"Home for Christmas'' December 15, 1998 Dear Journal, I better get those skis for Christmas. If I don't I don't know what I'll do.

My parents say I can't get them until I'm fourteen. Well fourteen might as well be forever and I need them now! They are the absolute best ever made. Oh I'm so excited about skiing in France this Christmas. There are only ten more days till Christmas and only five until I go to wonderful France.

Going to France for Christmas has been an annual tradition for six years, so on the seventh I better get those skis, France is so much better than boring Bermuda. I really miss my friends and my old school in London but Father's company sent him here to Bermuda and I suppose living here is better than boarding school.

Cassandra December 16, 1998 Dear Journal, Mrs. O Mallery drives me mad. Her house is at the end of our road and it is so blahh. The shutters need paint and the roof is so dingy. I would have claustrophobia if I had to live in a house that small! Mrs. O Mallery must be eight hundred years old. She sits in her rocking chair all day and knits. How Borrringg! Last Christmas she gave me a pair of purple knitted mittens and the card read,'' Maybe these will warm your hands while you ski in France.'' As if I would be wearing hand knitted mittens on the slopes and purple wouldn't even match my ski outfit give me a break! If she gives me a matching scarf this year I might just barf! Cassandra December 17, 1998 Dear Journal, Ben and Kate Sanderson came by today to invite my family to their neighbourhood Christmas Eve party. Do they not know we spend every Christmas in France at our country home? A neighbourhood party?? How boring would that be? The Sanderson twins are five years old and very annoying and immature. I couldn't imagine spending Christmas Eve with those two, let alone all the other children in this neighbourhood. Waiting for Santa with a bunch of children is not my idea of a good time.

Cassandra December 18, 1998 Dear Journal, Misery has taken over my inner soul!! I can't go to France! There is an awful winter storm approaching Bermuda. My parents don't even seem to care that my life has just come to a stop -- how unfair! Just because the airport has cancelled all flights doesn't mean their isn't another way to get to France.

How about a private jet? My parents aren't trying to find another way to travel. They seem to care more about the storm than me! Cassandra December 19, 1998 Dear Journal, We had to shop today for candles, matches, flashlights, and batteries. Dad found the generator in our garage and brought it outside. The weather reports are telling us that the storm is gaining speed and heading straight for Bermuda. And to think I could be skiing in France right now. This is going to be the worst Christmas of my life! Cassandra December 20, 1998 Dear Journal, The storm is getting close, The wind is howling outside and the rain is pounding on the roof and tapping at the windows. We lost our electricity yesterday but our generator is set up and is working fine. From my bedroom I can see candles glowing in Mrs. O Mallery's house. The candlelight gives her small Bermuda cottage a cozy and warm feeling. I wonder if she ever gets lonely living all alone? Across the street I can see shadows moving in the Sanderson house. The twins must be getting ready for bed. Ben and Kate were so upset today because the Christmas trees cannot be unloaded from the containers on the dock. I hope they still know that Santa will come even without a tree.

Cassandra December 21, 1998 Dear Journal, The Sandersons aren't able to have their Christmas party because they have no electricity. Luckily we have a generation and so we've offered to have the party here at our house! There's so much to do! All of our decorations are in France! I took some of the fallen branches and made wreaths to hang in the windows and I sued some cardboard to make a paper doll Nativity set. We are going to set the dining table with our best china and everyone has offered to bring the food! I can hardly wait.

Cassandra December 22, 1998 Dear Journal, The weather forecast is not good. The storm is expected to hit Bermuda late tonight and it will last several hours. Twelve foot waves crash along the coast and explode like thunder on the shore. The sky flashes with blinding streaks of lightning and the heavy rain almost looks like snowflakes swirling in the moonlight. I feel safe in my room. I hope the twins aren't afraid of the raging storm. I think it's going to get worse before it gets better. I wonder if Mrs. O Mallery is okay? Cassandra December 23, 1998 Dear Journal, Today I made more Christmas decorations with some wrapping paper and ribbon I found in the closest. Mum and I sang Christmas carols and baked Dad's favourite -- cassava pie. Mrs. Sanderson and the twins came over to use our oven to bake sugar cookies. While the cookies were in the oven, Ben and Kate discovered the paper doll Nativity set that I had made.

They played for hours, taking turns holding the baby Jesus and the Angel Gaibriel. Mrs O Mallery came over with holly embroidered placemats for the Christmas table. Our house was alive with festivity, the smell of cookies baking, and the sound of children giggling. I was sorry to see everyone go home but I can't wait until tomorrow.

Cassandra December 24, 1998 Dear Journal, The party was absolutely fantastic! Everyone was in a cheerful mood despite the weather forecast. Christmas music and laughter rose above the sound of rain and thunder outside. Our spirits were high as we ate and ate and ate! After dinner the twins passed out their sugar cookies and we opened presents.

Mrs. O Mallery handed me a soft package. Inside was a purple scarf. As I wrapped the scarf around my neck I noted how carefully it had been knitted.

The soft yarn felt warm around my bare neck and it smelled of lavender powder.

It was beautiful! The twins' faces lit up as they opened my gift. They screeched with excitement as they took their paper doll Nativity set out of the wrapping.

I stayed up late into the night carefully making another Nativity set just for Ben and Kate. Later that evening I walked Mrs. O Mallery home. The purple scarf around my neck kept me warm as the cold wind whipped at our raincoats. I carried the Christmas wreath that I had made for Mrs. O Mallery and helped her hang it on her door.

Cassandra December 25, 1998 Dear Journal, I didn't get new skis for Christmas this year but I might not need them until I'm fourteen, after all.

Cassandra The Children's Party by F.W. Lawson, 1873 SHORT STORY COMPETITION CPN