One Crazy, Neighborhood Christmas Party
For any holiday, you always had to keep your eye on the Garcia’s house.
But this Christmas, their plans brought the neighborhood together—even all the pets—in a spontaneous way.
On the afternoon of December 21st, the Garcias added an exhibition tent to their normally impressive front yard decorations. All of the tent’s sides were closed. Next, they put up a big sign that said “Christmas Cookies at 8:00 in the Big Tent.”
Word spread quickly that the Garcias were up to something fun. Even before 8:00, a small crowd had gathered waiting for the tent to open. Some were carrying platters of Christmas sweets of their own to add to the Garcias’ fun.
At 8:00, the sides of the tent were pulled open to reveal card tables filled with Christmas cookies and hot cocoa. In the center of the tent was a live Nativity set. All of the Nativity animals were actually dogs in costumes. There were dogs dressed as sheep, dogs dressed as cows, dogs dressed as goats, and dogs dressed as camels. Mrs. Garcia had adapted some pet Halloween costumes to make these new Nativity costumes.
Further, Mr. Garcia was Joseph. Mrs. Garcia was Mary. And their four-month-old son was the Baby Jesus.
People streamed into the tent to see the Nativity scene and try out some sweets. Some people hurried back home to get their pets into costumes.
A few texts and social media posts later, people from farther away were walking and driving their way to the Garcia’s place.
Quite a crowd of humans and animals had gathered by now. One “sheep” was chasing another “sheep.” The Baby Jesus was cold, so he was taken into the house. In his place, a puppy wearing a halo was wrapped in a blanket and put in Mary’s arms. One dog had a lion costume on, the best it could do on short notice, and this lion laid down next to a “lamb.” More “gifts” arrived—actually, they were Christmas cookies.
It was then that Mr. Garcia sent up his drone. It had a huge spotlight that shone down upon the scene. “It’s the Star of Bethlehem,” one child exclaimed.
A slow-moving caravan of cars crawled down the street past the Garcia’s home. The sidewalks were filled with people snacking, talking, and laughing. However, one neighbor didn’t like all the commotion and called the police. That neighbor, named Harold, was nicknamed Herod from that day forward.