Stories by Students from St. Margaret's

Christmas Magic
by
Sigrid O'Malley

It was two weeks before Christmas when Susan, Bill and Eilish were setting up the Christmas Tree. "Mama, we don't have any Chrissy Decorations," shouted Bill, a five year old angel, with fair hair and fair skin with rosy cheeks.
"O.K. We'll have to get some then," answered Mum. "Where should we get them from? K-Mart or Target?" "Target." chorused the three children. The three children jumped into their mother's car and their Mother followed behind them and started the car.

They arrived at Target and walked straight to the Christmas Decorations. Susan put the items on the counter to purchase.Mum was paying the assistant when she glanced around at Bill and Susan. She glanced again, reassuring herself. No! She was right! Eilish was not there!

The first thing Susan did was report to the Main Office for the missing child. The whole store was thoroughly searched. Still there was no sign of Eilish. Mum panicked. What if she was kidnapped? or murdered? or hit by a car? The three of them were terrified.

The three returned to the car and reported to the police. The police station was small, stuffy and claustrophobic. Mum felt all hot and thought that the police station was no place for a worrying mother. A large policeman approached and promised they would try ttheir hardest to find Eilish and to go home and get some sleep. That didn't help. Mum knew she wouldn't be able to sleep. She and the two kids returned to the car. All of them sobbing and bawling their eyes out.

A week and five days past and the two children and their mother were still greiving. They were preparing for Eilish's funeral for she had not been seen, nor a reply had been heard for a week. At the same time they were preparing for a family Christmas Dinner.

The next day it was Christmas Dinner. The whole family was European, so they celebrated Christmas a different way. by lunch time all of the family were present except Eilish. Mum stood at the end of the large wooden table. She hadn't realised how lonely it was. How bare and lifeless, it was without Eilish. Mum clinked her champagne glass with her fork. She tried to speak, looking at all the innocent people. Nobody knew about Eilish's disappearance except for Dad who was in Ireland, returning on Boxing Day. "Wait!" cried out one Aunt. "Wait for Eilish!" Mum couln't stand it so she ran outside.

From then, the door bell rang. Silence fell in the house. Susan answered the door. It was Eilish! "Eilish," shouted Aunt Jean.

Mum stormed out. She hadn't seen Eilish whn she exploded and said.....
"Don't you torment me! Eilish is gone and she's not coming bak! She's gone missing!!!" "what are you talking about? She's right here!" screamed Aunt Jean.
Mum turned around and saw Eilish. She hugged her and asked her where did she go, but Eilish was silent. Eilish didn't talk again until dad came back, but still she didn't tell Mum, Susan, Dad and Bill. All believe it was Christmas Magic.

CHRISTMAS MAGIC.
by
KATE OSWALD.

It was a month before Christmas, and Ashly was lying in her bed, a half eaten matress in their rundown house, thinking about this year's Christmas. "This year is going to be a Magic Christmas, " she whispered to herself. "And if my family won't make it magic, I will."

She lay back in bed and tried to get to sleep. Too excited to sleep, she jumped up and crept outside to find some Christmas looking things to make decorations.

Ashley was creeping further into the bush when she bumped into an old man. "Who are you?" Ashley stuttered. "Hi, I'm your next door neighbour......Ted." he replied. "What is your name, and what are you doing out here?" "I'm Ashley, and I'm trying to find some Christmas decorations for my boring old house." She hobbled past the old man, on her way home.

Ashley met Ted in the bush the next day. He offered to help her find and make decorations. They picked some flowers from the garden and started to make some daisy chains. Ashley kept on breaking it so she had to keep on picking flowers from the garden. Soon the garden was bare and she had not made one daisy chain. When Betty (her mother) got home, she was in lots of trouble.

The following dayshe met Ted again, but this time he offered to help her make hanging things out of pine cones. After teaching her how to make them, he left her with all the equipment. Just like the last time, she couln't make a thing, and she walked away leaving a bare tree.

When Craig ( her father) got home, she was in even more trouble, so she had to plant a bunch of flowers, and another pine-cone tree. After sucha hard days work, she went straight to bed without any dinner.

She was going on like this for days and her parents were really worried, but they knew what caused it. The answer was obvious, for she wold wander around, muttering to herself, "Why can't I make this year's Christmas magic, why can't I make this years Christmas magic?"

When Ashley crept into her bed, her parents crept out of the house in search of Ted. They arranged a meeting every night when Ashley crept into bed, to solve their christmas problem. They decieded to give her a surprise Christmas and make the decorations and cut down a tree in the forest for the Christmas tree.

Every night they would add another thing to their collection. soon Ted's house was jam packed with decorations, presents, and lots of Christmas trees.

The surprise was coming closer and closer. After weeks of desperation, it was the night before Christmas. That night when Ashley crept into bed, they set up the surprise and waited till morning.

When Ashley woke up the next morning, not expecting anything, she woke to a big surprise. She said in a quiet voice, " This really is a magic Christmas."

CHRISTMAS MAGIC.
by
EMMA COFFEY

On a cold and windy Christmas eve at 81 Blossom St. London, England. "I would like make-up, dogs , cats, a trip to the U.S.A. and one million dollars, " concluded Pepsi. "Well you could have said please but it's still to much," added Gran, " Your Grandmother is right. Now it is 9:15pm, you better run along to bed," encouraged Pop's.

Christmas came like a flash, and Pepsi ran downstairs to see what was under the tree. There was only one present there and it was addressed to her. Pepsi was very disappointed that she was given only one present, so she wasn't in a hurry to open it.

Pepsi slowly opened her small present. Inside was a sparkly white swan. "That's all I get, a crumby white swan?!" shouted Pepsi and she rushed up to her room and slammed the swan down on her bed. The swan started to cry and it's tears were black."Why are you crying, you're only a swan?" Pepsi said angrily. "I am crying because you are so ungrateful and selfish. You think only of yourself and didn't think to buy Gran and Pop a present did you?" " I am not selfish and Gran and Pop do not need a present!" The swan thought that she would provee to Pepsi that she was the selfish one.

The wings of the swan glided up and something urged Pepsi to follow the swan out of the window. Pepsi was taken to the city and the swan left her there, but said she would be back inone hour. Pepsi slowly got up and walked towards a window and looked in. She saw a poor girl sitting in the corner with her parents singing a song, like a family. Pepsi realised how rotten and selfish she had been, and that she was lucky to get anything.

Down came the swan floating down from the sky, like a cloud coming down from heaven. The swan and Pepsi didn't say anything until they arrived home. "I see why you said those things and I am going to improve my ways," said Pepsi. The swan didn't say anything, but Pepsi knew the swan was listening and she walked downstairs to say sorry to her Grandparents.

A year past and Pepsi was really good and she was given lots more presents than last year. Pepsi realized that if you were good to people they would be good back.

CHRISTMAS MAGIC.
by
C. ADNESS.

Dad came home from work early today, and Mum came rushing out from the kitchen. I was sick in bed, and I heard the words, "sacked", "no job", and "no money". After a while Dad came into my room, and sat on the dressers chair."Jedda," he said sighing,"Mr Gravitt, my manager at work has been sacking a lot of people because of the depression, and well, I was one of those people. I thought I'd like to tell you that we may not be havin Christmas this year either." That's alright Dad," I replied, "I don't mind." But inside m stomach heaved at the thought of having no Christmas. What will Joseph think? I wondered. he was always boasting that we have a turkey every year. And what about Elanor?, her very first Christmas without presents. Oh well, i thought, thinking the best, maybe Dad will get his job back after all.

as I woke up I was shaken and punched by Josephs hands. "what is it?" I awoke drowsily. "Did you hear? Did you hear?!" Joseph yelled. "What? About Dad being fired? Yes I have." I yelled after being woken up by a fourteen year old. All of a sudden there was an angry knock at the front door and Dad rushed out of the kitchen and opened the door. "Where is your rent?" yelled Mr. Samson, our landlord. He did not dympathise with anyone and Dad owed him $800. "I'm dreadfully sorry Bill, I don't have it," cowered Dad behind our dog, Ralph. "You're out of here," yelled Mr. Samson, "Or else!" With that he stamped down our steps and through the gate. "Susan," Dad said, "we are going to have to move, can we go and stay at your parents farm?"

Catching the train up to Dubbo made my stomach churn. Although it was bumpy, I couldn't wait to see grandma Irus and grandpa Ted. It was the day before Christmas and we weren't excited about tommorrow. In fact I dreaded it . As the train stopped, I saw gran and pa looking a little older on the station platform. as we came out hugs and kisses greeted us. We were not prepared for the long ride in the truck back. The ride seemed to take ages and when we finally opened the front door, chicken and potatoes were waiting for us in the kitchen. Mum, Dad, Gran and Pa talked about the good old days till midnight and slowly we all slipped into our wooden beds.

In the morning I was awoken by the cries of Joseph. "Jedda!, Jedda!, come and open your presents!" "What?"I said, puzzled. "Santa has come!" he yelled and dragged me out of my bedroom. Sure enough, there were turkeys and Christmas presents. Gran and Pa had performed some Christmas Magic.