“Merry Christmas,
I guess.”

Christmas spirit fills the room
but not the heart
of the solemn girl in the corner

Joyous smiles try
to “cheer” up the
young scrooge

The only thing that
will “cheer” this
little grinch

Is the thought that
those smiles of distant relatives
will soon be on their way home

She doesn’t hate Christmas
just the anxiety that
comes with entertaining relatives

As the last family member
steps out onto the porch
she finally smiles

“Merry Christmas!”