Anticipation - A Christmas Story

Mike stared at the clock, impatiently tapping his foot. His eyes got wider with excitement with every passing second.

Ten seconds...nine seconds... eight seconds...seven seconds...

And the bell rang. Mike smirked.

Well, this class’ clock was always a few seconds off.

Mike and the other students in the classroom grabbed their already-packed books and sprang out of their seats. Mike grinned from ear to ear, and jumped up and down.

“Yes! It’s finally here!”

He saw Mrs. Robinson smile as she watched the students rush out of the classroom, chattering and giggling.

“Happy holidays, everyone! Remember to do your essays and...”

“Yeah right!”

“Happy holidays, Mrs. Robinson!”

* * *

Each and every student in Bell High School was thrilled to escape school and stay home for the winter break. But few were as thrilled as Mike. As he bolted out of the classroom, he felt as if he was going to explode with excitement.

This is wonderful! Now I just have to get my bag, get on my bus, and I’ll be on my way home... to my winter break! Bell High School is really good and all, but, like every school, it’s really getting repetitive and boring. The holidays are just what I need now; a long rest at home, and a bunch of presents.

Mike got to his locker. A few seconds later, he had his bag filled with books and was rushing off to the school exit.

The winter holidays! I can’t wait. I especially can’t wait for my presents. I wonder what they’ll be...

Mike saw the school’s main doors, and increased his pace. Whatever my presents are going to be, I’m sure I’ll love them. I just can’t wai—

“Excuse me. Where do you think you’re going?”

Mike’s eyes widened with fear, and he stepped back.

A massive, muscled man with a baseball bat had just stepped in Mike’s way. The man was glaring at Mike and clenching the bat with both hands, like an enraged serial killer. Mike gulped.

Who is this guy? What does he
want?

“Uh...could you please let me pass? I have a bus to catch.”

The man frowned. “What are you talking about? What bus? You can’t leave to get on any bus. You’re supposed to stay in here.”

Mike raised an eyebrow.

“What? So you’re saying I can’t leave school? This is a free country, you-”

“Whoa, whoa, whoa...this isn’t a school.”

Mike chuckled.

“What? This place is Bell High School. What else could it be?”

The man slowly shook his head, as if Mike were the crazy one.

“I know you’re eager to go home, relax and get your Christmas gifts, but I can’t let you leave this facility.” Mike tried to step around the man.

“Whatever.”

But the man swung his bat in Mike’s way. Mike leapt back in shock.

“Watch it with that bat!”

“I can do whatever I want. And what I want right now includes keeping you from leaving this facility.”

Mike tried to step past, but the man held the bat in his way. Mike gritted his teeth with frustration.

Just when I really want to go home, someone just has to get in my way.

Mike glared up at the man.

“Could you please move your bat? I’d like to get past.”

The man forced Mike back with the bat, just as easily as a child could swat a fly.

“You aren’t going anywhere, boy.”

Mike clenched his fists and gritted his teeth.

“You’re really starting to tick me off. So...look! A zombie duck!”

Mike pointed to the nearby vending machine. Instinctively, the man glanced towards it. And by the time he realized the trick, Mike was bolting for the school’s main doors.

Mike smirked.

Great! Now that weirdo’s out of the way. I can just get on the bus now, get home and enjoy the holidays!

Mike pushed the school doors open, barged outside and...

His eyes flared open in horror. He felt as if he’d just been slapped in the face.

What? You have to be kidding me?

All around him, snow was melting, flower buds were beginning to blossom in the trees, and birds were perched in their branches. His jaw dropped.

It’s spring already? Impossible. It’s the beginning of winter. I know it is. It can’t be spring already. How...how could I have just missed winter, my holidays, Christmas...

Mike dropped his bag, and fell to his knees.

Will I ever get to enjoy my winter holidays and my Christmas presents?

Suddenly, the man appeared in front of Mike, and swung the baseball bat at him. Time seemed to slow as the bat got closer to Mike’s head.

He’s gonna kill me now. I’ll die right now...and I’ll never get to enjoy the holidays... never...never!

The man whacked Mike in the head with the bat again, and again, but for some reason it barely hurt. Mike frowned in confusion.

What in the world is going on?

* * *

“Wake up, Mike!”

Mike’s eyes snapped open. His younger sister, Jessie, was whacking him on the head with a box she was holding. Mike looked around. He was lying on his bed, in his room.

Jessie kept hitting him with the box.

“Mike! I can’t believe you slept in. It’s Christmas Day, silly! But Mom and Dad told me to let you sleep. Anyways, here’s the presents Mom, Dad and I got you.”

Jessie dropped three colourfully wrapped boxes on Mike’s lap. Mike reached out, took all his presents, and smiled. He felt the horror from his nightmare fade away, to be replaced with joy and excitement.

Mike felt so thrilled and relieved that he was shaking.

Yes! I’m at home, it’s the winter break and I have my presents!

“Awesome!”