Christmas vacation to-do list

CEBU, Philippines —  “Jane, is it true that our Christmas vacation will start next Friday?” Ara asked her seatmate.

“Really? That would be awesome! There are so many things I’d like to do before the year ends,” Jeffrey joined in the conversation before Jane could answer.

“Like what, Jeff?” Ara pressed on. 

Jeffrey opened his bag and retrieved a notebook. “Don’t tell me you have made a list.” Jane teased him.

“Of course. I don’t want any day to go to waste. I want every day of my vacation to be special. Do you want to know what’s on my list?” he asked. Both girls nodded. Without hesitation, Jeffrey read everything on his list:

“Day 1. Clean my room. Sort out my things into ‘needed’ and ‘not needed’. Arrange the things I label ‘needed’. Give out or throw away the things that I don’t need anymore.

“Day 2. Attend church service with the whole family. Sunday is family day.

“Day 3. Invite some friends over and practice singing some Christmas songs. Have a mini-concert and ask mom to record the whole thing on camera.

“Day 4. Help mom put up the Christmas tree and the other decors. Help dad arrange the series lights to form 2020 on the wall.

“Day 5. Write a list of friends to give gifts to. Don’t forget to include everyone in the family.

“Day 6. Open my coin bank and count how much money I’ve saved. Look at the list I’ll have made and write down what I’ll give each person on it.

“Day 7. Ask dad to take me to the shopping mall so I can buy the things on my list. Wrap all of them as soon as I get home.

“Day 8. Arrange under the Christmas tree the gifts that I’ve wrapped. Make sure that the tags are intact.

“Day 9. Volunteer to do the dishes for the whole day. This will give mom a break after each meal.

“Day 10. Bake some brownies with my parents. Wrap them in small paper bags and be ready to give them to carolers any time they come.

“Day 11. Write a letter for each of the members of my family. Tell them how much I love them.

“Day 12. Ask everyone to open their presents. Say thank you to everyone who gives me a present.”

Ara and Jane looked at each other when Jeffrey finished reading. “Are you thinking what I’m thinking?” Ara asked Jane.

“Jeff, can we join the concert you are doing?” Both girls asked in chorus.

“Of course, you are welcome to our home anytime.” They were still talking excitedly when the bell rang for class.