✔︎ |𝐂𝐇𝐑𝐈𝐒𝐓𝐌𝐀𝐒 𝐇𝐎𝐏𝐄*𝐀𝐒𝐇𝐀𝐍𝐍𝐈𝐄

Christmas Cutie

On the first day of Christmas...

Birds chirping, sun lightly gazing across Annie's skin, the smell of egg nog ran through the house.

It was finally winter break, Annie couldn't be happier. "Mom! Where'd you go?!" Annie's voice echoed throughout the house. In search of her mother she accidentally tripped and knocked over the box of ornaments.

"Crap!" The ornaments scattered across the floor, rolling under the couch, into the kitchen, even behind the tv. "Who left the ornaments here?" A thud against the floor became known to Annie as she slowly rose from the ground.

"What broke?! Annie?! Wha-what happened?!" Hayley rushed out her words, some not making it clear to Annie. "I, um..tripped. Obviously" Annie started to gather the ornaments, and put them back in the box.

"You're nineteen Annie, shouldn't you be more responsible?" Annie glared at her sister. "Well, I'm not the irresponsible one that left the ornaments in the middle of the floor" Hayley points her finger. "Right. Well, let me help"

Annie and Hayley gathered the ornaments in sync. When their mom finally arrived through the back door, Annie huffed and sat the box down.

"Mom, where have you been? I wanted us to decorate the tree together" Katie's shoes scuffed across the floor. "Sorry, your dad needed help with the lights out back" Katie continues to walk towards the fridge.

Opening it up and getting the chocolate cookie batter out. "So? When are we going to do this?" Annie sat on the couch as Hayley finished picking up the last few of ornaments.

"After I put these in the oven" Katie said as she started pulling out her best pan. "Okay, great! Then we'll be ready for the party" Annie cheered. She's always loved Christmas time, especially when she can share it with others.

"Oh, right! You guys, my co-workers son is coming too this year" Hayley skipped happily to the stools at the counter, to watch her mom make the cookies. "So, we're adding one more person to our awesome eleven days before Christmas party?" Hayley rested her head in her hands while she waited for her mother to respond.

"Yeah, he's around Annie's age, I'm pretty sure" Hayley turned her head towards Annie and smiled wildly. "Annie's age huh?"

"Hayley, whatever you're thinking..don't" Annie glared at her sister. "Fine. I'll keep my mouth shut" Hayley turned around in the stool. "For now.." she whispered and smiled slowly.

Billy came inside, shivering from the cold. "Baby it's cold outside!" He sang, gesturing to Katie. "Really? More dad jokes? Haven't we had enough of those this past year?" Annie hopped from the couch and made her way to the kitchen, where everyone was gathering.

"Well, I told you I'll stop next year. Its not next year yet, now is it?" Annie laughed lightly. "Come on, lets decorate this tree!"

🎄🎄🎄

My true love gave to me...

"There. It looks perfect" Annie smiled brightly. "Yes, yes it does. Now, I need you to go get some more icing. The Christmas cookies are gonna need a lot" Katie got up off her knees and headed to her room for the car keys.

"Here you go" She threw the keys towards Annie and she caught them. "Okay, I'll just head over to Isaak's. He's closer than the store"

"Okay, drive safe. The road is slippery"

"Of course mom" Annie grabbed her coat from the rack by the door, putting it on before leaving her house. She rushed to the car seeing as how it was freezing outside. She immediately turned on the heater once she settled in the car. Pulling out of the driveway and turning on Christmas music that was listed on her phone.

🎄🎄🎄

Annie knocked and the door three times, instantly regretting not wearing gloves. "Come on Isaak, hurry" Annie spoke softly looking at the ground.

A gush of wind passed as the front door swung open. Isaak was laughing, holding a bowl of chips in his hand.

His face changed surprised once seeing Annie. "Oh my gosh, Annie get in here! Its freezing" he pulled her in and shut the door. "Sorry for taking so long, Bryce attacked me with feathers"

Annie paused in the middle of taking off her coat and turned to look at Isaak. "Feathers?"

"Yeah, i was attacked" Annie laughed it off and continued to remove her jacket. Bryce came running into the hallway, "Annie's here! Awesome! We needed and extra person for our game!"

"Um, I'm not staying. I just came to get icing for the cookies" Bryce nodded. "Well, then Kenzie is gonna have to do double the work" Annie squinted her eyes, wondering where Bryce put his brain cells.

"Okay, well it's over here. I'll get it for you" Isaak headed toward his kitchen as Annie followed. Bryce went back upstairs after grabbing more chips from the counter.

"Here" Isaak turned around after grabbing the unopened icing from the pantry. "Thanks" Annie said grabbing it from his hand.

"So, is this party gonna be bigger than the last?"

"Quite possibly. Especially if my parents are throwing it. Oh! I cant wait" Isaak laughed. "Yeah, well me either"

"Okay, I should head back. Gotta have these cookies done before tomorrow"

"Right. I'll see you tomorrow then" Annie left his kitchen as he went back upstairs. Once again, rushing to get into her car. And of course, resuming her Christmas playlist.

"Oh, this is going to be the best party..ever"

A partridge in a pear tree...

December 12, 2023