~Gunnar Garcia,  Class of 2029

It started in the morning.   We were supposed to go to California for Christmas.  We were supposed to wake up at 6:30 but I woke up at 7:00. 

“Oh my god!” I said. I rushed to my parents room and said “mom dad it’s seven o’clock!” 

My mom said, “Yeah we know dad isn’t feeling good”

I was so bummed out, everybody was.   Just think about that – one moment you were about to go on a really fun trip and then… you just don’t –because your dad isn’t feeling good. 

Till ten o’clock I was in my room playing video games. Then i checked on my dad.

He said “I’m still not feeling well bud” 

Now I’m even more bummed out.

We were all thinking what if we can’t go to California and miss Christmas, that’s crazy. 

We started looking at flights and we found one that night – for  the next morning —Christmas Day! 

I was thinking no way that we were going on Christmas Day. 

Then at night I checked on my dad and he said “I’m feeling a little bit better” 

I went downstairs and told my brothers and mom. 

That night my dad went to the hospital with my mom and they came back at like about 10:00 pm.  We went to sleep at like 12:00 because we were all anxious about our dad. 

The next morning I woke up at 9:00 Am because I was tired. I came downstairs and my parents weren’t there for some reason? Some time later I asked my siblings and they said they were at the hospital and then I just knew we probably weren’t going to go to California.

 I went up to my room for about 2 and a half hours. Then came down stairs and my older cousin had made a fort for me and my little brother. We watched a movie and ate popcorn, then my friend’s mom dropped off food.  

My sister called for my older brother and then they walked into the room. My sister wanted to show us something. She showed us a lot of videos combined into a montage. It went from when my sister was born to present day. And she told us we are going to show our mom and dad on Christmas in the hospital. 

So we kept watching our movie, and by the way the movie was Minions Rise of gru, But back to the story.

 So later that night my mom came in and we called for our sister and older brother. They came in and then she grabbed her computer and airplayed to the tv and then she started it. 

My mom was flabbergasted. She was so happy. When it ended we went in for a group hug. Then we all went to sleep. 

The next morning everybody realized that there’s going to be a party at our family friend’s house. We do it every year but we were so stuck up with my dad that mostly everyone forgot. So throughout the day we all were just in our rooms doing our own thing. Then it was time to get dressed for the party. 

We all got dressed and went to their house. It was like a 2 minute drive because they lived so close. When we got there, there were already so many people. So we all had some fun playing in the basement.  we went upstairs and took a picture of all the kids at the party. But the funny thing was that my older brother put up both of his middle fingers. 

Then we got kind of bored but the best part of the party was about to happen – The Polar Express being read and Christmas caroling. 

Then it happened –  a little bit after we went home.  everybody went to sleep for Christmas the next morning. 

Everybody woke up and we started opening our presents. The first present we opened were… Our stockings. I got some Reece’s and chocolates. 

Then we started opening the real presents. The first present I opened was a bag I got a Lamar Jackson jersey, a Jayson Tatum jersey and an erring Haaland jersey. Then next I got an Apple Watch. I was so excited. Next I got some Rubik’s cubes I asked for. Then the best present for my whole family was a Nintendo switch!!!! 

We were so happy. I got this cool looking telescope where you would line up the date and it would show you the constellations. Then I got some other gifts. 

Finally, we went to the hospital to visit my dad. When we got into the room and showed my dad the video, he was so grateful and happy. 

And then I realized he was gonna come home soon…. well kinda soon.