December 25, 1989

          The firelight had cast a red glow upon the faces of the Santiago family. Angela, now 7-years-old as of yesterday, was excited and ready to unwrap the Christmas presents. She had unwrapped many for her birthday so only a few gifts under the tree where hers. That didn’t put a stop to Angela’s heartwarming smiles.

          “C’mon mom! Lemme open them!” Angela pounced all over the floor, begging. Her mom shook her head.

          “Wait ‘till your father comes back with the camera.” It was a tradition to take pictures of the family unwrapping gifts. Memories last forever.

          “I can’t wait that long!” She pouted more. It was hard to fake her tears tonight, for the happiness just spilled out of her. Her father appeared in the doorway. He was a tall man in his mid 30s, but still maintained nice muscles and full head of hair.

          “You look like a fish flopping on the side of a beach, child. Calm down.” Her father laughed and she only got more hyped up.

          “Well camera’s here, dig in.” Angela’s mother smiled. Almost immediately, Angela jumped in and grabbed what was hers, pulling the gifts from beneath the tree. The camera flashed wildly, almost as if Angela were being filmed by newscasters. Angela ripped open her first gift, nearly shredding the wrapping paper. Her face lit up even more as she revealed a teddy bear she had nearly had a heart attack over at the toy store.

          “Yessss!” Angela wailed. “I love him!!” The camera caught her laughter and held onto it forever. Angela came upon her last gift in no time. She gasped when she finally unwrapped it. It was a sewing kit that Angela had wished for since she was 5. Somehow sewing dolls had caught the little girl’s interest. It made things much cheaper on her mother though; instead of Angela wanted to buy dolls, she made them herself. She squeezed her mom tight and cried on her shoulder.

          “Thank you so much! Thank you!” She cried and ran into her father’s arms to thank him as well.

Like her mother had said to her, If you can’t find any friends, make your own. And with that in mind, Angela began making her own friends.