It was a sunny weekend. Birds flew over the trees. Grass bristled in the breeze. A lovely time of year. The school year was over. Ann was driving carefully home. Home to her elder parents. They lived by a lake. Just settling in the cabin. Ann was excited to see them. She pulled into the driveway. The door was opened quickly. The family embraced loving arms. She stayed for two weeks. Sad goodbyes at her depart. She arrived back at school. She wasted no time preparing. Lots of studies before her. She sat at her desk. She wished she didn’t leave. Until next year, she thought.

It was the most joyous time of the year. A blanket of snow over the ground. Decorated trees displayed in homes. Children eagerly awaited the visit from Santa. But this Christmas would not be like all others before it. Far north where the heart of Christmas beats, things were not going well. After years and years of making children happy around the world, working all for just one day to bring others happiness, Mr Claus grew tired of keeping the holiday afloat. It made him bitter and resentful the closer Christmas came. More gifts to make and wrap. More kids to monitor, and endless preparations for a single night of merry craziness. Not to mention how freezing and exhausting it was flying around in a sleigh thousands of feet in the sky. Mrs Claus was still content baking cookies and helping her husband with Christmas, it saddened her how much distance had come between them. Their livelihoods were becoming the ruination of their marriage, and by extent, their happiness. When Christmas Eve rolled around there was much to be done that Mr Claus had neglected. The list of good and bad children hadn’t been updated in months, there were many letters from children unread, and Mr Claus himself was nowhere to be found. Where might he be, Mrs Claus wondered as she made her way to their bedroom. She was disappointed to find him sound asleep. It was nearly noon, less than twelve hours until takeoff, and the man of the night hadn’t even gotten out of bed. She woke him quickly, and he was slow to start up his day. Six hours until he had to leave. The irritated man made his way to the kitchen, disgusted to see the pans of Christmas cookies in a variety of shapes, freshly frosted and sprinkled. In anger he flung a pan off the table, cookies turning to crumbs on the floor. He was so mad he didn’t even care that his wife would be upset. When the elves called out for Santa at ten to six, he came much later, only half dressed in his suit. “Did you finish reading the letters?” They asked. “No.” He replied in an annoyed voice. “Did you update the list.” A snort. “No.” “Did you do ANYTHING you were supposed to today?” Ha. “No.” The elves all shared a worried glance. “Well… there’s not much we can do about it now. Off you go.” As Santa took the reins and started off towards the sky, the elves gathered in a circle, all in great fuss. “All these children will get no gifts!” “And naughty children will get gifts they should not!” Mr Claus didn’t hear anything more as he flew out of earshot.
As the night went on Santa dragged along his great bag of gifts. He sneered at every gift he dropped without care, and glared at every sleeping child he saw. After a few hours Mr Claus became so overtaken in his bitterness that he gave up and tossed his bag over the sleigh and into the ocean. As he flew off in the clouds, he laughed merrily for the first time in a while, knowing that even though the children would despair and the Christmas spirit would be damaged, he was free.

Season’s Greetings, we cannot give, For many are contained, an outbreak relived.

No family to hug, no friends to spend time While the Christmas bells ring, a bittersweet chime.

Over the phone, it’s simply not the same, We’re tired of playing a pandemic’s game.

So we can only hope next year will be merry, But until then we remain cautious and wary.

Fall was a lovely time in this small town. Colourful leaves covering gardens, and freshly carved pumpkins displayed on porches. It was an especially exciting time for a seventh grade class. Today was the day they took a trip to the local Fall carnival. There would be games to play, candy to eat, and tons of fun to go around. Lisa had saved three months of allowance to spend at this carnival. Everyone was financially responsible for their own tickets and treats. There was a little booth there, with rolls of little blue tickets. As soon as the class arrived to the carnival, students went every which way, to ride on the carousel, popping balloons with darts, and testing their strength by swinging a hammer with enough force to make a bell ring. But there was one attraction that every person was drawn to. The Ferris wheel. After spending a bit of her money, that’s where Lisa went, excited, but jittery at the thought of being so far above ground. As she was in the line she spotted another girl in her class. She was sitting on a bench near the Ferris wheel watching it turn. In fact, that’s where she had been the whole carnival. She had not played one game! “Hey Gemma! Aren’t you going to come on the Ferris Wheel?” Lisa called out. Gemma looked up with surprise clear on her face. “Oh. No, not today.” “Did you spend all your tickets already?” Lisa asked. Her mother had been very firm with Lisa about being conscious over how much she spent and what she spent it on. “No… I, well, I didn’t get any…,” Gemma spoke so quiet Lisa could barely hear it. “I’m sure if you told Mr Nelson you forgot he would let you call home and get some money.” Gemma looked away, her face reddening. “I- no, I don’t think I could.” That’s when Lisa realized that maybe she didn’t have any money to bring in the first place. That, or perhaps her parents were strict and would not let her, or she was too scared to ask. The line moved up and it was nearly Lisa’s turn to get on the Ferris Wheel. The carnival was nearly over and their was almost no one in the line behind her. She then looked over to Gemma who was looking at her feet. “Gemma! Come here!” Lisa called out as the person in front of her passed over their ticket and headed onto the Ferris wheel. Gemma looked up again, pointed at herself, a silent question, before making her way over to Lisa. “Hi. Here’s our tickets.” Lisa said to the lady operating the wheel and passed her two tickets. Gemma looked at Lisa with no small amount of surprise. “C’mon!” Lisa said to Gemma, beckoning her into the Ferris wheel. Gemma slowly followed Lisa into the seat and they buckled in before the wheel started to turn. “Why did you use one of your tickets on me?” Gemma asked as they drifted slowly up, more of their town coming into view. “You seemed to want to. I mean, you did want to, right?” Gemma laughed a little bit before responding. “Yes.” “Well, then I don’t see why I wouldn’t give you a ticket. Everyone should have fun at the carnival.” They both laughed this time. “Thank you, Lisa,” she said, smiling. The Ferris wheel went around twice more before it eventually stopped, the last turn of the night. And when they exited the carnival Lisa and Gemma were still talking, maybe having found an unexpected friend because of a small act of kindness, and a small blue ticket.

Without you days would be long and tiring, Sitting in silence, ever unsmiling.

When the world drags me down, there’d be nothing to hold, My heart that is now warm, filled with sorrow and cold.

But perhaps I would not realize it if I never knew you, I’d think myself unlucky, without any clue.

I’d have nothing to pull my weary self out of bed, And no one to call when my mind fills with dread.

Thankfully you, I do not live without, So even in hardship, I’ll hang on with no doubt.

His sword nearly pierced my side, but I was quick to turn and deflect his next swing. With each attempted strike and block my arms grew heavier and heavier. Sweat became slick on my neck. “You are quite experienced,” I said to him, using the brief pause to take a breath. “I’ve been trained by the best… as you are,” he replied, tossing his weapon between hands. I lunged forward bringing my sword down upon him, but he was swift to counter, knocking me backwards, almost to my backside. I scowled, spitting on the ground near his feet before our blades met once again. “Do you ever tire?” I managed out between focused and laboured pants. “Why? You seem to be doing well.” Not all well as I would like. My master would reprimand me if he were here. But he is not here, so I am left to fight this man until he tires or I am killed. Maybe he will have mercy and let me go. Swing, block, strike, parry. A horrible cycle. After attempting a rather impossible hit, I skidded backwards towards the edge of the clearing we’d been sparring in. “Do not run away. You’re a decent competitor! Equals are hard to find nowadays.” He said, glaring. He overestimates my skill, that is clear. I guess my acting skills prevailed. Thanks to my mother I’m sure. I sprinted into the evergreen forest, unsure of my destination. When I get back to the temple I will be ridiculed terribly for fleeing, but mortification is better than death in any place… I think. “Until another day!” I called out before disappearing further into the brush.