A Christmas Story

This is a paper I wrote for Composition 2 last year. It seemed rather appropriate for this time of year. :)
Oh, and here's a music video to make your ears happy whilst your eyes are reading:

The Winter Night Lights

         Light poured into the garage as the door from the laundry room swung open, dispelling the shadows brought on by nightfall. Three boys piled into the family's black Yukon XL, clutching fuzzy blankets and thermoses full of hot chocolate. A fourth child, a little girl in Christmasy pajamas, was gently buckled into her carseat by her mother. Excited whispers could be heard from the back as the parents sat down in the front seats, whispers of the traditional drive along the river and the lights to come. The garage door opened, and the car slowly pulled out of the driveway into the dark alley and headed downtown.

            Ten minutes later, the black vehicle, full of warmth, mirth and quiet murmurs, was driving down West First Street. Suddenly, one of the boys pointed out the window at a huge, light-bulb Santa Claus sitting on the roof of the post office. "Look! Santa's showing us where to go!" His outburst woke his youngest sibling, who had been lulled to sleep by the whisperings of her brothers and the darkness of her surroundings. Father just chuckled and nodded his head in acknowledgment and turned the wheel to follow Santa's directions.

            After turning once, Father repeated the action a few more times until they came to the beginning of the city’s beautiful light display. Toy soldiers saluted them from their right. Trees of all sizes and species lined the drive, their branches arrayed with a myriad of bright colors, the first of many that were to follow.

            A quarter of a mile later, Father eased the brake down until they came to a stop in front of the booth that was the official entrance. Greeters, wrapped in smiles and heavy coats, met them with joyous expressions of “Merry Christmas!” A brief exchange followed, in which Father gave the greeters a donation to help fund next year’s display and was rewarded with six candy canes. Passing the striped sweets to Mother, who gave four to the children, Father slowly pulled forward and under the bridge.

            There it was! The children’s favorite part of the tour—the light tunnel! Bands of radiant, spinning color, a semi-circle of luminance, surrounding them for sixty feet. They stared out the windows, pretending that they just turned on the car’s hyperdrive and were now careening through space. Hands stretched out before them, the goys clutched at imaginary controls and zigzagged through asteroid belts at unnatural speeds.

            Breaking out of the strip of spatial debris, the family’s attention was drawn to the various greeting cards that were popping out of the darkness, illuminated by large lights at their bases. Families, businesses, churches—they all had erected wooden signs portraying various Christmas scenes and professing good wishes to all passers-by.

            The spectacle unfolded on the opposite riverbank. Flashing frogs hopped around on lily pads. A white bird perched in a pear tree, marking the beginning of the display’s main theme. 

            They saw a golden cage adorned with red ribbon, containing two doves. Three hens sat on the Eiffel Tower. Next, four more birds rested their feet on a bright red telephone. Five golden rings floated on a ribbon. Six white geese had ensconced themselves upon large mounds of golden eggs.

            Further on, a beautiful nativity interrupted the display’s glowing illustration of that well-known Christmas song. A shepherd approached the stable from the left, leading his flock. Trees of light surrounded the humble birthplace of the world’s Savior. Inside, Mary and Joseph knelt by the small manger that contained the child, the Son of God, as the Magi arrived from the right. An angel watched over the scene, guarding the sleeping babe.           

            Alas, the car must move on. Ahead, multiple large red poinsettias gleamed, their numbers doubled by the reflection on the water. Half a dozen reindeer dozed underneath pine trees. Suddenly, the little girl squealed and pointed out the left window at a magnificent sparkling fountain by one of the city’s parks.

            Turning their attention back to the riverbank, the eyes of the viewers fell on the next gift from the song: seven swans splashing about in a spray of luminous water. Twenty yards later, eight milkmaids carried pails and milked cows by a barn. Nine ladies, dressed in gowns of flashing light, flitted around a courtyard.

             Sipping one of the last ounces of his hot cocoa, the middle boy indicated the ten pipers piping. Next to the pipers, eleven lords were hurdling over a fence. They were nearing the end!

            However, there was still one thing left. At the close of the river route, Mother pointed out the final gift: the twelve drummers. This last installment caused the car to erupt in the final strain of the song. “On the twelfth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me…”

            During the drive home, the car’s warm atmosphere and the late hour quickly lulled the children to sleep, despite the hot chocolate they had been drinking. After pulling into the garage, Father got out and gently woke the boys. Mother carefully removed the little girl from her seat and tucked her in bed. The boys soon followed suite. Quite content, the children returned to the glorious realm of dreams. It had been a wonderful winter evening.