HOME COMING

Is Christmas more than just a date on the calendar? Is it more than a moment at the end of the year when families find their way back to each other? At my house, everyone is scattered throughout the year. Some are in school. My older sisters, Summer and Rebecca, are in high school in New York. Dad works in Brooklyn, while Mum works in Chicago. May and I go to school in our neighborhood in Los Angeles, where we live with Nana. May and I have lived with Nana all our lives because Mum and Dad are always busy with work. They hardly have enough time to come home, but they always make sure we have everything we need. Whenever we move up a grade, our parents make sure we get the best education they can afford. That was how we all ended up at Horace Mann School. Summer and Rebecca were already in high school. I, Emily, was in middle school, in my final year, and I couldn't wait to join my sisters. May was still in elementary school. She was very attached to Nana, so I knew she wouldn't mind staying with her. During those months, our calls were usually short and our messages were even shorter. "How was school?" "Fine." "Did you eat?" "Yes." "Okay. Goodnight." Sometimes I wanted more. I wanted to tell Mum about the funny things that happened at school. I wanted Dad to hear about my grades. I wanted Summer to sit beside me while I complained about my teachers. But everyone was busy. Life was busy. Then December came, and something changed. Christmas had a way of bringing everyone home. Buses became crowded. Roads became busy. Airports filled with people carrying bags and gifts. People who had not seen each other in months suddenly started making plans. "Are you coming home for Christmas?" That one question carried so much hope. For May and me, Christmas was the most wonderful time of the year. It wasn't just about the food, although there would definitely be delicious chicken and enough drinks to go around. It wasn't just about new clothes, decorations, or presents. It was about being together. It was about sitting in the grand living room again, watching the children run around their grandparents. It was about old stories being told for the hundredth time and somehow still making everyone laugh. It was about Mum cooking while everyone kept sneaking into the kitchen to taste whatever she was making. It was about forgiveness too. The little arguments and misunderstandings from the year seemed smaller when everyone was finally in the same room again. That was what Christmas meant to us. Family. Gratitude. And being thankful to God for bringing us safely to the end of another year. This year was no different. By December 17th, the house was already beginning to feel alive. Summer and Rebecca had returned from school, and May had been running around the house all morning as if she had been waiting for this moment all year. I was in the kitchen with Summer, helping with the food. The smell of seasoning filled the kitchen, and every few minutes, someone walked in asking what was cooking. "Nobody should touch that chicken," Nana warned from across the kitchen. May immediately disappeared from the doorway. I laughed. "She wasn't even doing anything." Nana raised an eyebrow. "You know your sister." I did. May could somehow find food even when nobody told her where it was. Summer was standing beside the sink, washing dishes. She was the eldest daughter and, in my opinion, the most amazing person in the family. She was brilliant, especially in mathematics, and she loved sports. She was also the Senior Prefect at school and seemed to make friends wherever she went. Everyone loved Summer. And Summer loved everyone. At least, that was how I saw her. Rebecca was different. She was the second daughter, and she could be quite sassy. School wasn't exactly her favorite thing, but somehow, she always managed to get her Bs. She loved basketball and was currently contesting for Deputy Governor for Academics at school. Unfortunately, she didn't have many supporters. According to her, people simply didn't understand her. According to Summer, Rebecca needed to learn how to stop being rude to everyone. According to me, they were both right. "Emily, pass me that bowl." I looked up and handed Summer the bowl. "Here." "Thank you." She went back to washing the dishes while I continued seasoning the chicken. I watched her for a moment. Her hair was tied back, and she had a little flour on her cheek. I smiled. Oh, how I loved Summer. She was the kind of sister who could make you feel safe without even trying. "What?" she asked suddenly. I blinked. "Nothing." "Why are you staring at me?" "I'm not staring." She laughed. "You've been staring at me for almost a minute." "I was just thinking." "About?" "You." She stopped washing the plate. "Me?" "Yes." "And what exactly were you thinking about?" I smiled. "Nothing important." She shook her head and laughed. "You're strange, Emily." "I know." Before I could say anything else, Rebecca dropped the spoon she was holding on the counter. "I'm exhausted." Summer looked at her. "You've said that five times." "Because I'm actually exhausted." "You've barely done anything." Rebecca rolled her eyes. "That's easy for you to say. You're enjoying yourself." "I'm washing dishes." "Exactly. That's easier than cooking." I laughed. Rebecca looked at me. "What's funny?" "Nothing." "You better not be laughing at me." "I'm not." She picked up her phone from the counter and sighed. "I'm going upstairs." "You haven't finished helping," Summer reminded her. "I'll come back." "You said that yesterday." Rebecca ignored her and walked out of the kitchen. Summer shook her head. "She'll come back when the food is ready." I laughed. "Definitely." Just then, May appeared at the kitchen entrance, holding a phone that looked almost too big for her little hands. "Mama," she called. Nana looked up. "What is it?" "Lora is calling." Nana wiped her hands with a napkin before taking the phone. "Thank you, sweetheart." She bent down and kissed May on the cheek before walking toward the backyard to take the call. I watched her leave. "Who is Lora?" I asked. Summer looked at me. "You don't remember?" I shook my head. "She's Mum's friend. She came here last Christmas." "Oh." "Her children are coming too." "All of them?" "I think so." I smiled. The house was already becoming crowded, and Christmas had barely started. There were voices everywhere. There was laughter. There were arguments. There was food. There were people coming and going. And somehow, I loved all of it. Later that evening, Dad finally called. Mum was with him. May screamed when she saw their faces on the screen. "Daddy!" Dad laughed. "Look at my little girl!" May immediately began telling him everything that had happened that day. I watched from the couch as Mum smiled at all of us. For a moment, everything felt perfect. Dad said they would be home soon. Mum promised she had gifts for everyone. Summer teased Rebecca. Rebecca complained that nobody was listening to her. May kept talking. And I sat there, smiling. We were home. And for the first time in a long while, we were together. I didn't know then that this Christmas would be different. I didn't know that some things were about to change. I only knew that everyone was finally home. And I was happy.