The Christmas Grinch - Rebel Hart Page 0,1

Christmas decorations.

“These three boxes are the ones we always bring out after Thanksgiving dinner,” I explained to Josh, piling one on top another in his arms. “The Christmas towels and mugs, a few strands of garland and lights, and, of course, the ornaments.”

Each of us unwrapped and washed our Christmas mugs before filling each one to the brim with hot cocoa. A few minutes later, I sat in the middle of the rug in front of the fire, pulling out the ornaments one by one. I would dangle them in the air and swing each one around for everyone to see.

“Yes, we know, Hazel,” Margo whined. “We know what all the ornaments look like by heart. The whole show and tell thing really isn’t necessary.”

“It’s tradition,” I snipped. “Oh! Look at this one! It’s always been my favorite!”

I let a little ceramic ballerina twirl around from the string wrapped around my finger. A souvenir from the year Mom had taken us to see a performance of the Nutcracker - which quickly became a staple in my own repertoire of Christmas must-do’s.

Margo grumbled into Tom’s ear. “We all thought she’d outgrow this by now.”

“You don’t outgrow Christmas. Besides. Mom loves the holidays as much as I do. Don’t you?” I looked over to mom, who looked like she might beat dad in being the first one to doze off.

“Huh?” she jerked to attention. “Oh, yes, dear. Of course.”

I ignored my sneaking suspicion that she hadn’t actually heard what I said, and continued defending my relentless love for the holiday. “Christmas is like a new paint job on everything. For a little while, it all becomes so bright and magical.” I danced the ballerina ornament through the air in front of the fire with a dreamy look in my eyes, before lovingly tucking it back into its box of tissue paper, with care.

“Christmas makes everything extraordinary,” I sighed.

“Some people think love can do that too, you know,” Payton quipped, sparking snickers from Margo and the guys. “Only it lasts longer than just one month, if you find the right one anyway.”

I resisted pointing out that there was no way Josh was the right one. They were too young for that to be the case, no matter how young our parents were when they met. They were the exception, not the rule. For that matter, so were most love stories that ended with a happily ever after.

No, Christmas was far better than that. To know that every single year, no matter what, from the time the turkey was carved to the ringing bells of the New Year...the air would be filled with that intoxicating Christmas magic that swelled us all up with warmth and joy and love. There was no better feeling in the world.

Sure, it was tempting to wonder if love could have the same effect, but transform every day of every year into a magical fairytale like Christmas. To think of that much happiness being spread across your whole life like hot melting butter...It was enticing, but I was convinced it wasn’t possible. At least not for me.

“No thank you,” I mumbled. “I’ll just stick with my holiday, if that’s alright with the rest of you.”

1

Hazel

The Christmas splendor was in full bloom with twinkling lights draped across the trees that lined the sidewalks. The classic black street lamps were wrapped in pine garland with big red velvet bows. Mistletoe arranged with bells hung lovingly from the awnings of shops with their windows full of their best merchandise on display.

Smells of cinnamon and nutmeg wafted from the coffee shops and bakeries, which I sucked in through long, deep inhales. I breathed in every ounce of them I could get like they were crack. Christmas was kind of like a drug for me, and I was an all too willing addict.

All holidays and special occasions were intoxicating to me, though none of them could really compare to the queen mother of all holidays. I loved how everything in normal life could stop for a birthday, anniversary, or other special occasion. Families would move their schedules around, take off work, and come together with friends and loved ones. There were the decorations, the fancy clothes, presents and gift wrap, and all the special foods.

It was that fondness for special occasions that led me to starting NonPareil. It started as a hobby. Just a silly old blog that I loved dearly, but never really expected it to go anywhere. Oh, but it had. My dedication