Free to Write

When does the fact that the Christmas tree is still up become embarrassing? she wondered. A week later, and there is the possibility that it may eventually come down. In February, people start to look strangely at the house as they pass on the street, so she turned off the lights. She honestly hadn't meant to leave them on for so long, but after all. How often does one look at the outside of the house? In March, her nephew started scolding her as soon as he entered the living room. There's not much worse than a four-year-old who says in his little child-deep voice, "You should put away the Christmas tree." But school was in session, and she didn't have time to focus on a tree that didn't really matter much. It's not like it was hurting anything still up.

In May, of course, finals were over, but by then it had become a point of pride. How long was she going to keep the tree up? Until next Christmas of course. It was all because she hadn't put it up until Christmas Eve--another victim of finals. But now it was July. The heat was oppressive, and somehow, the Christmas tree standing in its little corner of the living room had become oppressive.