The True Spirit of Christmas

Fresh from her University studies, and out in the world, Summer Forster was as bright eyed and bushy tailed as everyone else in her graduating class. She was nearing the end of her first year as a fully fledged social worker. It was nearing Christmas, her favourite time of the year. For her Christmas had always been filled with as much joy and merry as was humanly possible.

Unfortunately for Summer, thus year was to bring a rather rude shock. And a bit of a wake up call. Because this year was the year she learnt that not everyone shared the same magical view of Christmas that she did. In fact, for most of the clients she worked with, Christmas was a time of great sorrow and heart ache. For some, Christmas brought memories and longing for lost loved ones. For others, it brought sadness for those who couldn't make it home. For some, it was a time of frustration and anger, for they could not afford such luxuries as gifts and special food to celebrate the day.

It was only upon witnessing such frustrations and sorrows that Summer realised just how privileged she was. Never had she gone without. Never had her family gone through struggle just to give her a nice Christmas. The Christmases of her childhood, every Christmas up until now had been worry, stress and carefree. It had been a cheerful time when everyone came together to sit, talk, laugh and be merry.

Not only that but she noticed that out in the wider world, people started to become increasingly stressed and rushed. Suddenly, she understood why it was known as 'the silly season'. Why such a term as 'Christmas crazy' existed. The local shopping centres were packed to the brim, their carparks so full that some were parked illegally. There were more traffic jams and hold ups, more angry beeping of horns than was usual.

And then, there were people like Summer, whose excitement and joy at the season seemed only to heighten the anger of some, a great disappointment to her. Usually, happiness was infectious. So why not now? Of all the times when everything should be cheerful, everyone joyful, why was the merriment not catching?

Why? Because the harsh reality is that for many, the joy of Christmas is overshadowed by stress, worry, frustration and sadness. Christmas was a time when suddenly, everyone was in a rush. There were pressures, for gifts, and food and for the 'perfect' day. The more Summer though about it, the more it made sense.

Buried deep beneath all of that was the spirit of Christmas. Of giving to others. And so, Summer vowed, from this Christmas on, to lend some of her cheer to those less cheerful. She vowed to be a beacon of peace at a time when so many were anything but. But, she vowed, she would never push it on anyone to enjoy Christmas as much as she did. Never would she try and pressure someone into being joyous when for them, there simply was no joy. But she hoped that by lending some of her own joy, some of her own peace and cheer that maybe it would rub off on a few people, make the season a little better for them and bring some much needed merriment to those who needed it the most.

Ray Is Real!

"I don't know sweetheart," said her mother.
"Why won't you believe me?" she asked. "Ray is real!"
"So why can't we see him?"
"Because..." The young girl thought a moment. "Because he's magical too!"
"Magical?" asked her mother.
"Yeah. That's why you can't see him. Cause he's magical and his powers got stuck."
"What do you mean his powers got stuck?"
"His powers got stuck, and that's why we need your help!" Jen was almost yelling.
Her mother put her hands on Jen's shoulders. "Ssh. Jen, calm down. I need you to tell me more. I don't know what 'his powers got stuck' means."
"It means Ray is stuck being invisible." Jen still spoke loudly, but she was quieter than a moment ago.

"Ok," said Jen's Mum. "So where is Ray now!"
"I'm right here!" came Ray's squeaky, high pitched voice. But only Jen could hear him.
"He's right here Mum. He's standing right next to me."
Mum looked at the spot where Jen had indicated. She couldn't see anything. "Ok."
"Will you help us Mum? Please!" Asked Jen. "You'll be able to see him if you help us."
Mum sighed.
"Please!?" said Jen again.
"Alright then." She said and Jen smiled. Ray did too, but no one saw. "So what do we need to do?" Mum dropped to her knees and Jen leaned in close, whispering into her ear like it was a secret.

Jen, Mum and Ray spent a long time around the kitchen as Mum mixed together all sorts of different things into a potion, hoping something would turn it into the shimmering shade of rainbow they needed. Ray stood and cheered them on as they went. Only Jen could hear, but that didn't matter. It kept her going. It reminded her why she was doing this. It helped her to remind her Mum.

Finally, after days of experimenting, Mum held up the glass, inside of which was a shimmering, sparkly rainbow liquid. Ray cheered louder than he had ever done before. This time Jen joined him. They threw their arms up in the air and smiled the biggest smiles they'd ever smiled before.
"Mum! You did it!"

Slowly, Mum picked up the glass and handed it to Jen. Just as carefully, Jen handed it to Ray, still gripping it tightly with one hand until she knew Ray was holding it tight. Slowly, carefully he tipped the glass up to his lips and drank all that was in it quickly in one go.

There was just enough time to put the glass back down on the bench before he was lifted into the air and thick, purple smoke came to surround him out of nowhere. Mum gasped. Suddenly, she could see Ray! There was a bright, blinding flash and Ray was lowered back down to the ground. Now, instead of looking like a doll, he looked like a rather odd little boy, for his hair was a bright shade of aqua and stuck up in little spikes over his head.
"See Mum!" said Jen. "Ray is real!"