Page 30 - ParentsWorld June 2020

Short STORY

finding joy at christmas

nisha daniel

“Yaah....aah....” In a minute, the girls
Clint looked on in amazement were away, shouting to
at his two little cousins yelling and each other. He shook
chasing each other. Christmas at his head as he checked
Grandma’s was a new experience. if the tree was standing
It was truly a madhouse! steadily.
He surveyed the Christmas tree ‘Oh, no,’ he
he had decorated. ‘Nice. But how thought as he spied
will I protect it from these brats?’ he Sushil bouncing a
wondered, just as Vinola came and ball in the room. As
caught hold of his leg. the ball bounced
“Clint, help me!” she panted as towards the tree,
Pinky landed against her, almost Clint quickly
pushing Clint over. He maintained picked it up
his balance and grabbed the tree as before it could
it wobbled dangerously. do any harm.
“Hey, shall
we play ‘Passing
Teacher's the parcel?’” he
asked, hoping
it would keep
CORNER the kids
away from
his carefully
dd a dash of humour to decorated tree.
Ayour classroom and you “Boring!” Sushil
could soon be the most popu- made a face, bouncing
lar teacher in school. his ball towards the garden.
 Pick up a book of tricks and Clint guarded the tree all day. The
teasers. Start every alternate next morning, he was still worried brings joy and love...”
class with one. You don’t about the tree and rushed to check The words struck Clint and he
need to spend more than five it out. Pinky was tapping a golden sighed. After all, Christmas was a
minutes on it, but it will pep bell. He was about to go to stop season of love and joy. Grandpa
up the kids for the rest of the her from knocking it off, when he seemed to have understood this,
class. spotted Grandpa. while he had been just concerned
 You can retain the atten- Clint watched as Grandpa about keeping his Christmas tree
tion of distracted students by helped Pinky pull the bell off the intact! He joined the other kids as
a light comment (but not one tree and shake it, listening to its they shrieked with laughter at a
that would hurt or insult). tinkle in fascination. Grandpa had joke told by Grandpa.
 Be willing to laugh with the hung some sweets on the tree. He “Tell me also,” Clint begged
class when someone makes a gave one to Vinola. Sushil was him, eager to share the joy of
humorous remark. hanging a card which read, “Jesus Christmas.

"Laughter's the shortest distance between two people." Victor Borge

parentsworld • june 2020 31