ART
SHORT STORY
CO-EDITORS KAY SABERTON & CHLOE SHAWCROSS
A VERY STUDENT
CHRISTMAS BY MAT T NEWMAN Christmas is the most joyful time of the year, or it’s supposed to be. It often entails a considerable deal of travel, stress, and constant worry for us students. It can be a source of extreme misery for those of us trapped in the tumultuous world of student housing. But I’ve decided that this year it won’t be. My flatmates, Adelaide and George, are kind, but like most people, they have their own flaws. Adelaide often suffers from grandiose ideas, and frequently flings her wealth in the faces of others, something that should not be done at a season of giving. George, on the other hand, is the polar opposite; he is riddled with insecurity and poor self-esteem. I consider myself ordinary, but I can be a bit eccentric.
So, it was going to take a miracle to have an enjoyable Christmas confined to our small flat. Adelaide, recently returned from Waitrose, barges into my room with Christmas decorations swinging from her body. ‘It’s time to put up that tree you brought last week,’ she announces. She stands over me impatiently. I tear myself away from favourite book and sigh. I grab the box with the baubles neatly wrapped inside. Then George stumbles in. ‘I’m not sure whether we should put the star on top or the angel,’ he whispers, mostly to himself. ‘Pick the one you think looks best,’ I say, smiling reassuringly at George.
21 • A R T • MY LIFE
