“Lucy, are you up yet?” yelled Jenna through the door.

“Yep,” replied Lucy.

Lucy had already been braiding her long, blonde hair. Living in an orphanage since was two, she was able to do perfect braids at the age of three. Jenna had been her roommate ever since she had moved into the orphanage. She was like a sister.

Although Jenna was still four years older at the age of 11, they still got along. They headed off to school together with the other kids that lived in the orphanage. As Jenna put her straight, black hair into a ponytail, Miss Karen, the orphanage caretaker, said goodbye and waved her chubby hands and blew kisses as she usually did.

Cold winds hit their faces. It was clear it was winter in England. Christmas was almost here as it was December 15. Lucy’s pants and sweater had holes in them from previous children wearing them which made it feel much colder. She was happy to get inside the warmer school building.

In geography, they were looking through the atlas at different countries and continents. A little speck caught her eye on the map. Lucy squinted her eyes and looked closely. It read Bermuda.

Surprisingly, she had heard of it before, she couldn’t remember when. Suddenly, it came to her; it was where she was going to move when her parents died. She was going to live with her aunt but sadly, she died a couple weeks before Lucy came.

“Lucy, the bell rang, you can go,” said their teacher.

Not aware of what was going on, she looked up from her atlas. Everyone was gone! Embarrassed, Lucy went out for lunch. Bermuda was still on her mind; she had not heard a lot about it, but she did know it was really warm which sounded good to Lucy right about now with winter settling in.

She thought it would be a great place to spend Christmas but it would never happen. Lucy would have to work up the courage to ask Miss Karen first, and then money would be a problem too. Shaking away that idea from her head, she went to sit down to have lunch with Jenna.

After finishing her homework, which was very little since she was still seven, she went to see what Jenna was doing and maybe even ask her if the idea of going to Bermuda seemed out of the question. Jenna was still busily doing her homework so Lucy walked quietly away.

Then Lucy heard something. “Hey, Lucy, do you want something?” asked Jenna.

“No, I’m fine I’ll ask you later,” Lucy replied quietly as she usually did.

“No, really I’m done,” Jenna said, stuffing her books into her backpack.

“Well, you see you in geography we were looking through the atlas and I saw Bermuda, and I thought it would be kind of cool to go there for Christmas.”

There was an awkward silence. Lucy turned to leave.

“Never mind, it was just a stupid idea...”

“No, it’s not. I think it’s a great idea! I really think you should talk to Miss Karen about it.”

Lucy and Jenna talked about it for a long time until Miss Karen came to tell them good-night and to turn the lights out. The next few days, Jenna kept on bugging Lucy about talking to Miss Karen about going to Bermuda. Knowing how shy Lucy was, Jenna offered to come and talk to Miss Karen about it with her.

Both of them went into the kitchen to see Miss Karen about it with her. Both of them went into the kitchen to see Miss Karen doing a pile of dishes while a few children were at the table finishing off their dinner. Miss Karen was plump and made her look taller than she really was, which made Lucy look smaller.

“Hello, darlings, would you like something to eat? smiled Miss Karen sweetly.

“No thanks,” said Jenna before Lucy could even open her mouth. “Lucy wants to talk to you about something.”

Lucy looked around at Jenna, scowled, then moved her eyes to look into Miss Karen’s big, brown eyes.

“I-I-I was wondering if...I could go to...” stumbled Lucy.

“She wants to go to Bermuda for Christmas!” shouted Jenna, knowing Lucy wasn’t going to say anything.

Miss Karen looked confused and put down her washcloth that she was using to clean the dishes with.

“Well, this certainly has never happened before, I don’t know if you are even allowed to go unless you have a relative to to look after you, and I know you don’t have any living relatives, Lucy.

“I really wish you could go but money’s a problem as well, I’m really sorry about it Lucy,” said Miss Karen, bending down to Lucy’s height.

The two friends walked out of the kitchen without saying a word. Climbing into bed, Jenna said she was sorry and Lucy went off to sleep trying to get if off her mind. Christmas was drawing nearer, it was already December 20. School would be let out in two days! Lucy had only one desire on her Christmas list and that was to go to Bermuda. One day after school all the kids were writing letters to Santa. Lucy squeezed in between two other kids to get some paper to write down her wish.

There were too many hands going across her handing each other glue, glitter and paper to see what she was writing but Lucy tried her best. When Lucy was finished she handed it to Miss Karen to send to the North Pole.

Heading off to bed that cold night after being let out from school for the holidays, Lucy and Jenna heard something; something clattering outside their window. Shortly after this happened, Miss Karen came into their room to see what it was. Obviously she had heard the noise as well.

“Miss Karen, we heard something!” shouted Jenna, pointing her finger out the window.

Miss Karen rushed over to the window with Lucy and Jenna following behind her. Miss Karen opened the curtains that faced the long street that dragged on forever. Now on that long street sat a sled with Santa Claus! None of them could believe their eyes.

“Oh my gosh!” whispered Miss Karen. Both Lucy and Jenna were too astonished to speak; they just stood there with their mouths wide open. They rushed outside to see what was going on.

“What is Santa Claus <$>doing here?” shouted Jenna.

“I don’t know. Don’t wake the other children!” Replied Miss Karen quietly. They walked outside to the brisk winds that were pounding their faces.

“Hello there!” welcomed Santa Claus.

“What are you doing here?” said Miss Karen, still in shock.

Continued on Page 14

<$>“I just got Lucy’s letter and I need to take her to Bermuda!” replied Santa. Lucy jumped up and down with joy. She quickly hugged Miss Karen and Jenna goodbye.

“Jenna, would you like to come to Bermuda as well?” asked Santa.

Before you could say “Merry Christmas”, Jenna had jumped into the back of the sled with Lucy. They were sailing through the midnight sky while looking down at all the houses. They were in Bermuda by dawn and Lucy and Jenna woke up on Front Street. The look on Lucy’s face made it obvious that she loved Bermuda.

They explored Bermuda with a tour guide (that Santa had arranged) and they both were fascinated. They crashed at the Hamilton Princess on Christmas Eve.

On Christmas morning they opened presents and they each got a beautiful doll. They went to Monty’s for breakfast and after went down to Elbow beach for a swim and lunch at Mickey’s. At night time they went to go see the Gombey’s; they were nothing like they had ever seen before.

The bright, exuberant colours danced in Lucy’s round eyes. Lucy did not want to leave as it was warm and beautiful in Bermuda but Miss Karen came the next day to pick them up. Santa gave them a ride back on his sleigh. Santa Claus and Miss Karen talked the whole way home. Late at night they finally got back. Miss Karen looked like she was in love and so did Santa.

When school resumed, oddly, Santa Claus came to visit. It was after a couple of visits that it seemed obvious he was coming to see Miss Karen.

After a month of frequent visits they told the orphanage children that they were getting married. The children were so happy for her but confused about what was going to happen to them. Miss Karen and Santa told them that all 21 children would be adopted by the both of them and live in the North Pole! The children jumped for joy and packed their bags immediately.

A couple of weeks later the whole family was settled into their new home and were living happy lives. Lucy learned two important lessons that Christmas that she will never forget: Have faith and Bermuda Cassava pie is really good.