I wrote a Christmas story about six months ago and it was really sad, so I wanted to write another. The idea turned out totally different than I had expected. It's a horror, and this is only the first part. It's definitely...different, lol. I'll keep it as PG-13 as possible throughout the entire story. ^_^ Next parts will be coming up next two days before I leave for the holidays. Enjoy!

Part 1

December 25

“Whose present is next, Teddy?” Mom asked, clasping her hands in her lap with a smile. My dad set down the movie he just received, the camera he held still aiming at Teddy. I looked over to the toddler holding the huge box wrapped in green and red wrapping paper, a red bow on top. He squeaked and we all laughed. He could only recognize his own name.

“Mine!” he exclaimed, jumping up and down. He set it down and crouched next to it, tearing the paper to pieces. Susan, a year older than Teddy, crawled over and reached out to help, but Teddy wouldn’t allow it. He pushed the box away toward my big feet, saying, “No! No, mine!”

Susan only followed Teddy for his box, saying, “I wanna help!”

“Susie, no,” Mom said sternly, but smiling humorously. My fourteen year old sister, Sara, picked her up and set her on her lap, Susan still reaching out for the box, hands folding and unfolding.

I looked back at Teddy who finally got all the paper off the box. He stood up with much effort and gathered all the green paper in his tiny hands. He set it on my lap, saying, “You…you take dat.” He picked up the blue box and walked away, adding, “I… I… I take dis.” Mom laughed and Dad snorted. It took a lot to make him laugh out loud. I smiled and crumpled up the paper as Teddy examined his new toy car.

“Ow, Susie!”

I turned my head to Sara. Her eyes were closed tightly, wincing as Susie yanked on her long, curly brown hair. Dad laughed now and turned the camera on the two girls. I laughed too. “Susie, let go!” Sara said sternly. “Phil, take her away!”

“Why on earth would I do that?” I asked, watching my little sisters duke it out.

“Susie, want to pick the next present?” Mom called from the couch.

Susie immediately stopped. “Yeah!” she said excitedly, her grasping hands reaching for the Christmas tree. Sara gratefully put the child down and Susie ran for the tree, looking for a present with her name on it. Sara glared at me as she fixed the knots in her hair. I rolled my eyes and watched Susie pick out a smaller square gift, her long dark blonde pigtails bouncing as she walked to her pile of gifts.

“Look! It’s Barbie!” she exclaimed after tearing the paper off the Nintendo game. I looked to Teddy, not interested. He was pressing buttons on his new car, the horn sounding loudly in the living room.

“Psst, Teddy!” I hissed. Teddy looked up to me and crawled over excitedly. “Get the next present,” I said to him with a wink.

“Okay, Pil!” Teddy replied, failing to pronounce my name correctly, and returned to the Christmas tree. I leaned back in my armchair and looked back at Susie who was staring at the front cover of the case. Mom was telling her what the game was about. Dad immediately turned the camera to Teddy, wanting more action.

“Here, Pil.”

Teddy set the rectangular box on my lap. “Thanks, Ted,” I said, ruffling the brown tuft of hair on his head. Teddy walked away to his spot by the Christmas tree, playing with his new stuffed giraffe.

I was as bad as Teddy and Susie when opening the gift. I ripped the paper off, crumpled it in a ball, and tossed it at Teddy. He laughed as it hit him in the head. “Hey!” he said, rubbing his head. Mom chuckled; I opened the brown box.

It was a small, glass figurine of a tree, a bird sitting on its branch. What happened next was as quick as an eye blink.

The instant I saw the tree, I noticed my brother in my peripheral vision grasping a copper-colored snake in his hands. Fear swam in his eyes, and his mouth was wide open as if he was crying. Tears sparkled on his cheeks and he held it out at arm’s length. I made to save him, but when I looked up, Teddy only held the long neck of his stuffed giraffe, laughing at whatever he was thinking.

“What is it, Phil?” Mom asked, peering over at the box.

I shook my head, shaking the memory away. My mind was playing tricks on me.

“It’s a partridge in a pear tree!” Sara exclaimed, picking it up from the box. “It’s so cute! It must be from your girlfriend.”

“How’d she get it under the tree?” Mom asked. “Wouldn’t she just hand you the gift before leaving for town?”

“She must’ve tossed it under the tree, wanting him to open it today,” Sara said, setting the figurine in its box. “Besides, today’s the first day of Christmas.”

“That’s a creative idea—”

“Running out of tape, here!” Dad exclaimed, pointing the camera at Susie who picked up the next present. I set the box with the figurine inside onto the floor and watched Sara receive a new fantasy read.

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Crits welcome. ^_^