A Jolly Lot of Tears and Smiles

Colourful lights were all around the room, lighting it up.

Music blared loudly from the huge speakers in each corner of the room.

At the two ends of the room, there were long tables filled with never-ending, luscious-looking menus.

I saw many stereotypes all around the room. People piling food on plastic plates, people singing along with the tunes, people dancing on the dance floor, people with eyes stuck on their phones, youngsters that were joking around together, people gossiping and many more.

I was talking with an old friend from high-school, and he was boasting about his new house, and lovely wife, with sweet kids and all the good things in life.

I nodded and smiled, and listened attentively, my feet beating along to the song, with my eyes dreamily attractive.

I was in a good mood and was having a lot of fun.

The song ended and the host, my friend, Lila, invited everyone to the tables to eat, then to the other room, which was the dining room, where there was a sizeable, white-clothed table, where everyone was to sit.

I stopped my old friend talking and invited him to eat.

He nodded and we went to the table, starting to pile as much food as we can on the thin, flimsy plastic plates, for we were starving after the night's fun.

When our plates were full, we went to the dining room and took a seat across each other.

Once everyone was comfortably seated, Lila raised a glass of champagne to toast. Everyone else followed suit and raised their glasses too. Lila started the toast, ''To a merry Christmas!''.

Everyone repeated what she said and said, ''To a merry Christmas!'', clinked their glasses and drank the first glass of the night.

After that, silence reigned as we all looked down dolefully at the plates and contemplated it as we ate and ate.

Proceeding the meal, there came the joking session. Everyone took turns telling a joke and we all laughed heartily at every single one.

Thenceforth, Lila shuffled cards and started dealing them out, starting a game.

When three rounds of cards were done, we talked and joked and laughed, right up until nine.

Lila requested everyone's company to go back over to the main room, where a dancing session was to be held.

We stood up and threw our plastic cups, plates, and utensils into a big trash can and went obediently to the main room.

Music was played and everyone found their pair, as little peals of happiness squeaked and people started pouring down on the dance floor.

I paired up with James, my high school friend, and we danced genially, laughing at jokes we heard and having mighty fun.

The night ended at ten p.m. and we all started saying goodbye, blowing kisses and giving hugs, and I said goodbye cordially with James.

The cold air of the night filled my lungs as I walked home and pulled my jacket tighter around me, the chill breeze blowing my air.

The snow crunched under my boots as I walked slowly home, enjoying the Christmas lights and the beautifully decorated front of homes.

I passed a good many windows and pleasant sights were there to see. One had a family of four grouped around the fire, drinking hot chocolate out of big mugs, talking amiably and occasionally laughing.

I passed a window where a group of college friends were playing cards on the living room table, their eyebrows knitted with pure concentration, as their thoughts focused on winning the game and winning the bet.

I passed a window where an old couple sat side by side on comfy, big chairs, each holding a mug of tea in their hands, with one hand grasping the handle and the other holding each other's hand.

I passed many other windows that warmed my heart a good deal and accept this Christmas season with open arms and a wide smile.

The cherry tree a few miles from my house told me that I was near.

A few more turns brought me to my own door, prettily decorated with a string of yellow fairy lights, a wreath on the door, a snowman in the front lawn, and clouds hanging from the canopy of my windows.

I pushed the key in and twisted it, and as I pushed the door open, I inhaled the delicious smell of the apple-pie I made.

I took off my snow wear, and walked to the kitchen and started to devour the apple-pie all alone, with a hot mug of hot chocolate and the Kindle laid down before me, as I always read whenever I ate, except in formal occasions like tonight.

At eleven, I brushed my teeth and washed my face, then proceeded to change into my pyjamas and brush my hair. I turned the lights off in my house and went upstairs into my bedroom.

With the main light off and my fairy light dimly shining yellow, I fell asleep, my Kindle still on, with my mind thinking happy thoughts, my heart at peace, my stomach full and my soul satisfied.

The last thought I thought was what presents I'd get tomorrow and how I would be oh so happy when I opened them. I love Christmas mornings, and even though I couldn't spend it with my family tomorrow, because I'm taking a degree in med college, I'll still enjoy it very much.

And with that contented thought etched in my mind, I dozed off.

That morning I woke up to find many Christmas presents under the tree and little did I know, a jolly surprise was prepared for me by my friends.

I switched my kitchen light on, and I was rubbing my eyes when suddenly, ''Merry Christmas!!'' My college friends were all grouped together in the middle of the room, hands thrown up high in happy exclamation.

I smiled widely, ''Wow, thanks guys.'' And we proceeded to have one of the best Christmas days of my life.

My best friend, Belle, gave me a cosy, wintry sweater, complete with a note and a poem that ran:

As the snowflakes gently fall,

A heartfelt poem I compose,

For my dear friend Josephine,

Whom I adore and will always know.

In the spirit of Christmas,

I wish you a jolly holiday,

With gifts and laughter galore,

And a heart filled with joy and play.

May your days be bright and cheerful,

As you gather with friends and kin,

And share the love and warmth,

That this festive season brings.

In this time of giving,

I have a special gift in store,

For my friend Josephine,

Whom I hope will adore.

The magic of the season,

Has filled my heart with glee,

As I pen this Christmas poem,

For my beloved Josephine to see.

I read it and my eyes welled up with tears of gratitude as I thanked Belle as best as I could with my blurry eyes.

All my friends knew I was rather of a literary turn, even though I took a degree in medical school, and liked to write me poems of the kind.

As I unboxed Robert's, Henry's, Theodore's, William's, Luna's, Charlotte's, Evelyn's and Olivia's gifts, each of them contained a poem of some kind.

Robert's and Henry's melted my heart in such a way that made me wipe my tears and hug them tight and thank them so much they told me it was absolutely heartwarming to see me be in so much overwhelmed gratitude.

Theodore's and Luna's made me smile and radiate a brilliant glow of the kind until Olivia said, ''Girl.. You're glowing like a bright star in a dark sky!'' and I blushed scarlet.

William's gift was made of dark chocolate chip cookies, Evelyn, who knew I was half-Asian, made me mango-filled mochi which I took a bite of which at once and exclaimed in happy surprise. Olivia's was last and one of the best gifts I ever had, which consisted of a beautiful leather notebook, with a charmingly pleasing white feather fountain pen which tickled my fancy so much. No pun intended.

Their loving poems made me tear up and their presents filled me with delight and we had even more fun exchanging gifts and pulling crackers and laughing profoundly at the hilarious jokes.

What a beautiful Christmas! I love today and I will remember it always, etched in my mind and written in my heart.

Merry Christmas!