snickerdoodlepie

[snickerdoodlepie]

When Christmas Goes Delightfully Wrong

Christmas is a time of laughter, love, and cheer, urging families to prepare for its celebration weeks ahead. But how would it be if what was planned isn't what is due?

Christmas had always been one of the most anticipated seasons of the year for me. The memories I’d build each time with my family and friends never failed to be unforgettable. But there was one particular December that changed everything, the kind of day you could look back on and feel it alter something deep in you—a day that will forever hold a special place in my heart.

The day before Christmas of 2022 had an unhurried, lazy feel, like a typical weekend without a single plan or task due. I was sprawled out on the floor, aimlessly browsing the internet and wondering how I’d spend the remaining hours of the day. Then it struck me—why not reconnect with my love for drawing in a way that challenged me? I then dabbled in sketching here and there, but something about today made me feel like going further, diving back into an old passion. With this idea in mind, I planned to create an animatic as a Christmas gift for a special friend of mine. These so called animatics involve digitally drawn storyboards with lyrical music set in the background to aid the narrative's storytelling element. Energized by this goal, I spent the entire day creating and perfecting every detail, even having enough time to create digital Christmas cards for my family and other friends.

As night began to settle, I heard my mom call from downstairs, asking me to come down to talk with her about something important. I slid down the stairs to meet her, curiosity sparking as I saw her waiting expectantly.

“Ewel,” she began, “we’re doing something different tonight. Instead of having dinner at your grandparents’ place, like we always do, we’re going to McDonald’s in Valencia City.”

I blinked, surprised. “All of a sudden? Why?” I asked, my curiosity piqued.

“Well, Luke won a McDonald’s coupon from an event at his school,” she explained. “He said he wanted to use it for a family dinner tonight.”

A smile broke across my face, excitement bubbling at this unexpected change. Luke had never won anything in a contest before, so it felt like a mini celebration for him too. I rushed back to my room to get ready for the evening, brushing my hair, putting on a bit of makeup, and grabbing my favorite jacket. The more I thought about it, a huge array of possibilities for the night began to fill my mind with warmth and anticipation.

Soon enough, my mom called for me again, and I hurried downstairs, ready for the short drive. We stopped by my grandparents’ house to pick them up, where Luke’s older brother Hobe suddenly begged our grandma to ride in a different car so he could sit next to me. She sighed but agreed, and soon Hobe and I were chatting up a storm in the backseat. We discussed plot leaks from upcoming animes like Demon Slayer and Attack on Titan, adding in some talk about the latest updates in Genshin Impact, from new character releases to theories about upcoming game lore. I could hardly keep up with Hobe’s enthusiasm, and yet, it filled me with a sense of comfort and nostalgia—a simple, familiar joy.

As we drove along, I caught glimpses of the soft, peaceful scenery passing by outside, giving me a moment to appreciate the calm night surrounding us. Once we arrived at McDonald’s, though, the peace was replaced by the lively, bustling chaos of the holiday crowd. The restaurant was packed to the brim, with people lined up and some even filing complaints about their orders. My mom glanced at me with a thoughtful look, clearly weighing out her options.

“Mom, should we really eat here?” I whispered, tugging gently on her sleeve.

She sighed, “Well, we came all this way, and we don’t want to waste Luke’s coupon. We’ll make it work. Just wait outside, okay? I’ll call you if I manage to find a table.” I nodded, trying to keep a poker face as I stepped outside into the cool December air. The chill hit my face, a comforting reminder of the season’s specialness. “What a beautiful night,” I murmured, taking a deep breath and feeling grateful for the little things.

My younger cousin, Luke, suddenly tapped me on the shoulder. “Ate, can I see the drawing you told me about?” he asked eagerly. Smiling, I pulled up the animatic I’d been working on earlier that day, sharing it with him as we waited.

Minutes passed with our family gathered in the parking lot, while my mom and my aunt continued to wait in line. Soon enough, the familiar smell of fries and nuggets filled the air. “Food’s here!” Hobe shouted in excitement.

My dad looked at my mom and asked, “Why’d you get takeout?”

She shrugged, “The place is packed, not a table open anywhere. We’d be standing there forever. So, it’s dinner in the cars.”

I froze for a second, processing the reality—just hours before Christmas, and we were about to have a family dinner in a McDonald’s parking lot. The idea was so bizarre, yet it excited my heart, bringing with it a comforting sense of simplicity.

With everyone gathering, we split up, with all the kids piling into my aunt’s car, awaiting our share of food. As my aunt handed out the meals, she laughed awkwardly. “Oh, by the way, they ran out of utensils. So, you’ll have to get a little creative.”

“What?” I exclaimed dramatically, but in truth, the weirdness made it all the more memorable. Eating without utensils? The night was turning out to be more eccentric than expected.

As I looked around, I noticed everyone improvising their own ways to eat. With no hand sanitizer on hand and no chance to wash up, I ended up digging right into the food, hands-free, face-first into my nuggets. From the corner of my eye, I saw Luke using his baby brother’s food bowl, while my aunt fashioned a makeshift glove from a plastic bag. My grandparents, the only ones with utensils, smiled at us, probably thinking about how unusual and funny this whole setup was.

We continued eating, and just as we were finishing up, a group of children carolers came by our car. Being the season of giving, we gave them some money—and even shared some untouched nuggets with them. It reminded me that Christmas was about more than just receiving; it was about spreading kindness and love, sharing what we had, no matter how simple, and behaving like how Our Heavenly Father wanted us to. Glorifying Him with our choices, words, and actions.

As we cleaned up, my mom suggested we visit the nearby plaza. Enthralled by the sparkling lights and the festive music, we all agreed. Walking into the plaza, I felt a sense of peace, like being home. I took a moment to reflect, thinking maybe this was what life was all about—enjoying the gift of the present. People get so caught up in perfection and planning that they sometimes miss the charm of spontaneity.

Just then, I noticed colorful lights shimmering from the corner of my eye. Grabbing my cousins’ hands, I led them toward the plaza’s famous dancing fountain. The vibrant lights and the kids playing around the fountain captivated me. I felt my heart light up with childlike excitement. As I debated the idea of joining them and facing the consequences of being soaked, my mom appeared behind me.

“Do you want to take a bath?” she asked knowingly.

“I do…” I quietly admitted.

She then smiled softly. “Go ahead.” And with her permission, it felt as if any future worry was nothing but trivial. My cousins quickly got approval from their own mom, and the three of us raced toward the fountain, our laughter mingling with the festive atmosphere.

Dodging the jets of water, we found ourselves among other kids, playing, laughing, and just living. For the first time since lockdown, I felt truly free. The night felt like a celebration of life, a reminder of all the beautiful moments I’d missed during those confined days. Families gathered around, watching as we enjoyed the spectacle of lights and water, unknowingly creating memories that would stick with us for years.

After a while, the cold began to settle in, and we wrapped ourselves in blankets, ready to head home. Even though I was chilled from the dampness, a sense of warmth filled me, my heart brimming with contentment.

When we got back, I thought the night was winding down, but I decided to log onto Genshin Impact to complete my daily missions. Scrolling through my friend list, I noticed someone online—a friend from school with whom I’d been chatting more often, one I’d come to realize I might have a crush on. We’d never met in person, but we connected so naturally over random late-night conversations on Messenger.

I felt a rush of excitement as I clicked Join World. Watching the loading screen, my anticipation grew, and when it finally loaded, I was over the moon to see he’d accepted. We spent hours together, fighting monsters and gathering resources, helping each other out to level our characters and weapons. The cutest part is that we even took pictures at the game's prettiest places during our gameplay! You could say that I was constantly kicking my feet in glee the whole time we played.

As midnight drew near, our messages drifted from the game to Messenger's personal chat. Then, as the clock struck twelve, “Merry Christmas!” messages flooded my phone. I dashed downstairs to greet my parents and texted holiday greetings to family and friends. As I checked my inbox, I realized I hadn’t yet messaged him.

“Merry Christmas (^∀^)!” I typed to him.

“Merry Christmas to you too :D.” he replied.

Just when I thought our chat would end, he sparked a new topic, and we kept talking, sharing stories and laughter as the hours slipped by. Time passed almost unnoticed, until we suddenly realized it was nearly four in the morning.

“I can’t believe it’s 4 AM, haha.” I typed, half-laughing at the absurdity of staying up so late.

"Yeah, i just realized too, LOL." he expressed casually.

There was a pause, the kind that feels both comfortable and charged. My heart raced, realizing I was sharing this quiet, magical moment with someone who felt like they really understood me. It was silly, maybe, and a little unexpected, but I felt a warmth that I couldn't quite explain, and that I hadn't felt in a long time.

After a few more messages, he finally typed, "Alright, I should probably sleep now, haha. Merry Christmas again:)."

"Yeah, thank you for your time. I really enjoyed it. Merry Christmas, and goodnight!" I sent back, smiling at the screen like an idiot.

As I finally closed my phone and sank back into bed, I felt content in a way I hadn’t felt in years. There was something so pure about the night—no fancy dinners, no elaborate plans, just family, laughter, a bit of mischief, and a quiet, late-night chat with someone special. It was far from the perfect holiday I’d pictured, but maybe that’s why it meant so much.

That Christmas wasn’t just memorable; it became a reminder that the best moments are often the unplanned ones. And as I drifted off to sleep with a smile on my face, I knew that this Christmas would be the one I’d cherish most, a story to tell again and again, like a melodious song replaying in my mind.

THANK YOU FOR READING!

HAPPY HOLIDAYS & GOD BLESS!