CHAPTER 4: PROBLEM SOLVED

Calem and Serena went over to Tierno's house. When they got inside, Tierno's father, Ayoub, greeted them. He was a chubby man with slick-backed black hair and a goatee. He smiled at the two.

"Welcome," said Ayoub. "Tierno and Shauna are upstairs. How's your holiday going?"

"Okay," said Serena.

Calem and Serena went inside the house and went upstairs. They entered Tierno's room, where Tierno and Shauna were talking. The two took notice of Calem and Serena right away. Shauna sprung up from the ground and went to greet the two.

"Hey!" said Shauna. "Enjoying your holiday?"

"Yes," said Serena.

"Fine..." said Calem.

"What's wrong?" Tierno asked Calem.

Calem sat down next to Tierno.

"I'll tell you about it," said Calem. "I left my parents' house because the party there was a disaster, and then I went over to Serena's. We talked it over, and she helped me feel better. Then we decided to give each other our presents. I'm feeling better than I was, but I don't know how to get the Christmas spirit up."

"Even though I don't celebrate Christmas, I think I can help," said Tierno.

"You can?" asked Calem.

"Sure," said Tierno. "When one of my holidays gets stressful, I try to think of a solution. It was hard having to fast for the first time this year. In that situation, I tried not thinking about food. I guess when Christmas stresses you out, try to think of something else."

"Yeah," said Calem. "I remember you fasting. You ate half your weight as soon as the sun went down."

"That's because I was starving!" laughed Tierno.

Shauna looked at the two.

"I agree with Tierno," said Shauna. "Thinking about something else always helps."

"Yes," said Calem.

"It works for me," said Shauna. "When my Delphox is frustrating me, I just think of how it feels to have a nice, juicy steak slither down my esophagus!"

Calem looked confused.

"Well...it does taste good!" said Shauna. "Oh wait...you don't eat beef, so you wouldn't know."

"I guess I wouldn't," said Calem.

Finally, Serena spoke up.

"Christmas doesn't need to be a disaster," said Serena. "Just because one bad thing happens during the day doesn't mean you can't turn you day around."

"I know..." said Calem. "But what about my father?"

"Your father loves you, Calem," said Serena. "He loves you, and so does your mother. They've loved you all your life, and they will always love you no matter how old you or they get. I could see that fifty years from now they'll love you just as much as they did when you were young."

"They will?" asked Calem.

"Of course," said Serena. "Your father is probably sorry for getting angry at you."

Calem sighed.

"And I'm sorry for yelling at him," said Calem.

Tierno turned around.

"I think you should go tell your father that you're sorry," said Tierno.

"I'm sure he'll accept your apology," said Shauna.

"Okay," said Calem. He turned to Serena. "Come on, Serena. Let's go home."

Calem and Serena got up and started to leave.

"Bye!" said Calem and Serena.

"Merry Christmas!" said Tierno and Shauna.

Calem and Serena left Tierno's house and went back to Calem's house. When they got inside, they saw Pierre and Cecilia cleaning up. Calem and Serena walked up to the two, who took notice of them.

"Hello," said Calem.

"Hello, honey," said Serena. "We were worried about you. Is everything all right?"

"I'm fine," said Calem. "Thank you."

"What happened to the party?" asked Serena.

"I canceled it," said Pierre. "It was getting too stressful, so I told everyone to get out."

"Calem has something to say," said Serena.

Calem approached Pierre.

"Dad," said Calem, "I'm sorry for getting mad and ruining your party. I know I shouldn't have done it, and I should have been more grateful of the holiday."

Tears started to fall from Pierre's pink eyes.

"Calem," said Pierre, "I'm the one who should be sorry. I shouldn't have made you run around these past few days, and I shouldn't have even thrown this party in the first place. It was doomed from the start. I just got too caught up in having this party and I had forgotten who was important to me. And you, Calem, are the one who is important to me."

Calem hugged Pierre.

"And I think you're important to me too," said Calem. "I love you both."

Calem, Pierre, and Cecilia had a group hug. Serena joined in too.

"Well," said Serena, "I see that everything is back to normal. I guess I should help clean up."

Calem and Serena helped Pierre and Cecilia clean up. Eventually, Serena was wondering about her family.

"My family is probably going to be having dinner soon," said Serena. "I should get going. But first..."

Serena went up to Calem.

"Since it's Christmas Eve," said Serena, "I'd like to share a special kiss."

"Sure," said Calem.

Calem and Serena went to the doorway and kissed each other on the lips, holding hands as they did it.

"Thanks," said Calem.

"I'll be leaving now," said Serena. "Merry Christmas, Calem."

"Merry Christmas, Serena," said Calem.

Serena left Calem's house, and then Calem went back to his parents.

"Well," said Pierre, "since we have a lot of food left over from the party, how about we have a nice big dinner?"

"Yes!" said Calem.

Calem and his parents went to eat dinner.

Merry Christmas!

THE END