CHAPTER 8: WINTER HOLIDAY IS HERE

The first semester of grade three came to an end in the winter of December 2010. As usual before we started our winter vacation we got our report cards, exchanged our reports cards, read each others scores and teachers’ comments, we all did well except for my art score which was ‘not very satisfactory.’

Jaime: What happened with your art grade?

Diana: Yeah, not to good at all!! Hey drawing for me is like telling me to go swimming. I am terrible at drawing, wasn’t born with Picasso or Leonardo Da Vinci genes, so I can ONLY do my best but I do try.

Chris: I hear what you are saying but you have to try and make the effort.

Diana: I know, but every time we have art class I start to panic and to make matters worse, sitting next to Cynthia and Carl, makes me even more discouraged. I know Mrs. Campbell, always tries her very best to encourage me but I don’t know why my heart just isn’t in art.

Jaime: Try not to get discouraged Diana, I am sure all will be OK. Just have to practice doing some drawings during the winter vacation and see if they can help improve your art skills, or we can try helping you with some simple drawings and see how it goes.

Diana: Thanks guys. I mean granted, art is a subject we are learning in school and will be learning it till middle school, so the least I can try to do is make and put in the effort and hopefully will improve next semester.

Chris: For sure, but in the mean time if you need any help just let us know.

Diana: Thanks! I know one thing, once I get to high school, art will be the first subject dropped with a heartbeat.

Jamie and Chris were laughing as we got ready to head home ending our first semester of third grade and starting our winter vacation which was for three weeks. Thank goodness, I could sleep in and enjoy being in my warm pajamas, warm house and not having to leave my house for another three weeks.

Diana: We should hang out sometime during this winter vacation if you guys won’t have any plans.

Chris and Jaime: For sure, we will let you know.

We wished everyone happy holidays, said our goodbyes, and started walking towards the stairs as Mrs. Cooper was escorting us to our buses. Jaime, Chris and I were being picked up by our parents. I greeted both Jaime and Chris’s parents at the entrance, walked with my mum to our car, hopped into the car, and my mum drove off. We talked a bit about the day and all that had been going on, but for some reason, I ended up sleeping in the car until we got home when my mum woke me up.

Mum: You must be quite tired Diana

Diana: I guess it had been quite a long semester and it is winter, the cold just makes you want to sleep.

(Mum laughing as she packs the car, we got out and walked straight home).

Dad was home surprisingly, which I wasn’t expecting, but I was happy to find him home even earlier than me. I gave him a hug and went upstairs to put my backpack, changed my clothes, took out my report card and gave it to mum and dad. As they were reading my report card, I quickly walked back upstairs to my bedroom before they started asking me questions.

Dad: Diana? Can you come downstairs please?

Diana: Sure dad. I walked downstairs went and sat on the sofa where both my parents were also seated and I could already see what was coming my way.

Dad: So your mum and I looked at your report card and we are quite impressed with your grades and the weekly star awards that you received this semester. Well, with the exception of art but that’s OK. I am sure you will do better next semester.

Mum: We are so happy with your performance this semester, top scores in all subjects especially in math, language, literacy, writing, social studies, science, P.E., music, computer, Spanish well except art, but like your father said you will do your best to improve and do better next semester.

Diana: Art is not my subject, not that I don’t like it, but I was telling Jaime and Chris that I don’t have the Picasso or Leonardo Da Vinci genes to be an artist, and then in the art class, I am sitting next to two of my classmates who draw, paint and color like art is their profession. It is quite discouraging and frustrating, but Mrs. Campbell tries her very best to help me not get discouraged and she is very patient with me, so hopefully next semester will be able to make some improvements and do better.

(Mum and Dad both laughing at my reply and reaction) They both give me a hug and assured me that everything will be OK, and should not worry.

Diana: Thanks mum and dad. I love you lots.

Mum and Dad: We love you too and will always support you.

I turned around and went back to my room with a sigh of relief and just crushed on my bed looking at my bedroom ceiling just relaxing telling myself “everything will be OK, you can make it Diana, don’t have to be the most glamorous and famous artist in third grade or the world but as long as you can draw as requested by Mrs. Campbell, everything will fall into place”.

I got up from my bed, took out everything from my backpack, my books, folders, P.E. clothes and sneakers, my snack boxes, and my school diary. I started putting everything where they should be, and once that was all done, all that was left were my books, folders and school diary on my study table. I had been contemplating on whether I should get started working on my homework right away as it was quite a lot, but then I told myself, I just started my winter vacation, got three weeks to get it done. Of course was not going to wait till last minute to start working on it, nope!! Will give myself a week to rest then begin working on it with Jaime and Chris.

December was usually a very busy month for my family; it was not only about the winter holiday, but with only three weeks of holiday and the crazy heavy snow and sometimes the blizzards, travelling was not an option, but had to prepare and get excited for the Christmas season, Boxing day, New Year’s Eve and Year New, but the biggest one was my birthday which was three days before Christmas. We would always buy a Christmas tree, decorate it, buy gifts, and drink nice hot chocolate and the food my mum would cook was just out of this world. This year though as we were not travelling we would be celebrating our winter holiday just the three of us at home. However, I decided to do something different. I had a discussion with my parents:

Diana: For this Christmas can we invite Jaime and Chris’s family over for our Christmas dinner and my birthday please, pretty please? Seeing it is their first time in this neighborhood far away from home and we all get along I think it would be great and they would love it too.

Mum: Sure, I will speak to their parents and hear what they say and let you know.

Dad: Of course we can invite them for your birthday and Christmas. Would also be nice to have some fun and enjoy the festive holiday together.

Diana: Great!! Yes!! I rushed back up to my room, sat on my bed and started drifting in my imagination how exciting and fun my birthday and Christmas will be this year…..I just could not wait.

The next day while we were having supper, my mum tells me…..

Mum: I have some good news for you Diana. I spoke with Jaime and Chris’s parents and they agreed to come for your birthday party and Christmas dinner.

(My dad seeing me smiling and jumping up and down with joy and excitement).

Diana: Thank you, thank you, love you mum.

Mum: They were quite excited at the invitation as they were not sure what they were going to do, in the past they would travel and visit friends or relatives but ever since they moved to this neighborhood they have never gotten along with the other neighbors, the only neighbors they knew was us and they saw we were friendly and their children get along quite well with you. They had also thought of inviting us for dinner at their place for Christmas. I am glad they accepted our invitation. They are very nice people, humble, friendly, and welcoming and they don’t like drama or gossip which goes for the same as our family. I am guessing that’s why we get along quite well and we have never had any issues with them and you have never had any issues with Jaime and Chris.

Dad: They are wonderful people, easy to get along with; in fact Chris’s father invited me to play golf with him at one point and we both had a great laugh and enjoyed chatting with each other. Jaime’s father is not that much into golf, but he accompanied us just to hang out and enjoy the weekend with us. They are low key people, simple; don’t like complicated and extravagant lifestyles especially showing off, gossiping and drama, not their cup of tea at all!

Diana: Wow that would explain something….

Mum: What Diana?

Diana: When I first met Jaime and Chris, I asked them whether they had friends and if the friends in the neighborhood hang out with them, they answered me “No, we don’t like them.” I didn’t ask why, didn’t want to push the topic as I noticed they were not interested in talking about the other kids in the neighborhood. Now that you mentioned what kind of people they are, it explains why they don’t like hanging out with the other people in this neighborhood and to be quite honest I don’t blame them at all!!

Diana: Having said that, I am so excited they accepted our invitation and we shall be celebrating my birthday and spending Christmas with them as well. It will be a great winter holiday, thank you mum and dad.

Mum: You are very welcome sweetie. Now finish up your dinner before it gets cold.

I continued eating my dinner with the biggest smile on my face after receiving the wonderful news. I finished my dinner, took my plate to the kitchen, and watched some television till around 10 PM. Before I went to bed I took a sneak peak out the window and saw that it was starting to snow heavily, told my parents about it and I was already imagining how the ground will be full of snow tomorrow, which meant I could go out build a snowman, and play in the snow.

Diana: Mum, dad, good night (gave them hugs and kisses) and went upstairs to my bedroom, was already yawning which I am guessing was either I was just quite tired or the fact of always feeling sleeping around this time during school days and was a routine to always be in bed before 10 PM. I need to recharge my body and get some energy if I am to enjoy this winter holiday and have the energy to do my homework.

I left my parents watching television and I went to my room, tucked myself into bed, turned off the lights and went to sleep. Before I slept, I was thinking of the good news mum shared with me earlier this evening that Chris and Jaime’s parents will be coming for my birthday party and Christmas dinner. I was so overjoyed which put a bright smile on my face and without anymore thoughts; I turned to the left and slept with a BIG smile on my face.

The next day I woke up looked out the window and the whole road and our garden was covered with heavy snow. I had no idea what time it was until I went downstairs and saw my parents were already both awake.

Diana: Why are you awake so early I asked?

Mum and Dad: they both look at me saying it is almost 10 AM!! (Laughing)

Diana: What? You mean I slept all the way from 10 PM to 10 AM?

Mum: Yup, you must have been quite exhausted, but you are on holiday. It is probably the change of seaons; the short autumn and the drastic change to winter, add on the school work, after school activities, and all that has been going on for you, the body must have felt tired, but it is good you allowed yourself to get some good sleep and rest. How are you feeling now?

Diana: I am actually feeling so much better, refreshed actually (laughing).

Mum: Well go get cleaned up and then come down for breakfast.

Diana: OK. Oh can we play in the snow today, build a snowman?

Dad: Sure, we can, after you have cleaned up and had breakfast as your mother said.

Diana: Nice! I rush back to my room, make my bed, wash my face, and change into warm clothing, do my hair and rush downstairs to have breakfast. When I finished my breakfast ran back upstairs to brush my teeth put on my winter jacket rushed downstairs put on my winter boots and out I went to play in the snow.

When I went outside, I saw Jaime and Chris were also outside playing in the snow. I called their names and asked them to come join me at my place. They both came running to our house, and we played in the snow making two huge snowmen, rolled snowballs and tossed them to each other, we were having so much fun, laughing, falling on the snow as my parents were watching us from the living room window.

“Having a good night’s rest really was the antidote I needed,” I said to myself as I had so much energy and was having so much fun, smiling laughing and I kept on looking at Jaime and Chris telling myself “I am so happy that I have both Jaime and Chris as my best buddies, being in the same school, same class for four years.” I stood and said “this will be one of the best winter vacations I am ever going to have and will always be remembered for the years to come.”

We continued playing in the snow till late afternoon; we were so tired that we fell on the ground and started talking about how our winter holiday had been so far….we have been enjoying it but we all had the same thoughts that today was the best snow day we ever had since the beginning of our winter vacation. At around 4 PM, we hugged each other, said our goodbyes and went home. We had planned to hang out over the weekend to begin the winter vacation homework.