A Christmas of It's Own - A Little Women Story

It was nearing Christmas, Meg and John’s first Christmas as husband and wife. They had gone calling one blustery and windy evening when the family decided to decorate the Dovecoat with all of the festive cheer they could muster up.

It was really Amy’s idea, but Jo had put the plan into action, Beth had made pretty garlands and bouquets, Marmee and Hannah baked gingerbread and turnovers, and Father and Laurie were charged with finding the perfect tree.
    
Meg and John left their cozy little nest, and as soon as they were gone, the group John liked to refer to as “The Sisters” (although it included Marmee, Father, Laurie, and sometimes Mr. Lawrence) pounced on the Dovecoat. 
    
“Hark the Herald angels sing glory to the newborn king,” began Jo in a loud, much too fast melody.
  
 Beth joined in her delicate soprano mellowing Jo’s husky one, “Peace on Earth and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled.”
  
 The rest of the family joined in joyful harmony, “Joyful all ye nations rise, join the triumph from the skies. With Angelic hosts proclaim Christ is born in Bethlehem.”
  
 They opened the door with a creak. Marmee lit a lantern and then the group set to work.
  
 “Laurie, the tree’s not straight enough,” said Jo. He adjusted it as best he could. “No. straighter.” Laurie continued adjusting the evergreen.
    
Amy began placing a handmade nativity on the mantle, she had crafted all of the pieces herself, and although Laurie teased her about the faces, (Joseph looked like he was the one who had just given birth, he said) she believed it was some of her best sculpting.
    
Beth was sitting in an easy chair stringing cranberries and popcorn onto a string, humming joyful tunes. “Oh I hope Meg will like it all,” she said.
    
“She will dear,” said Marmee, as she hung orange and clove pomanders onto the fragrant tree bows.
    
“Let me help you, Mother,” said Laurie to the older woman he viewed as his own mother.
  
 “Why thank you, Laurie,” she said.
  
 Amy began the artistic placement of the edibles on Meg’s table. “Aggh,” she groaned, as a tower of gingerbread collapsed yet again.

“No need to fuss, Amy,” said Jo, “It’s just gingerbread, good too,” she said as she grabbed a piece that had fallen onto the floor and gobbled it up.
    
“Do you have any dignity?” Amy asked in disgust.
    
Jo ignored her. “Teddy,” she called, “Did you forget the… you know?” Jo and Laurie had spent endless hours in Mr. Lawrence’s library curating a collection of books per Mr. Lawrence’s suggestion for the newlyweds to begin a library, despite the fact that their home was hardly big enough for the Brooke family Bible.
    
Laurie had remembered the gifts, although some of Amy’s homemade wrapping paper had torn in the delivery process. He placed them under the tree that the girls were decking with candles.
    
​Once the room was all decorated the little group sat down and admired the beautiful Christmas home they had created, but all reflected on the true meaning of the upcoming day.

“We should be going,” said Marmee, “Meg and John will be home soon - and I know you all want them to enjoy their surprise alone.”
    
“It’ll be just like when Mr. Lawrence surprised us that Christmas all those years ago,” said Beth.
    
“Or like the one when Father came home!” said Jo.
    
“Only it won’t.” said Amy, “It will be beautiful and special like every Christmas. It will be a Christmas of its own.”
    
“You are very right my little daughter,” said Father, placing his hand on Amy’s blonde head, she sat at his foot although she was no longer a child.
    
“Well let’s be off!” said Jo, “Beth, light the candles, Laurie make sure there are no pine needles on the floor, and Marmee lead us in a carol!”
  
 “Alright my Jo,” she said. The sweet lady began to sing “Joy to the world.”
    
​“The Lord is come,” all the rest joined in, and together they sang as they tromped through the snow, leaving their little surprise to greet the young couple that Christmas.

(based on the characters created by Louisa May Alcott)
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Belle Thomas

​Belle is the writer behind An Old Fashioned Girl. She is passionate about Jesus, good books, and living a beautiful life.