Winter tails

Winter Tails

By Timothy Scott Duranleau Matson
Spaulding High School/Barre Tech, Grade 12

It was Christmas Eve and I was nine years old. I couldn’t wait to wake up and open my presents. My mom came in to my room at eight p.m. and said, “It's time to take a bath and get ready for bed.” I asked for five more minutes on my Game Boy but she told me no. So I went to the bathroom and got into the tub.

After I was all ready for bed I kissed my mom and she tucked me in and said “good night.” I couldn’t sleep at all that night. I was tossing and getting up. It was horrible! I finally fell asleep at three a.m. But then I was up and ready to tear at gifts at nine a.m. I sprang up and ran down the hall. My mom was sitting on the couch. She said “Merry Christmas!”
I said it back, then ran over to the tree and got the present I had gotten for my mom. I gave it to her and said, "I love you.” She opened it and started to cry. It was a little locket with our picture in it. She hugged me for what felt like a life time then gave me my present. It was a new Scooby Doo blanket. I was so happy because I loved Scooby Doo. But the best present was when my mom told me that the last one was in her room. When I went in there it was a little puppy! I cried. I always wanted a dog that I could teach how to play fetch. And it gave me a friend because my sister was 13 and I was eight. The puppy was a male with black fur. I loved that black lab. I named him Mr. Black. That dog and I did everything together. Then I got older and had to move and the place I went to didn’t allow pups. I was so upset. I don’t want another dog for a long long time. That was the best Christmas ever.