Trans-Jenna ~ part ten #

Chapter Two - part ten #1

Christmas rolled around like any other year, with and array of colorful decorations and festivities. 2

School had ended for the year, in early November, considering that most of the teachers had left foe their early vacations, or had gone insane from the holiday, hypo children. I packed my books into my bag, and said goodbye to all the teachers that cared enough to say goodbye back, the ones who had made my school life, just that little bit easier. Jaye and Aunt sat outside in the car-park, waiting for school to end, and when it finally ended, and I jumped into the back, throwing my hands up in celebration, we all laughed. For another school year had come and gone.3

I imagined my parents still here, there would be no celebrations, no cheers, just silence. Just my mother, sculling down glasses of wine as if she had, just had her life torn apart, and dad, sitting alone with his collection of action movies, and a bottle of beer in his hand. It would be another dull year to look forward to, Not.4

This year I could feel the difference, this year it was going to be a great Christmas, full of happiness, and full of love. I had never felt like this before, so much joy, and so much to look forward to. It was days like these, simple happy days, that I was thankful they left me. My life was by far, more enjoyable this way. Though their was sometimes, some moments where I wish I could have wished them a happy Christmas, or a happy new year, that maybe hey would finally turn around, and hold me in their arms, embracing me with kisses, that maybe for once in their lives they would say Merry Christmas Jack, we love you.5

***
On Christmas day , I awoke to a giant stocking, full of presents, lying at the end of my bed. I stretched, pulling back the covers, and knocked it to the floor. It took me a minute to realize that it was Christmas day, but when I did, I screamed with Joy. I jumped out of bed, plopping myself on the floor and dug my hand deep into the stocking. Lucky dip, what ever comes out, I'll open, I said to myself. I pulled out a parcel, ripping the paper of it, As the paper fell to the floor, I held to box in my hand, "Walkman", it read, I ripped the box open, taking it out, feeling something rough on it's back. I turned it around to see an engraved message, "Happy Christmas Jack, may all your Christmas wished be enjoyed, by the sensation of music, love Aunt and Jaye. I smiled, putting it aside, and looked back into the bag for more presents.6

A giant turkey lay on Aunts party plate, in the middle of the table. All the presents had been opened and hundreds of photo's had been taken. The best present by far, had been the notebook Jaye had given me, it was leather bound and wrapped in gold ribbon, it's pages smelt like inspiration and love, it reminded me of the ancient times, and released the creativity in me. 7

We sat at the table, saying a grace, and when we were done, dug into our scrumptious, feast of food. It tasted so good, so fresh, so many flavors, I had never tasted before.8

I remember last Christmas, with my parents, they had ordered pizza, because neither Mum, or dad, had been up to making a full roasted meal, like the rest of the world. "To much effort for nothing", Mum had said. It sure did drain the Christmas joy out of me, as we sat and ate our half cooked pizza in silence.9

"So did you have a good Christmas Jack", Jaye asked, helping himself to seconds, of Aunts wonderfully cooked turkey.I put my cutlery down, and wiped the tears from my eyes. It wasn't tears of sadness, but tears of joy, tears of happiness, ones I couldn't control. 10

Aunt stood up, walking over to my side, and sat beside me, her arms wrapped around me, "Hay buddy, it's okay, everything is going to be alright, okay". I smiled, holding her close, my salty tears falling under my chin. "It's just Iv'e never been so happy, for as long as I can remember, and you guys have been so good to me, I just don't know what i could have done without you.11

Jay sat on the chair, to my right and patted my back, "Mate, you mean the world to us, we love you so much, and their's nothing better to us, when we see you smile, to see you happy, gosh mate it makes us want to cry, we don't know what we would do without you, we don't even want to imagine it". I saw a few tears fall from his eyes, as he wrapped his arms around Aunt and I, we all huddled close together. I had never felt a Christmas like this before, never had a chance to feel this good, to feel so free, to feel so loved. I opened my eyes, holding them tight, and for a split second I thought I saw the angel of my Grandmother, smiling at me, spreading her wings.
I closed my eyes,and opened them again, she was gone. 12

I knew it was a sign, it was her way of telling me it was going to be all right, and that she was proud, and not to worry, a sign to tell me, that there were good things to come and that I shouldn't be afraid, to have strength.13

As we drifted apart, and Aunt and Jaye took their seats back at the table, I tapped my glass, "I prepare a toast, to the best Christmas ever, and to a wonderful new year ahead". We all raised our glasses in the air, all of us rubbing our teary eyes, a smile on our faces. "To the best Christmas ever, and to A damn good happy new year".14