STUDENTS RELATE HOLIDAY TRADITIONS

Students in Gretchen Fee's eighth-grade reading classes at Cape Girardeau Central High School wrote the following essays.

By Tasha Woods

The best Christmas was when I was 13. I had wanted a coin ring since I was 7 or 8. I asked for it every Christmas. I was always excited on Christmas morning. I would open all my presents except the smallest one and hope it would be the ring, but it never was. But my 13th Christmas, I finally got it. I was not expecting it. I opened all my presents as usual, but I saved the biggest for last. I had asked for a television and I thought that was going to be the television. But I opened it and there were a bunch of bricks and newspaper in it. I dug to the bottom and found a small green box with my coin ring in it. I was so happy.

By Richard Harrison

My best Christmas was when my grandpa came down. My grandpa got us a game and for me he had my first silk shirt. The reason it was the best Christmas ever was because he was there. My grandpa was a whole lot of fun to be around. My grandpa was funny and made you laugh at anything. I got a whole lot of things I wanted, too. But that was the best Christmas ever.

By Andrew Steger

My favorite holiday is Christmas because it starts out on Christmas Eve. I go to my mom's and that night we go to my relatives at the boat house and visit my family members. All of our cousins come down so after we leave from the boat house, we go to my grandma's and visit with everybody. Afterwards, we go to my mom's house and open our gifts. By then it is 12 a.m. or so, then we go to my Dad's house that night. The next morning we open our gifts and about noon we go to my grandpa's and open gifts.

By Cody Cotner

My favorite Christmas was last year because I got a 950 megabyte, an 8 megabyte, a quad and four-speed CD-Rom computer with a 256 color monitor. So far I have spent a lot of money on software and other items. I have loaded about 15 programs on my PC. My most favorite program is Amazon Guardians of Eden. I have America On Line on my computer, which is OK sometimes, but it costs a lot sometimes.

By Amos Pridemore

It was Christmas Eve and my brother and I sat and stared at the gleaming tree. We loved the sight of the two biggest presents on either side with our names on them. We woke up the next morning and got everybody up. My grandma thought that I was crazy. She said, "Do you know what time it is?" Then I looked at the clock and it was 1:30 in the morning. But she got up and my mom came home. We opened presents and I got the hockey skates I always wanted. That was my best Christmas ever.

By Michelle Bryan

The best Christmas I ever had was when I was 7 years old. We had so many presents that they piled up to the ceiling. Since we were going to Pennsylvania, we had to put the presents in the carry-all. We got all the presents in there, but for about five that were left, and our luggage. So we had a van full of presents, luggage, five kids and two adults. It was fun though.

By Chris York

One of my most treasured Christmases was when I turned 10 and my whole family was there. We all slept downstairs. This was so neat because all six grandchildren were there and we had a foot and a half of snow. We woke up at 6:15 a.m. Christmas day and presents were everywhere. We all got the presents we wanted, except that I got the fewest presents because my birthday is Dec. 28, three days after Christmas. So I am stuck will all the toys all year round until next Christmas comes and new ones come. But best of all, we always get together and that's what makes it fun. After we open presents, we all go sledding at Cherokee Park all day, until it's time to eat and we all go have a Christmas feast. I think every Christmas was this way.

By Jesse Washington

The Christmas I never had: I was at home waiting. I stayed up all night waiting for Christmas. But it didn't come. Somebody had stolen Christmas. It seemed like Christmas got skipped. I was just waiting and waiting until I fell asleep. I don't know what happened but Christmas came and we all opened our presents except me. I slept until noon but my presents were still there. I hurried up and opened them. I got the most presents.

By Stephen Johnson

My most favorite Christmas season was when I was 3 and I woke up at 4 a.m., and ran all through the house looking for my first bike. I made so much noise that I woke up the whole house. Stumbling down the stairs, there it was -- my first new bike. I couldn't believe my eyes when I touched it. I didn't let go until the sun was up and I ate the cookies Santa Claus was supposed to eat.

by Joni Ervin

I have a simple family tradition. My aunt, mom, stepdad and grandparents all switch. One holiday we have it at one house and the next time at another's house. We all sit around and visit and eat and open presents. The next day I go to my dad's house and grandma's house and do the same.

By Brian McClure

Every Christmas I've had since I moved to Missouri, we have stayed in town. But because of that, we open one or two of our gifts from my parents on Christmas Eve and all the rest the next morning. Unfortunately, we are not to go near our presents, even see them, until my parents wake up. So when we wake up, we wake them up.

It's been a family tradition to always put up the Christmas tree and listen to Christmas music at the same time -- and decorate it the way our parents think is suitable. Hopefully this year we can have two trees -- one for my parents and one for my brothers and me.

By Matt Goodin

The best Christmas I would ever have would be the one where I would get a motorcycle. I have wanted one for a long time, but I can't get one. If I ever got one, I would love it and ride it all the time. I wish I could get one this year.

By John Mitchell

Actually, all my Christmases are special because I'm with my family and getting presents. But I have a favorite Christmas. On Christmas Eve, I went to eat with my family and then when we got back I opened my presents. I got nothing but clothes, so I was a little disappointed. Then on Christmas morning I got what I wanted -- a brand new basketball goal with a breakaway rim so I could dunk. When we got to my grandma's, we ate and talked about our presents. After we got done, we all opened our presents. I got a bike and clothes and a special football. It isn't the presents that make me happy, even though I would be in a bad mood without them -- it's being with my family and being able to get along with each other. We also couldn't end a Christmas without looking at the lights and eating with my family at my grandma's house in Perryville. Besides, grandmas make Christmas happy and special.