Tom, Susan and Grendel, the dog, in front of the Christmas tree I helped decorate.
I helped to decorate the Christmas tree with silvery tinsels, candybar sticks, light bulbs and other xmas knick-nacks. Before that, I wrapped several presents for the family, some I made myself, some I brought from home. These were placed under the tree. The family also had a stocking with my name on it hanged above the fire-place. I had my first taste of egg-nog, sans the alcohol of course. After the special Christmas dinner, we adjourned to the basement for an impromptu concert by the family. I performed 'the candle dance' dressed in my traditional red, velvet 'baju kurong' much to the delight of my hosts. When it was almost midnite, I followed them to church. It was already crowded so we had to take the front pew. When they were singing the Christmas carols I was 'alive' because I knew most of the songs being from a convent school. Then when it was time for the sermons, my head nodded off - well, it was way past midnite! When we left the church, it was just barely snowing, not even enough to cover the ground.
