Christmas at Teddy’s--Melanie

Every day, the nine-year-old boy, Teddy, met up with his two best friends, Ryan and
Clarissa, and his sister, Amy, to walk home from school. Each day, the cacophony echoing in the school hallways made it difficult for Teddy to focus. The students’ laughters were deafening. The sound of backpacks zipping and unzipping were blaring. Today was his Christmas party with his friends. At least, that is what he thought it was.

Teddy exitted the hallways and began walking toward the spot his friends typically meet. He continued in his tracks as he passed that spot and as his friends followed. Ten minutes pass. He entered his home, and his friends followed inside. Teddy’s friends waited patiently downstairs while Teddy and Amy prepared their gifts for “Secret Santa.” The laughter downstairs after Amy returned to their friends sparked an immense excitement within Teddy. He remembered that he sent out his Christmas Wish list only two weeks before. The only thing on it included a set of Legos that revolved around Star Wars and the spaceships. He knew that this Christmas party would be the highlight of his year.

Teddy entered his bedroom. The sunlight beamed through the blinds of the windows. He scanned his bedroom. There. He hovered over the gift as he read the note placed next to it: “Teddy, Doctor’s appointment at 9am tomorrow. Love you! - Mom.” He set the note on his desk.

He snatched the gift on his bed. It was wrapped in Santa Claus wrapping paper. He proceeded downstairs to begin the exchange.

The children sat in a deformed circle in Teddy’s living room on the wooden floor with their gifts sitting in front of them, ready to be unwrapped. Amy was the first to begin the actual exchange of Secret Santa gifts, handing her gift, wrapped in Santa Claus wrapping paper, to Ryan; Ryan then handed his Star-Wars-wrapped gift to Teddy; Teddy then handed his gift to Clarissa; and Clarissa finished the gift exchange by handing her Disney-wrapped gift to Amy. Ryan received a new game-set of “Battleship;” Teddy received a set of Legos to build another spaceship for his Star Wars collection; Clarissa received 30 packaged scrunchies; and Amy received a stuffed Minnie Mouse along with a holiday card from Clarissa. For the rest of the time, the children sat in that deformed circle, incredibly mesmerized by the gift each of them received. Their gifts brought up past memories, and they began sharing old stories of past Christmases, until the short hand reached nine.

The clock strikes nine. The light in the room goes dim. The children go silent. The room goes silent. Everyone remains still. He does not even hear Amy breathing. Teddy breathes quietly and slowly. He reaches his arms out in front of him. Wait. Where did they go? His precious Legos seemed to disappear out of thin air. He looks down to the floor in front of him. The Legos were nowhere in sight. His eyes widened in disbelief. Teddy looks up again. His friends were not in the room with him. A wave of darkness rapidly washes over the room. He buries his head into his hands, waiting for the lights to turn on. Teddy sat alone in the darkness.

Thirty minutes pass. The garage opens. The lights illuminate once again. Teddy looks up. The gifts his friends received sat right in front of him. His friends were nowhere in sight. The

door to the garage unlocks. Teddy remains still as the door creaks open. The sound of heels click on the floor with every step. Teddy looks behind him to find that his mom was home.

“You opened all your presents?!,” she exclaimed. “You were supposed to wait until Christmas morning!” Teddy looks at the Christmas tree that suddenly appeared in his living room. His eyes return to looking at his mom.

“Well, you have to be awake early tomorrow for your doctor’s appointment,” she demanded. “I’m almost positive you don’t have schizophrenia, but we’ll see what the professionals say.” Teddy finally remembers: he was always an only child.