Sarah looked out her frost-covered window in deep thought, watching as the cars passed on the street below. "Is he going to come?" She thought. Sarah knew that it was three days before Christmas and he had to go see his family. He had told her that he might stop in Colorado for a day before heading down to Florida, but it wasn't definite. "Will he still feel the same?" Sarah thought worriedly. The two eighteen year olds had been committed to a long-distance relationship since they lived so far away from one another and he was always travelling around the country. Sometimes it was too much for her to handle, but she had learned to deal. He always had girls throwing themselves at him like cheap whores, but in her heart she knew that it was she who would later have him in the end. It was true that Sarah was worried about him dropping her for some girl he picked up in Florida that was much prettier than she was and would ever be. She ran a hand through her dark brown hair and blinked a few times before standing up, walking over to her bed, and falling back onto it with a small smile. "I'm thinking too much." Sarah said aloud. "Enough of this. It doesn't matter if Justin comes or not. I'll see him when he stops in Colorado." She said to the ceiling as if it would respond and say something back to take her mind off of the subject.
There was a sharp knock on the door, followed shortly by a high pitched voice. "Sarah! Mom said to take Cassie out!" Exclaimed the voice of Michelle, her little sister.
"It's too cold!" Sarah exclaims. She hears the patter of the child's feet as they carry the young body quickly down the stairs. Sarah sinks back into her thinking state once again, hoping not to be disturbed. Her mother who was standing in the doorway with her "I may look happy, but if you don't get up soon, you're in trouble" smile plastered on her face, soon crushed her hopes. With a heavy sigh, Sarah sat up and ran a hand through her hair. "I'm going." She said to her mother who just gave her a satisfied smile and left. Sarah slid her tennis shoes on. After getting her coat, a scarf, and a baseball cap, she went downstairs.
On her way out of the door, Sarah grabbed the leash and attached it to Cassie's collar. "Finally." Sarah said aloud as she and Cassie started down the street. "Some time to think without being bothered by a mom or a sister." She was quiet for a second or two. "But then again, I've got a dog with me who'll bark at any living creature outside. Except me, of course. Isn't that right, Cas?" She said to the dog, petting her head lovingly. "Yeah, you'll be here." She said to the golden retriever, taking in the cold air. There had been times when Justin didn't come to see her, and she knew that he did have his career and everything else going on. For some reason, though, this time was different. It would hurt if he didn't come. Maybe it was because the holidays were so close, or maybe she was becoming selfish.
Later that night, Sarah looked in the mirror at her formal red and white dress. It looked as if it came out of the movie Beauty and the Beast, only it was red. (You know, the part when they were dancing in the ballroom.) Her church was doing a Christmas program. The younger children usually did a play with their Sunday school group while the older children and adults chose what they wanted to do. They ended the production with a play with all the younger children from all the Sunday school groups. It was a different play every year. Sarah smoothed the skirt of the dress before opening the bedroom door, and heading downstairs where her parents and younger sister are waiting. Sarah gazed down at Michelle. The five year old girl was dressed in a frilly white dress with her blonde hair in two curly pigtails held up by two frilly white scrunchies to match the dress. Michelle blue eyes were narrowed, and a scowl was set on her face. "What's wrong?" Sarah asked her little sister, kneeling down to her height.
"I don't like this dress." She responded, her features not changing.
"I like it." Sarah said, trying to cheer her up.
"But I want to wear a pretty Cinderella dress like you!" Michelle whined. "I look like a little girl." She said, her shoulders drooping.
"That's because you are a little girl, silly!" Sarah exclaims, tickling Michelle. The young girl laughed, squirming to break free. "I bet you're going to be the prettiest little girl in there." Michelle's eyes lit up.
"Really?" She asked, and Sarah nodded.
"Now are you ready to go?" Their father asked.
"Yeah! Let's go." Michelle said, leading everyone to the doorway.
Sarah took the microphone and rolled it in her hand a little while the last Sunday school group finished their performance. She smiled as she remembered all the past Christmas programs she had been in since she was five. "...Our very own, Sarah Johnston." Sarah popped back into the present when she heard her name. She raised the microphone to her mouth and prepared to sing.
Chestnuts roasting on an open fire
They know that Santa's on his way
I'm offering this simple phrase
They know that Santa's on his way
I'm offering this simple phrase
Sarah replaced the microphone in its stand and smiled as the audience applauded. "Thank you." She said into the microphone before returning to her seat next to her parents.
"You did great, sweetie." Her mother said, hugging her with one arm. Sarah smiled and the program continued on.
It was about nine o' clock when the Johnstons left the church. As they neared the house, Mrs. Johnston saw a strange figure outside on the porch swing. "Now, who could that be?" She asked.
Sarah immediately went on full alert. "What are you talking about?" She asked. Michelle had made herself comfortable lying on the back seat of the van. Sarah's mother pointed out the figure, and Sarah covered her mouth in shock. "He came..." She whispered loudly.
"Who's he?" Her father asked.
"No one, just stop the car."
"Sweetie, we're in the driveway." Her mother responds. Sarah immediately opened the van door, and hops out. The person had by now stood up and was smiling as he approached her. Sarah slowed up her walking as they got closer. Snowflakes sprinkled her dress and her hair. She stops right in front of him.
"I didn't think you were coming."
"Well, here I am." Justin responds. Sarah's family got out of the van.
"Justin! Hi!" Her mother exclaims when she reached the couple. She gives him a hug. Mr. Johnston comes up, and gives Justin a hard pat on the back.
"Come on inside, son. How long are you staying?"
"Just for tonight."
"Great!" Mr. Johnston exclaims as the five of them enter the house, closing the door behind them. The snow fell quietly outside, covering anything outside that it touched. Sarah watched Justin as he laughed whole-heartedly at a joke that her father had told him, and she knew that everything would in fact be okay.
Jack Frost nipping at your nose
Yuletide carols being sung by a choir
And folks dressed up like Eskimos
Everybody knows
A turkey and some mistletoe can help to make the season right
Tiny tots with their eyes on a glow will find it hard to sleep tonight
He's loading lots of toys and goodies on his sleigh
And every mother's child is gonna spy
To see if reindeer really know how to fly and so
To kids from one to ninety-two
Although it's been said many times, many ways
Merry Christmas to you
He's loading lots of toys and goodies on his sleigh
And every mother's child is gonna spy
To see if reindeer really know how to fly and so
To kids from one to ninety-two
Although it's been said many times, many ways
Merry Christmas
Merry Christmas
Merry Christmas to you