'It's all HUMBUG, I tell you. HUMBUG!'-Ebenezer Scrooge, Scrooge

"Urghhh," Noelle screamed out in frustration as someone else walked into her. Today is the 21st of December and Noelle still hasn't got a present for her Grandmother. Last year was an utter disaster. Noelle had been late for Christmas lunch to start with, as she was still doing work for the company she works at. Noelle is a highly respected employee of Rosewood Incorporated which are a prominent Law firm in London. In her mind she thought, how can other people not do any important work at the holidays. The world does not stop at Christmas and to Noelle, Christmas was just an over-priced sickly holiday that wouldn't be missed if it was gone.

She hated having to see her family, she couldn't understand how people over indulged at Christmas and the annoying Christmas songs just made her want to drop dead. She was peering in to the shop display when a memory came to her head of the events that happened after the tense Christmas lunch had ended.

Flashback

"What lovely grandchildren I have," Gloria exclaimed to the room of family that were visiting her this year.

"Some of them aren't even here," Noelle grumbled under her breath, unfortunately it was heard by her mother Rosie, who sent her a sharp gaze.

Martina ran up and held on tightly to Gloria's leg "what about us, GG?" pouting her little face.

"Well of course I have lovely Great Grandchildren as well," she then leaned in to whisper in Martina's ear, "they are also more adorable." Gloria stretched out her worn and tired hands and started to tickle Martina. Her childish laughter filled the living room. It should have been enough to melt Noelle's icy steel heart. A smiled did grace her lips when she heard the little seven year old's giggles, but it also brought back sad memories so just like that, it slipped from her face. She is just like Jack Frost in The Santa Clause 3, cold and bitter.

"Well I think it's time for Elle's presents," Raymond jested with the family. That caused a scowl to cross over Noelle's angelic face. Her emerald eyes are warning her Uncle not to play with fire. Out of all her family members, Noelle enjoys Raymond's company the best he has always been the funny Uncle who teased her. He became a little more cynical after his divorce, but Noelle just found more reason to get on with him as she got older.

She went to rub his hair on his head but it was practically none existent, he swatted away her hand. Noelle went under the tree bringing out the Christmas bag she placed under there hours ago, with the presents she bought for the family. She placed the plain green bag in the centre of the family.

"It's not very Christmassy," Elliot stated looking at Noelle with a face full of disgust, which looks quite funny on a ten year olds face.

"Well if you don't want your present," Noelle threated using her cold lawyer voice. Fear was present in Elliot's eyes.

"N-No, I would still like it pwease Nolly," Elliot pleaded with his baby blue eyes, which was a family trait his Grandmother Maria passed down to her three girls and sequently to him. Instead of replying she just gave him his present, Maisie jumped out of her Grampy's lap and ran up to the bag to hand out presents. She had only handed out the presents for herself and to her twin before plumping her bottom down on the old rug. Isabella got up and handed out all of the presents in the bag. All the adults had the same expensive white wine, and to show the kids to be respectful they looked at the cards on the bottle bags before opening.

"That's not very thoughtful El"

"Just a to."

"And a from."

"You couldn't even write Merry Christmas."

"Not even a love, how cold hearted have you become sis?"

Noelle didn't even bother to defend her actions. She was a busy women, they should be happy with what they got. Martina and Masie ripped away the snowman wrapping paper to reveal an Elsa doll for Martina and an Anna doll for Masie, the expressions on the girls face were not ones of joy, but more of disinclination that had received something from Frozen.

"Noelle thank you," Martina seem to struggle saying thank you and there was no way that it was sincere. "Frozen is cool but-"

"It's so main stream Elle, we prefer the older princess,'" Masie informed Noelle and then dropped the Anna doll like it was a bag containing dog poop.

"Girls!" their mother Isabella scolded them.

Noelle sat there open mouthed with the shocked of the brutal truth and sassiness that can come from the minds of seven year olds.

"I'm sorry Noelle, I just couldn't stand Frozen anymore and I showed them the films we used to watch when we were kids," Isabella apologised.

To cut the tension little Elliot said "Thank you Nolly," but everyone could see that the smile on his was as fake as Santa's beard in the department store. The whole room was filled with mummers of thanks that sounded like they had just been gutted, everyone seemed disappointed or disgruntled by the presents they received.

Noelle rose from the spare stool she had to sit on that was about 6 inches away from the floor. Her back clicked as she made her way to her favourite spot in the kitchen, where she could look out into the garden rekindling her childhood. She could hear muffled voices coming through the wall obviously talking about her, they were all probably wondering what is wrong with her. Nothing was wrong, she had just lost her Christmas spirit. It started to die a long time ago when her Bampi was gone and Christmas had started to change. Then when she was eighteen the person who loved Christmas the most and loved her the most, was lost to them two weeks before Christmas in a stupid car accident and she broke. However, the last straw was last year when events caused her to shatter into a million pieces. Since then she hasn't let anyone near to help put the pieces back together. Instead she would rather be a modern day Scrooge and just look out for herself, as that's the only person you can count on.

Noelle didn't move as she heard the kitchen door squeak open, she kept her strict posture her arms crossed. She looked so sad that her mother didn't recognise her own daughter in the black skinny jeans and black silk shirt. Her baby girl always loved Christmas and would have silly dingy bobbers on her head or a Christmas jumper on, at the bear minimum the paper hat you find in a cracker.

"Noelle," Rosie tentatively called out. The only way Rosie knew her Daughter had listened to her, was the breath of defeat that left Noelle.

"Look I know the present giving wasn't the best..."

"Wasn't the best, I thought it was 'it's the thought that counts,'" Noelle patronized.

"That all might be very true Elle but you used to put Santa to shame with the gifts you used to give to people. You used to care so much about what to give, to make them happy. You used to say, when someone opens a gift at Christmas their eyes should twinkle like the lights on the tree and they should feel giddy like eating all their Christmas sweets in one go and washing it down with the a Hot chocolate, a hug in a cup," Rosie explained feeling nostalgic talking about the Christmas of past.

Shrugging her shoulders Noelle just replies "That was the old me and she's not coming back."

"What did that boy do to you?"

Noelle faced her mother so fast she was liable to receive whiplash.

"Don't you dare bring him into this!"

"Well he caused this didn't he, it has been a year."

Noelle was thinking of way to make her mother understand.

"YOU DIDN'T GET GG A PRESENT!"

Noelle felt tiny fists pounding on her legs, she looked down to see some very angry girls looking up at her. Most of the family then descended into the kitchen. Kyle swooped up his darling daughters in his arms, they thrashed against him wanting to still attack the cotton headed ninny muggins. They wouldn't succeed against the six foot four firefighter.

"Elliot you go back to the living room as well," Lenny told his son.

The adults left were all staring at Noelle, the air was pregnant with disappointment.

"Now Noelle, I know the girls presents are my fault I probably should have warned you. But, we just don't see you around much," Isabella started.

"Bella it is not your fault for Elle's attitude."

"Well hang on a minute Maria, Elle is busy working in London on a very high pressure jobs, you don't know what's going on in her life."

"Yes Raymond, but all she is saying is that doesn't excuse her attitude towards the family."

"Look sis, all we are trying to say is this; it is one thing to give presents with a careless attitude but not to even think of Gran after all the things she's done for us," Christopher explained trying to knock some sense into the person that looked like his sister, even though her heart has been lost for a while now.

Nobody disagreed with Christopher he was right. Christmas' true mean at the lowest level is 'Love'. The love you have for your family and friends. For that special someone, it is the time to celebrate being together. Noelle seemed to have lost all the love she held in her heart over the years and has become cold and bitter, but she had realised what she had done wrong. The main reason you give presents is to show your love and appreciation for the people you hold most dearly. There was guilt swimming in Noelle's heart, as she realised she must of hurt her grandmother even if she would never admit it. She had to make it right even if she hated this triumphant affair.

The adults had started squabbling again about Noelle, but she didn't care to notice. Her brother and Raymond seemed to be on her side, everyone else against her including her mother. Leaving the kitchen without a second glance, she made her way to the living room which was a lot more quiet and peaceful.

Elliot and the girls were in the corner playing with Lenny and Kyle. Mona was looking after her baby boys; Russel and Robert. Russel is now able to pull himself up and stand by the couch on his unsteady feet, whilst Robert is still crawling around drooling on the carpet. Noelle should really be in her nephew's lives more, something else that made her a terrible person. Even though everyone had made a fuss, Gloria had not moved from her rocking chair that her husband and made for her when they were young. Begrudging Noelle walked over and kneeled down like she did when she was little and look up to her Grandmothers chestnut eyes. There was no evidence of sadness or pain, she saw sympathy and pity. That only caused Noelle to cringe and what her Grandmother must think of her.

"Gran... sorry I didn't get you a present, I know work isn't an excuses, is there anything I can get you?" Noelle asked.

Gloria seemed to ponder Noelle's question. The only thing Gloria wanted was her Granddaughter to be back, to see the goofy smile she always got at Christmas. Gloria was quite sharp for her age and realised Noelle wasn't going to snap out of this by herself. She was going to need a good push and she was going to deliver it herself.

"Well darling there isn't anything you can give me right now, but there is something you might be able to do for me," Gloria cupped Noelle's cheek like she did when she was a child, though the eyes she looked into where not so innocent anymore.

"Everybody could you please come back in," she called out. She didn't need to shout as they all tumbled in immediately proving they had their ears glued to the door.

Once everyone was seated and comfortable Gloria began.

"Well thank you Raymond for letting us spend Christmas here, it's a pity not all the family is here. Now Noelle has asked is there anything she could get me for Christmas. Well no one ever asks me, so thank you for asking darling. I would like to hold a Christmas dinner for all my family one last time."

As soon as this was said there was a huge uproar and protest about her age and health and how much of strain it would be for her. Gloria put her hand out to stop the chatter, even an old lady she still had that magic that could hold the attention of the whole room.

"I don't know how many more Christmas' I have left and as Noelle has so kindly as what I would like. I would like this year's Christmas present to be that you come and help me next Christmas to get the house ready and make the Christmas dinner for all 23 as a last hurrah!"

"Well Gran I don't know how much time I will have off of work."

"You're helping no ifs or buts, do you understand."

So many angry glares were pointed in her direction she had no choice and just nodded her head in acceptance. Gloria was beside herself with joy that she was going to fix her granddaughter, a year was enough time to straighten herself and if not Gloria would be the one to do it. Her smile made everyone else sag in relief.

"So who wants to play Monopoly," Gloria teased.

The snowman was dancing in the shop window and tipping his hat to Noelle. It was mocking her as she did not have a gift for this year. A frown was edged deeply into her face, she hadn't taken any holiday, as work was her life. But, and the office had decided they would be closed from the 24th to the 26th, and had forced Noelle to have her break from the 19th to the 4th of January. She did not want holiday for Christmas, she just wanted to go to the office and sort out her cases. She was dreading the fact that everyone will be slacking off because of the time of year.

She still had some of her old characteristics. She was still a person of principle, and to give her Grandmother the gift she wanted, she would be making her way over to her house tomorrow for the holidays. Most people would be happy not Noelle, she had grown even more bitter since that Christmas experience and hadn't even bothered to come back for people's birthdays just posting money with cards. Noelle's last thoughts as she turned away from the display to try and weave her way through the crowds was,Christmas was going to be hell. 

'Merry Christmas, you filthy animal' -Kevin McCallister, Home Alone

Thank you very much for deciding to read my Christmas story, it will only be about 10 chapters long and hopefully you will laugh and maybe cry (not really but maybe some emotions).

Please let me know what you think.

I think this song relates to Noelle.

https://youtu.be/sLHwIAQAmLM

I would also like to dedicate this chapter to Spruce_Goose for inspiring me and being one of the most amazing people on Wattpad :)