Column

Below is my drafted Newspaper/School Newsletter column for our internal on Friday.
We can basically write about anything that's appropriate.
Spent a whole day on it on Sunday (except Church :D) but finally got into it at like 9 o'clock at night. I know Mrs Krohn said it's "amazing" but something about it just really annoys me. I think it's the lack of hard out words, especially compared to Nancy's. I read her first sentence then literally gave up. Sigh, but then again, my vocabulary is too limited to write hard out words...
Oh well.
Your comments are much appreciated.
Thank you :)
Oh and can you guys think of a better title...

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A Christmas Cheer

“Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle all the way…”
When the all-so-familiar “Ho Ho Ho” of this ringtone rises above even the tooting of cars, we are reminded once again of chaos. The mad rush to Riccarton mall for your distant Uncle Ben, your great-grandmother whose need for fake teeth is over budget so you buy her chocolate instead, your two cousins once removed that have finally grown out of the Lego stage, and then obviously, there is your immediate family, consisting of you mum, your dad, your little sister Sarah and your older brother Jack. Along your journey, naturally you cannot forget the most important person of all – yourself, especially when you spot those Nike Trainers on ten percent special in Rebel Sports. You make yet another mental note. It’s time to remind your beloved mother once again. But of course, this entire month of shopping craze represents our love for Jesus, the Christmas spirit and our desire for global happiness…Right?

Now stop. Rewind. 2009 years ago, a newly born baby boy is being wrapped in white linen inside the comfort of a stable. Accompanying him are only the constant bellows of donkeys and an occasional deep grunt of an ox. But beneath this outwardly modest birth is an extraordinary destiny - this baby is to become the Savior of mankind.

“You better watch out, You better not cry, Better not pout, I'm telling you why, Santa Claus is coming to town.” The minute you get off the bus in Central City, your attention is drawn to the ear-splitting waffle crackling over the loudspeakers. You cross the road and come to the source of the commotion. The annual Ballantynes display! The crimson red and Persian green colors leap out at you, clawing at your eyes. For a second you lose all sense of gravity. But then you’re drawn in. Slowly your eyes adjust. You walk closer. You begin to notice that beneath the disarray there are actual figures - Santa’s little elves, Rudolph and fellow reindeer, bright pink angels, fairies, gnomes, snowmen, penguins… And of course, the man all children behave for, Santa Claus! With his slight twinkle in the eye and dazzling jolly smile, it’s no wonder he attracts more people than both Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie.

The Cathedral tower strikes twelve. Angels appear above the clouds. They radiate an aura that illuminates the night. The news of a miracle is shouted from the heavens and carried by their wings into the winds below.

“T’was the night before Christmas and all through the house, not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.” It’s Christmas Eve! You’ve made your final preparations and triple-checked your stocking is hanging higher than your sister’s on your fireplace. The Salt and Vinegar’s been opened neatly into a bowl, your mother’s famous Creme Brulee has been heated to exact perfection, the knife and fork is laid out on either side, a bowl of jelly tip ice cream is steadily turning from a triangular pyramid to an upside-down dome. Upstairs, you try to sleep but your brain just cannot switch into off mode. Even when your brother screams at you to stop the bed-squeaking, you still cannot lie silent. One thought has been put on replay for the past two hours, “Is Santa finally coming?”

The three wise men hear of the news. They follow the star in the east to the manger. Here, they present their gifts of gold, incense, and myrrh.

“We wish you a merry Christmas, we wish you a merry Christmas, we wish you a merry Christmas, And a happy New Year.” You leap down the stairs two-at-a-time. But sadly, your brother’s already opened two presents. Never mind, you roll up your sleeves and get down to business. Surprise! Your Nike Trainers! Attached is a note, “With love, from your mum and dad.” You glance at it briefly with a satisfied smile then move on to the bulky sized paper package. It’s the entire set of Twilight! Your smile increases by one-fraction-of-a-centimeter on either side. You keep moving, your hands are more eager than your racing heart. You rip open the slightly old-fashioned deranged wrapping. Inside, you discover your great-grandmother’s entire collection of ‘modern’ gramophone music, consisting mostly of Bessie Smith and Duke Ellington. Sigh, at least now the box of ‘thoughtful’ presents can be filled up. Eventually though, the pile of presents begins to fade. Beneath the vivid array of wrapping paper, you notice a tiny black box that has been overlooked, sitting quietly under the Christmas tree. You reach out and gently open the box. Inside are the remnants of what once would have been a beautifully intricate golden cross, but the tarnish has eroded its surface. It no longer shines like a newly crafted masterpiece. It has passed through too many hands, experienced too many joys and misgivings of life. The cross has now turned a dull shade of autumn brown. Time has eroded its value.

“Silent night, Holy night, Son of God, love's pure light. Radiant beams from Thy holy face, With the dawn of redeeming grace. Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth, Jesus, Lord at Thy birth.” The true value of Christmas. It's time to make a choice.

Mum, go return those Nikes.