Can Orphans Celebrate Christmas? | Chapter 4

     Winter had come to Bluebridge, Colorado, bringing with it freezing temperatures and lots of snow. The girls huddled close together, as they sat by the fire, to keep each other warm. Evangeline was in deep thought, reflecting. I've been here for almost a week, she mused. Time is flying! It's been such an amazing few days though. She thought back to her home in India, and to Papa Robert and Mama Sarah. Suddenly a wave of sadness came. How I miss them, she thought. I hope they are doing okay. I wonder what they are doing right now... Probably planning their Christmas service, she thought longingly, as she remembered how special they always made it. Most years, they would decorate the church building real fancy, and invite the community in for a big meal downstairs. Yakhni Pulao, that delicious rice and lamb dish served with yogurt, was one of Evangeline’s favorite dishes. They also had sanna cakes, and piles of mango and pineapple, cut into intricate little stars. Evangeline sighed. After the meal, they would make their way upstairs, where Papa Robert would read them all the Christmas story, straight from Luke. Then they'd sing carols until their throats were parched. Evangeline loved that part.

       The next morning during breakfast, Evangeline brought up Christmas. "Only six days until Christmas," she announced. "What do you all usually do to celebrate?" The girls looked around a each other, not sure what to say. Finally four-year-old Lavender broke the silence. "What's Christmas?" she asked, quizzically.

     "It's a holiday where rich parents give their children toys," fourteen-year old Mercy told her wistfully. 

     "Christmas is when I came here," twelve year old Poinsettia said cheerfully.

     "We don't usually celebrate Christmas," eighteen-year-old Charity answered.

     "But why?" Evangeline asked in shock. 

     "No point," Charity replied. "Besides, you need money to do that sort of thing. If you couldn't tell, we're sort of lacking in that."
     "Nonsense!" Evangeline cried. "You don't need money to celebrate Christmas! They're are lots of ways we can celebrate Christmas for free."

     "What's the point of celebrating Christmas if we can't afford presents?" ten-year-old Hannah asked.

     "The point?!" Evangeline exclaimed. "The point of Christmas is not presents, it's Jesus. We celebrate Christmas because Jesus came down as a baby to save us. Not only that, but it is possible to make  presents without spending money." 

     "Can orphans celebrate Christmas?" little Merry asked. "I always thought that Christmas was something you celebrated with your family." 

     "Merry," Evangeline reminded her, "of course we can celebrate Christmas! And besides, we are a family, don't you think?"

     "I guess." Merry answered solemnly.

     "I say we celebrate Christmas this year." Evangeline said after a moments pause. "Anyone with me? Reluctantly, the girls agreed. 

     After breakfast was finished, Evangeline went up to the attic. How can I make Christmas special for these girls?