With their Christmas album complete and such a big hit, and with their shopping complete, the members of New Religion were finally ready to finish decorating their house in Oak Ridge. Being so busy, they had only managed to get out their Christmas tree and decorate it. Erin and Lola finished decorating the inside of the house. Paul and Carl decorated the yard. One day, one of their neighbors asked them, "Why don't you put lights on your house?" Carl said, "Well, there's a danger in that." Paul said, "We tried that once when we first moved here, and I fell off the roof." The neighbor said, "Oh, no. I hope you weren't hurt at all." He said, "No, I wasn't hurt. I landed in one of the bushes, so I had a soft landing. I was lucky." The neighbor said, "You certainly were." When Paul and Carl went back inside, Erin and Lola were putting the presents under the tree. Paul saw a package that had his name on it. He picked it up and said, "I wonder what's in here." Lola said, "You can't open it until Christmas, silly!" He said, "I know." Erin had baked some homemade gingerbread cookies. She got them out of the oven and said, "Have a gingerbread cookie while they're fresh out of the oven, my friends." Everyone had a cookie, and they enjoyed the warmth. Paul said, "I've never had a cookie fresh out of the oven. My mother never let me eat them until they were cooled completely. They're better warm." Hours passed, and New Religion called it a night. The next morning, all of the members were awake except for Paul. Carl said, "It's Christmas. I think we better wake him up." Erin said, "I'll wake him up." She went into his bedroom and started shaking him. She shouted, "Paul! Wake up! It's Christmas!" He stretched and opened his eyes. "So it is," he remarked. He got up, and everyone went to the living room to open their gifts they got each other. Everyone got exactly what they wanted. After they opened their gifts, Paul looked out the window and said, "Look! It's snowing!" Carl said, "You're right." Lola said, "It looks like we're going to have a white Christmas after all." With that, they ate their breakfast and took the dogs outside to play in the snow.
THE END
THE END
Paul's Special Friend
I first met Erin through Allie. From the sad look in her eyes, I knew that Erin needed a friend. As we got to know each other, she opened up about losing her best friend, Barry. She said, "My poor excuse of a grandfather shot Barry. I offered to get help for him, but he wouldn't let me leave him. I guess he didn't want to die alone." I hugged her and said, "I'm sorry. I know what pain you're going through. I lost my best friend, too. For the longest time, I blamed myself, because Alice and I were playing in the river. It was my insistence. I miss her sometimes, but I'm okay." Erin and I became really close as time passed. She was even passionate about music like I was. There was once when we got into a big argument, but our friendship was stronger, and we've remained best friends ever since. One day, when we were in high school, we put our heads together, and we decided to start a band. Of course, the challenge was finding other members.
TO BE CONTINUED
I first met Erin through Allie. From the sad look in her eyes, I knew that Erin needed a friend. As we got to know each other, she opened up about losing her best friend, Barry. She said, "My poor excuse of a grandfather shot Barry. I offered to get help for him, but he wouldn't let me leave him. I guess he didn't want to die alone." I hugged her and said, "I'm sorry. I know what pain you're going through. I lost my best friend, too. For the longest time, I blamed myself, because Alice and I were playing in the river. It was my insistence. I miss her sometimes, but I'm okay." Erin and I became really close as time passed. She was even passionate about music like I was. There was once when we got into a big argument, but our friendship was stronger, and we've remained best friends ever since. One day, when we were in high school, we put our heads together, and we decided to start a band. Of course, the challenge was finding other members.
TO BE CONTINUED
It was summer, and I was back at home helping my parents with the farm. The summer was really fun, and I really enjoyed it. Hillel and I kept in touch throughout the summer. One day, when we talked over the phone, I said, "My parents said it was okay with them. I wanted to ask you if you would like to share an apartment with me this year. I don't want to go through another bad roommate experience." He said, "I'd love to! I'll go ask my parents if it's okay." There was silence for a long time. After a long time of silence, I heard Hillel's voice again. He said, "I'm back. They said that since it was okay with your parents, it was okay with them." I said, "That's great." Toward the end of the summer, we moved into our apartment. I was glad that I didn't have to put up with a roommate listening to rap music and refusing to turn it down. I later learned that Hillel was a very valuable roommate. I never knew that one day, he would end up saving my life.
TO BE CONTINUED
TO BE CONTINUED