked around and  whispered,

"Don't ask."

The dog then stood up suddenly and bolted out of the door.

Joe ran out with it.

After ten minutes where Joe didn't make a reappearance, everyone got scared. George stood up and went slowly to the door.

He laughed and everyone came to the door. Joe was having a snowball fight with the dog. It was catching snowballs in its mouth as Joe threw them.

Soon the rest of the Buckets joined in. After half an hour, James made Virginia go inside. He didn't want her to get sick.

When Margerie left, everyone came in. Tired and weary, they all fell asleep, and Virginia fell asleep with the dog, curled up by her head.