My 9th grade (age 14) journal writing I submitted to class …
It was December 24, 1991, Christmas Eve. I was in the car bobbing my head side to side as I listened on my Walkman to the pulsating sound of the drums on my new Tesla tape. “Mom, what time is it?” I asked. “Are we ever going to get there?” We were on our way to a fun evening of partying at my ole relatives’ house.
I started to doze off and then heard the car door open.
“Let’s go, David,” my father repeated a million times.
“I’m comin’!” I shouted.
We knocked on the door twice. “Come on in!” said my loud, obnoxious aunt whose voice I heard in the distance. The four of us went inside: my father, my mother, my brother, and me. My sister would be arriving later with her boyfriend. As we walked up the stairs, we could hear the roaring sounds of my aunts and uncles arguing.
The talking stopped and all of the attention was on us.
“Hi, everyone,” my mother said.
“Hi, Patty and Joe,” said my aunts and uncles.
Kisses were exchanged. I shied away as my fat aunt tried to kiss me. Afterwards, my brother and I went and sat in the corner and looked around. We noticed my uncles drinking beer and wine. My aunts were shouting and laughing. My mother joined in and became annoying like the rest of them. “This is real fun,” said my brother.
An hour or so went by and my sister showed up with her boyfriend. Everyone greeted them and then continued going about their business. “Let’s get some punch,” said my brother. The punch was spiked with vodka and brandy. We went over to the bowl and scooped up a cup each. We kept going back for refills. Then my aunt yelled at us. She told us to stop drinking the punch. After some exchanging of presents, we decided to go home.
We got home around midnight. I went to bed and tried to fall asleep, but I couldn’t. I was too excited about opening my gifts the next morning. I stayed in bed, sleeping on and off, and then got up at 3am and went downstairs. I flicked on the TV and watched It’s A Wonderful Life for two hours, then turned off the TV.
It was 5:30 and I decided to start tearing open my presents. I opened the biggest one first. Nintendo! I proceeded to open the other ones. I received money, Drakkar, clothes, tapes, etc. I was filled with excitement.
The rest of my family woke up at around 10am. I was sitting on the couch counting my money. My family came downstairs, sleepy-eyed but excited. I watched as they opened their gifts. I began thinking about how fortunate we were. Some people have nothing. I started to appreciate all the things I had, and felt quite satisfied.
It was December 24, 1991, Christmas Eve. I was in the car bobbing my head side to side as I listened on my Walkman to the pulsating sound of the drums on my new Tesla tape. “Mom, what time is it?” I asked. “Are we ever going to get there?” We were on our way to a fun evening of partying at my ole relatives’ house.
I started to doze off and then heard the car door open.
“Let’s go, David,” my father repeated a million times.
“I’m comin’!” I shouted.
We knocked on the door twice. “Come on in!” said my loud, obnoxious aunt whose voice I heard in the distance. The four of us went inside: my father, my mother, my brother, and me. My sister would be arriving later with her boyfriend. As we walked up the stairs, we could hear the roaring sounds of my aunts and uncles arguing.
The talking stopped and all of the attention was on us.
“Hi, everyone,” my mother said.
“Hi, Patty and Joe,” said my aunts and uncles.
Kisses were exchanged. I shied away as my fat aunt tried to kiss me. Afterwards, my brother and I went and sat in the corner and looked around. We noticed my uncles drinking beer and wine. My aunts were shouting and laughing. My mother joined in and became annoying like the rest of them. “This is real fun,” said my brother.
An hour or so went by and my sister showed up with her boyfriend. Everyone greeted them and then continued going about their business. “Let’s get some punch,” said my brother. The punch was spiked with vodka and brandy. We went over to the bowl and scooped up a cup each. We kept going back for refills. Then my aunt yelled at us. She told us to stop drinking the punch. After some exchanging of presents, we decided to go home.
We got home around midnight. I went to bed and tried to fall asleep, but I couldn’t. I was too excited about opening my gifts the next morning. I stayed in bed, sleeping on and off, and then got up at 3am and went downstairs. I flicked on the TV and watched It’s A Wonderful Life for two hours, then turned off the TV.
It was 5:30 and I decided to start tearing open my presents. I opened the biggest one first. Nintendo! I proceeded to open the other ones. I received money, Drakkar, clothes, tapes, etc. I was filled with excitement.
The rest of my family woke up at around 10am. I was sitting on the couch counting my money. My family came downstairs, sleepy-eyed but excited. I watched as they opened their gifts. I began thinking about how fortunate we were. Some people have nothing. I started to appreciate all the things I had, and felt quite satisfied.
