"Ho! Ho! Ho!"
-by Sarah Leung

It is 1 of December, the month of happiness. I truly adore the spirit this December brings. It is a season of magical Christmas, excitement - the final showdown of the Singapore Idol and most importantly a season of love. It is a time for all to get together with family and friends, be it enjoying a Christmas feast or a romantic stroll along the brightly lit Orchard Road. December to me is even more significant because my bubbly sister is born on this last month of the year. The joy December brings to me is enormous that no word can fully describe.

Getting ready for Christmas is a year end bash to me. I am brought up in a family-oriented home that spent festivals in a big way. Above all, I love the Christmas most. My dad plays a big part in molding my love for this festive season. In fact, he is my early impression of Santa Clause. Seeing him walk around the house with a beer tummy and those big foot of his are in some way alike Santa in the movies. What's more is that he taught me the word "surprise" when he secretly placed my Christmas gift on my pillow, made a foot print or two on my bed, sending me a thought of Santa just step in.

Do you still remember the lesson of Christmas? "Santa knows who's naughty or nice" and so only the good kid gets his present. Therefore, year after year of Christmas, when I see my present on my pillow, I'm glad that I have been a good kid to my family again. I just hate to disappoint them. Sometimes, I got so worried that I'll run over to the kitchen, grab the towels and help my mom with the dishes. This happens only once a year because Santa is watching. Ha!

I can still recall my first encounter with Christmas when I was around 3 year old. On the eve, my mom showed me where to hang my socks so that it is visible to Santa. Through out the night, I peek at my socks at the window frame endlessly. I kept wondering, how big a gift can my mini socks hold? And soon enough I felt asleep.

The minute I woke up the next day, my mind is no more on McDonald's but where is my present? The 3 year old me is very quiet & shy, despite the excitement contains in me, I did not raise a sound. I would only look at the socks and sallow my tears because it looks flat & empty. It was a torture guessing what is in the socks! Or is there anything in it?

The wait was finally over as my mom brought out a red wire bag from the socks. I had my eyes glued to its content that they were as big as the gold fish. Yes, it's gold. Guess what, it was a bag of chocolate gold coin. Yummy!