The Family Sticking Point of Christmas

The Night before Christmas,
We couldn't escape the ugly reality,... We'd run out of tape.


The packages we'd bought with such thought were all here languishing and naked, with no paper or bows to adhere.

Our children lay sleeping, certain in their deep doze, the gifts would be dazzling and bedeckled with bows.

My anxiety and fear at what we should do, made us scramble through the