Katie

“My favorite pre-Christmas tradition is ice-skating,” I comment, while looking at the window displays on Main Street with my siblings Katrina, Tucker, Matthew and Colin. It is a snowy, crisp morning; with my hands wrapped around a warm cup of hot cocoa, my resolve to keep walking strengthens. We always start every Christmas season with a family trip to the local ice-skating rink, but this year is different for us. I feel the sorrow wash over me, it will not be the same without Luke, I thought, yet I know I have to keep my feelings inside as I need to look strong for my siblings. Even the hearty, joyful displays could not lift my spirits this Christmas season. I want to continue shopping so we keep shuffling along the sidewalks, until I notice one window that has caught my eye; it is announcing a gift you can send over-seas to a military family member. My spirits lift as I drag my siblings inside, eager to send something to Luke.

Tucker

Man, do I love playing in the snow. I was so excited to get home from shopping, that I could barely contain myself from bursting into the snow banks once getting home without gear on. I scramble putting on my snow clothes, swing open the front door, and plunge into the snowy wonderland. As the youngest of the Bentley crew, I have no one to play with, but that doesn’t matter, I can still have fun! I start building a miniature snow fort, complete with towers around the outside to ward off the snow goons. I construct little homes around the village center. I step back to admire my work, and boy, does it look swell. I continue playing for what seems like hours to me, until Matthew is calling me inside. At least Katie wasn’t calling me, I would ignore her, I think.

Colin

While Matthew is calling Tucker inside, I am sitting staring at where the Christmas tree should be currently. My responsibility is to pick out the biggest Christmas tree every year, and I take that very seriously. I had gone to the lot earlier this week in search of the perfect tree, only to be disappointed. I feel like I let down my family, but I decide that this year that Matthew and Tucker will help me go cut down a tree. It is beginning to snow more heavily, so I call, “We better get going if we want to get back before dusk!” Tucker has been outside playing and hasn’t appeared yet, and Matthew seems more concerned with what his new girlfriend is texting him. I watch him chuckle, and I feel like the only adult in the place. Again I call to my brothers, “This is really important to me, let us get going,” looking at Matthew, “Dude, Tiffani can wait.” I can feel the ice cold scowl at the back of my head as I walk to the door. Looking behind me, I notice neither brother, so grabbing my keys I head outside to the truck. Alone again.

Katrina

I am hearing voices downstairs and my sister bossing someone around like she normally does, but I am more focused on my English homework at the moment. I love being studious, since it makes me stand out in this family when nothing else distinguishes me at fourteen in a family of eight. I am sure it doesn’t help, but I rarely engage in the chaos of the downstairs and this afternoon is no exception after the morning out in town. I miss Luke, especially since I was the closest to him, and told him everything because he was the understanding older brother, but now that he joined the Marines, he is unreachable more than half the time. I just wish my family would hear me. I feel like I have no voice in this family and I wish things would change.

Matthew

I know Colin was calling to me, but ever since graduating college, I have needed the space from my siblings. Tiffani is very supportive of my moving out, but I am unsure how my family will take it since Luke is no longer around either. I hear Colin’s truck pull out of the driveway, so I make my way to the basement in search of the Christmas lights. I know this is my mother’s favorite part of Christmas so I cannot wait to surprise her and my father when they get home tomorrow. Maybe it will help when I tell them I am moving out. I scrounge around the cardboard boxes and hit the jackpot. I head to the garage; try each strand to insure they fully light, and then zip up my jacket tight to block the outside wind filling the garage. Must make sure the lights are symmetrical this year, Luke would like that. I logically lay out a plan like he would and begin the tedious job of hanging the lights. A couple hours pass, and I am finished before my younger brother gets home with the tree. I stand back to admire the lights. They look great this year! I call to Katie and Tucker to come look, “Katie, Tucker, you should come look at the Christmas lights I just hung.” They come outside briefly and I see how much Katie’s face lights up when she sees them; I am relieved there is one thing that makes this easier on her this Christmas season. Colin returns with the tree and we finish decorating as a family that night. Even Tucker and Katrina help decorate.

Luke

Nothing but sand swirls around me; what I would give to be home in Minnesota, I think. I consider my family, wondering how they are getting on. I know Katrina will be missing me, but I wonder if the others miss me. I know I miss them. Christmas just will not be the same this year, but I am thankful for the letters I have been receiving and for the package I picked up yesterday. There aren’t many joyful moments here in the dessert, so opening up Christmas presents from my family means the world to me, as it is a taste of home. I left a few years back to join the military after my fiancé died in a car accident, and my decision to join is a decision I do not regret. Yet, there are days I wonder if the pain of missing my home and my love is worth it. I pick up the letter from my mother first. In the middle of the letter, I feel that sudden wave of gratefulness wash over me because I have to remember that I have the privilege of defending their freedom; the biggest love gift I could give my family this Christmas season.