''Why do you get more excited about Christmas than most others things that you do?'' The pine tree asked. ''Well, mostly because of getting the awesome presents and spending time with my family.'' ''That sounds really fun''. The pine tree said. ''What kind of presents do you normally get or have been really wanting to get?'' ''Well, I've been wanting to get some new Nike shoes for a long time.'' ''But, it is not all about the presents, we are celebrating, one of the greatest men's birthday that has ever lived. He is the one that helps me live.'' I said. 

        ''Why do I never get anything?'' The pine tree asked. ''How about this, you can come to our house and we will get you all of the things you have wanted forever.'' ''That sounds fantastic.'' ''This is what Christmas is all about, being cheerful, and spending time with the people you love.'' 

So, little pine tree my name is Naiden and you are kind of lucky this year and let me tell you why" 

''Why am I lucky'', I say 

''You are lucky because it is the time of year for some trees to get cut down it is called Christmas and you have not been cut down yet and you are also, really young. How old are you?'', he said 

''Well I'm 2 years old for your information' 'I said 

''Don't get sassy with me little pine tree' 'he said  

''What is this thing called Christmas' 'I said 

''Christmas is this time of year were people give gifts to each other under a Christmas' 'he said 

     As I was walking, with my family, I ran into something small in the woods. It wasn't an ant, but it was a tree. I was confused.  

     "It looks like it could be a pine tree" said my older brother. Everyone agreed. I picked it up and looked at it for a very long time.  

     "It looks like it could be a small Christmas tree" said my younger brother.  

     "I found some small Christmas decorations in the store that could fit the tree" said Mom "it could go in your room, since you found it."  

     As we were riding home, I put it in a container so, I won't lose it. I kept on holding it. I loved it and it is a perfect Christmas tree for me in my room. 

     "You would have to water it down every day in order to keep it alive" said Dad. I agreed. I was so happy to have it.  

     Soon after, after giving lots of water, it became huge after a year. We put decorations of all colors. We even put real presents under the tree. 

 

                 ''Hi! my names Kyleigh and I am going to tell you about Christmas''  

              '' Uh? Who are you'', I say 

                 ''Kyleigh! We've already went over this.'' 

                    ''Oh sorry, miss'', I reply 

                    ''You're ok, how old are you?'' 

                   ''Three, I think'' 

                   ''Three years old? I highly doubt that. You would be much bigger than you are now'' 

                    '' What? Grow? What do you mean? I won't be this size forever? 

                    '' No? When you grow and get bigger you will be able to participate in a                                                                 thing called Christmas! 

                     ''you mean that thing where I get my legs chopped off and stuck in a house for a                                                 whole month?'' 

                       '' I mean I guess you could call it that'' 

                      '' whhhhhhyyyyy??? I don’t want to get my legs chopped off'' 

                   '' It doesn’t hurt, I think?'' 

                   '' How do you know? Have you had your legs chopped off before?'' 

                     '' Well no, but'' 

                       ''Exactly, now im not going to worry about all that junk. Let's go have some fun.'' 

                          

     Thud! The axe hit the trunk of the tall pine tree nearest to us. It toppled and was dragged off with the others. We held our breath hoping they would not pick us. Soon the humans left the forest we called home. Many of our friends had been chosen, chopped, and dragged away. It happened every year and I had no idea why. They came into our homes and stole our friends and family away from us. 

     "Travis!" a familiar voice shouted from behind me. I turned to see my mother wide wake behind me, she had slept through the horrible event that just took place. "What has happened?" She asked in a worried tone. 

     "They have come again, the humans." I turned and looked around the weeping forest. "Why do they do this?"  

     "It is for a holiday the humans celebrate, Christmas. They take trees like us and put us in their homes." She looked at me, "Do not worry, went we are taken we are treated good and they only take those of us who are aged." 

     I looked at her and then around the forest. I knew things were going to be fine.

"Think of a day where all pine trees get cut down." Said momma tree. "Think of a day where every pine tree goes inside a house. This day happens in the month of December. These things called humans come and cut us down. They wrap us up and put us in a car. The most eerie thing is they give our relatives, in a rectangle form, to them for us." 

"I am confused." Said the baby tree. "Why do they give them a rectangle thing made of other trees for us?" 

"I don’t know." She said. "Maybe it is like a way of trade."  

"Okay." Said the baby trees. "Then why do they even want us?" 

"They want us for a holiday called Christmas. They put us in their homes and hang these ball things on us called ornaments. They put something called a present under us too." She said. "Then we start to die and they burn us, and that’s the holiday called Christmas." 

"That is the worst thing I have ever heard of." Said the baby tree.  

"Yes, it is, now go to sleep I will see you in the morning. Goodnight." Said the momma tree.  

"Goodnight." Said the baby tree. 

 During my morning run, I saw a young pine tree, and took it upon myself to teach it about Christmas. Each morning I would tell the tree more and more about Christmas. I started with what people do during the Christmas season. 

"Christmas is a time of year when people come together with their families and have a good time. They open presents from each other and eat immense amounts of food. Everyone loves this time of year, for multiple reasons. Some people get off of work, children get out of school, there are presents to be opened, and it has a chance to snow!" 

" Why you talking to a pine tree you weirdo? Can't you not talk to real people. Or you gots no one that will talk to you." Said a smug voice from behind me. 

 " At least I know how to speak correctly." I replied. His smug smile vanished, and he continued running down the street. The encounter did not hinder me talking to the tree, and I continued this routine until the 24, my last day I would be running until after the holidays. I knew the pine tree would have to know what may happen to him in the future, so I told him. "Some people use pine trees as their way of decorating. This means that when you grow up and are a healthy young tree, you may be chopped down for Christmas. "I was about to stand up, when I heard a quiet, high pitched voice. 

" Why will the chop me down, I will be so pretty. "I thought about this for a moment. 

" They want you in their house because of how pretty you are. Without a pretty Christmas tree, their house would be bland." I replied. 

"Well... they should not need a beautiful Christmas tree like me to make the house pretty. They could just use light and other things." 

" Yes, they could, but it is an American tradition." I argue. 

"Can you pick me out when I am grown up." The tree asks me quietly. 

"Yes, yes I will." I said. Then, I stood up and continued my run. 

Well you see hear young pine tree, Christmas is a time of joy. People hangout, shop, eat, and open gifts. And on Christmas eve me and my mom have a tradition were we both open one present. Also, on the night before we make cookies and watch Christmas movies. Do you understand little tree? 

"yes, but what happens on Christmas day?'' on Christmas day you wake up, eat breakfast then open your presents. Some time you might have other family and you will go have Christmas at their house. 

               Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year. It is on December 25th every year. It is the holiday of giving to others you care about. You celebrate Jesus' birthday on this day. You give presents to others. Presents are gifts that one will give to another on Christmas. It is also about spending time with others you love. 

                Little tree said," But I can't spend time with my family because you humans cut my family down and put presents right in front of them and don't even give them any presents. Do you think this is fair."  

          Oh, I've never thought of it that way. Every year we cut down your family for our joy. I'm sorry little tree. 

           Tree says,"Its okay, just don't do it anymore" 

           I agreed and we went on talking. You also get presents to. 

On the 24th day of December, I ran across a small pine tree sprout while I was walking in the woods. 

"Hello. My name is Bart. Nice to meet you, kind sir," he said happily. 

"Merry Christmas, Bart," I replied. 

Bart gave me a look of confusion. "Christmas? What is this Christmas? Is it a name? I just told you may name was Bart, so why would you...Oh, I get it. It's supposed to be rude. Ok, well, I can be rude too, Mr. Christmas." 

I had to hold my breath to stop from laughing. "No, Christmas is a holiday, you know, like Halloween and Thanksgiving." 

Bart gave me an incredulous look. "Um, excuse me, but after all, I am a tree. News doesn't travel so fast in this part of the woods. So, tell me, how on earth am I supposed to know about Christmas, or Thanksgiving, or Halloween, for that matter?" 

I sighed. Who knew trees could get so sassy, especially the ones that you can snap in half with your foot? "Watch it, little man. I could easily snap you in half with my foot." 

Pine needles started falling from Bart's trunk, and he was making an odd quivering noise. Was he crying? "I'm so sorry," he sobbed. "Will you forgive me? I just want to know what Christmas is." He took a deep breath and seemed to recover himself. No more needles were falling. 

"Yeah, sure. I'll tell you what Christmas is. It's a time of year-the most wonderful time of the year. It's a season of giving and a time of joy. It's about the birth of Jesus Christ, and everyone cut down pine trees and-" Bart cut me off. 

"What?" he bellowed. "They're going to cut me down? They're going to cut my family down?" He looked outraged. 

"Don't worry. You have to get bigger, anyways, but it's not like you'll go to waste. People will decorate you and make you look all nice and pretty. Trust me, Christmas is amazing. You'll love it one day." 

"Ok," Bart said hesitantly.  

Katie Beth White 

Mr. Mitchell 

4th Period 

12/19/2017 

Free Write December 19 

One day, about a week before Christmas, the young pine tree, Dipper, began to wonder. "What is the meaning of Christmas?", he thought. He thought that his friend Wendy, who was the frozen lake the children always skated on, would know. She only came around at this time, so she should know everything.  

"Christmas? Why are you asking me? " Wendy asked, surprised, " You should know of all nature. You're a Christmas tree, after all." 

"Well, you only come around during Winter, and there are only spruce trees on my side of the forest." Dipper continued. 

"Well, in that case, I think it's about fun! There are so many cool things to do! " Wendy exclaimed.  

" Like what?" Dipper asked suspiciously. He already knew of a few things liken decorating a tree. 

"Skating, of course! What else could there be!" Wendy insisted. 

However, Dipper didn't think that was it, but he had no one else to ask. So, he returned home in defeat. 

Mabel the shooting star really did know everything about Christmas. So, when she saw a sad little pine tree, she asked what was wrong. " I don't know what Christmas is about." He said. So she told him everything he needed to Know about the family and friends required for Christmas 

Free Write December 12/19/17 

So young pine Christmas is a holiday of joy, and presents from Santa. So do you think you can handle that? There is one important thing that I need to tell you. "What" says the young pine tree. I say " well... you don’t lose your needles, so the other trees will make fun of you." The pine tree says "How come?" Well I think it is because they think their leaves falling off makes them more impressive to others. Later that day the young pine tree talks to his mom who is mountainous. "Mother what does Christmas really mean?" He says. His Mother says " Honey Christmas is about your family and all the holiday cheer, here let me show you with a song. Let me tell you some thing Christmas, Christmas, Christmas is not about presents or even you it is about you're family, so that is Christmas for you.