14/12- Rest- Is It Break Time Yet?

Contemporary.

Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday
School.	Attend Bob's school play.	Go to London!!!!!	Visit Tina's Christmas concert.	Holiday!
Drop Millie off at swimming.	Hand in long-overdue history project.		Pack for holiday.
Go shopping.	Wrap gifts.		School (again).
Do that thing I promised someone last week, but completely forgot. And figure out what it was.	Oh, yeah. And school.		Catch up on everything I missed when I was in London.

"Ah! I forgot my philosophy reading!" I moan, writing the last word before leaning on Tina's shoulder in disbelief.

"I haven't even got a list of stuff to do!" She moans back.

Last Christmas before Uni! But it also comes with the downside of a lot of A-level stuff, and people acting like it's your last Christmas ever. It's not!

"I've got 4 exams, 3 songs to memorise, two meetings with my art teacher for 'forgetting too much homework' (it was only three pieces!). Oh, and did I forget? A partridge in a pear tree!"

"And now I have to give George chocolate, thanks."

"Why?" She raises an eyebrow and pulls out a pencil from her bag, yawning.

"We were betting how long it'd take you to reference a Christmas song. One more day and I would have gotten free chocolate!"

"Sorry, but you knew it was coming."

"Doesn't help!" I sing back as I pack my stuff up. The last week of class is prophesied to be easier (though my doubts about that are off the charts), and yet

I don't think I'm going to have time to breathe this week. "See you at break?" I ask, swinging my bag over my shoulder.

"If Sir ever lets me leave his class!" I laugh. Ah. To be a year seven like Millie again. So little stress! Or a year 6 like Bob. Then again, I get to drive my siblings around. Yay.

*

On my train ride to London, I fall asleep. Yesterday I got back later than usual thanks to Bob's Christmas play (at least it was the last one I would have to watch, as he's finally going to secondary), and I had homework and gifts and stuff to do. So much stuff. My head bobs gently as the train moves, my mind returning to consciousness again.

No, sleep! But I can't. My stop was the last one (great!), and someone has my seat next. "Sure, yeah, yeah." I squidge past the person in the aisle seat and stand awkwardly at the exit of the train.

Dumb! I'm going to be late! I have to retrieve so many documents, so I'll be able to go to Uni. Now wasn't the best time to plan this trip, but I didn't realise that three months ago. Dumb! Dumb! Dumb!

I run back to my old stop, then try to figure my way from there. At least there's Google Maps to help! I yawn. Almost there. After this, only one more day. I'll get to see family and eat all the food I want. And not do (that much) work. It'll be perfect.

Grabbing a croissant and coffee from a small shop quickly, I call mum. "Got here safely. Now getting everything."

"Get your Dad something for Christmas, will you? I have no time with all these last-minute business wrap-ups. And he'll find anything I get him. Thank you, bye!"

She hangs up as someone shuffles into her office.

Perfect.

The day after that goes quite smoothly, and I even have an hour to kill at the end of it. An hour I use for my Philosophy reading due tomorrow. I feel so fancy reading Aristotle on a street bench in London, right below the Uni I want to go to. All I have to do is survive tomorrow.

*

Me, Mum, Dad, Bob and Millie all sink into our seats. Our plane seats. We did it!

"Mum! I need to pee!" yells Bob, and we all groan.

"You have to wait until we're in the air."

"But I can't."

"Then pee yourself." Millie pulls a silly face at him, sticking out her tongue.

"No, don't do that!" Mum screeches.

"Glad we're back here." Dad sighs, sinking further into his seat. Is he asleep already? I don't blame him. Yeah, I'm sorry for mum to have to deal with the littles, but I'm just going to read for the three-hour plane ride. All about the mountain myths, tales and curses.

"I want to see my passport." Molly keeps shaking Mum by the arm until she has to surrender.

Time to relax!

For anyone who's going to have a rushing and bustling last week of term, I wish you the best of luck and smooth sailing. It's almost Christmas! We can do this!

Thank you for reading. I hope you got a little Christmas joy from this story. Here, for anyone who wants it, is the maintenance.

If you enjoyed this story, please, please, please (I can add a cherry if necessary) like, comment, rate and share. It really helps me out and allows others to see these (hopefully decent) stories. Thank you, and Merry Christmas.