My Seventh Christmas

Crystals of white as far as the eye can see
Christmas lights twinkle up and down the street
The tree decorated with every shape and color
Christmas morn came early and full of wonder

We four ran towards the magnificent evergreen
Only to find nothing but air beneath the boughs
Our father sat silently with a sly smile on his face
He handed the first of us a note with a clue to decipher

MR MONKEY’S FINAL DEFENSE it read
Beyond ecstatic, we raced to the first room
We searched room after room looking for clue after clue
The final clue of VROOM VROOM led us to the garage

Three instruments, each carefully labeled with a name
Two gleaming guitars for Kevin and Leith,
A colossal, pitch black set of drums for Nick,
But alas, none for little Alise in the vicinity

My father still sat in place, awaiting my return
A large gift lay under the tree, just for me
I tore off the wrapping paper with all my might,
To discover a simple white box which I opened carefully

Inside lay a beautiful doll, a mini-me
Her hair straight and chestnut brown like mine
Her chocolate eyes opened and closed as I lifted her
It was Amber, my new American Girl doll, my new best friend

Charlie

"Charlie!" my mother screamed up the stairs.
"Coming!" Both me and my brother replied.
Neither of us came out of our rooms though. He was probably talking to his friends, complaining more likely, about the new school we have to go to soon. I kind of felt sympathy for him, with him spending his senior year of high school at a new school. I, on the other hand, have to spend my sophomore year at a new school.
"Charles! Charlotte!" My dad called.
With a sigh, I closed the book I was reading and left my room. My brother came out of his at the same time. So we walked down the stairs together.
When we reached the bottom of the stairs Grace handed us both our lunches, "I packed you both a brownie for good luck."
Charlie rolled his eyes, but I knew he appreciated it.
I sigh and look at my brother "Shall we?"
He dangles his keys from his hand and replies "Let's go." We headed out to the car.
Even though I was adopted, I still thought of him as my brother and Grace and Tom to be my parents. It's not that I keep my adoption a secret but me and my brother look scary a like so nobody asks, therefore I have no reason to tell.
When we got to school we both went to the main office to check in because it was our first day there. Afterwards we parted ways to go to our lockers.