My Sick Christmas

It was the afternoon of Christmas Eve. It wasn't snowing outside, but I was hoping it would by nightfall. I was surprised it wasn't snowing now, seeing as it was below freezing outside. I mean, what is Christmas Eve with out snow? I was getting ready to sing at our church on our Christmas Eve service. I couldn't wait to get up there in front of all these people and sing my heart out. Most of them didn't even know I could sing so well!

At about 2:00, I started not feeling so well. I had some minor stomach pains. At first, I thought it nothing. This usually happens with me when I am excited or nervous. But then it got worse. My stomach pains deepened and I started getting a headache. I started running a high fever and then, I threw up.As soon as it happened my mom said she was sorry, but there was no way I would be able to sing at the church that night.

I was crushed. I had worked so hard, and practised so much, but it was all for nothing. Why had this happened? It seemed like this always happened when the best things were planned. Once I missed Picture day at school. Another time my family had planned to go hang gliding. And now, it was Christmas Eve.

Why? I thought. I felt like I was the bad luck person of our family. I must be cursed. That must be it. The only other thing it could be is food poisoning, But I was the pickiest eater in our family. So that probably wasn't it.

My mom settled me on the faded blue couch, put on a movie for me, and off they went leaving me all alone. Once they were gone, I got up and shut all of the lights off and lit a few candles. Doing that made me feel more peaceful somehow.It felt good to be alone, it was quiet and I could choose what channel I want and not have to share the couch with anyone except my dog. I could check the presents under the tree, maybe ease open a couple, but I decided against it. What was the fun of Christmas eve, if you weren't lying awake with excitedness? I put in one of my horse movies, because I never got to watch them when my brothers were around.

I enjoyed the movie. Especially with the twinkling lights of the Christmas tree watching me and it's pine boughs filling the house with their sharp, nose burning scent, which was softened by the mellow smell of tea light candles. Snow fell softly outside, much to my delight, and it was all quiet except for the movie droning on.

When it was done, I was dead tired, so tired it was as if my eyelids were weighed down with 50 pound dumbbells. So I decided to try to take a nap until my family came home. It seemed like I had only rest my tired bones a minute though, when they arrived. My mom came over to my couch and asked how my night had been. At the time, I had told her O.K., but now, as I think back, it was really a nice, quiet, peaceful Christmas Eve, and I hope I have many more.