Lights and Marshmallows

Maria could see how the night sky was riddled with stars safe and warm through the living room window. She was at her grandparents’ house, which was thankfully near her family’s place, so they visited a lot. Especially during Christmas time when many of her cousins and their families would also come to visit. Her grandparents not only had a huge front yard and backyard but their property was secluded by trees so she and her cousins were able to run around without fear of being disturbed by nosy neighbors. Maria was having a great time this Christmas, even though as usual, there wasn’t a speck of snow on the ground despite the season.

However, the season was slowly but steadily coming to an end. Some of her cousins had gone home already and Maria and her siblings would have to go back to school soon. Maria hated school and didn’t want to think about it more than she had to. Which was why she was looking at the stars, which were very pretty. It also made her...what was the word? It meant calm but it started with a s...oh! Serene! Looking at the stars made her feel serene.

“Hey Maria!” Maria tore her eyes away from the window and saw her aunt, young enough to technically still be a kid, standing there with a bright smile. “Do you want to roast marshmallows?”

Maria gasped with delight, the serenity of the stars momentarily forgotten.

“Yes!” she cried as she got off the sofa and hurried to her aunt. The young woman chuckled as she held out her hand, which Maria happily accepted.

“Then let’s go. The others are already in the kitchen.” Maria nodded excitedly as they left the family room and made their way into the kitchen. Her aunt was right, her two brothers and her three remaining cousins were already in the kitchen, busy putting marshmallows on the roasting sticks. Well, Maria knew now that they were actually fondue sticks but in her grandparents’ house, they only used them for roasting marshmallows.

Maria quickly let go of her aunt’s hand and rushed to grab a marshmallow and put it on a stick that her older brother handed to her. She was nearly bouncing on her toes by the time they exited the kitchen and walked into the dining room. Her grandpa was already there and kneeling by the fireplace, making sure the flames were high enough for them to easily roast their marshmallows.

It was a gas fireplace, so the flames were blue instead of red and orange, but that didn’t matter to Maria as she made her way to it along with her cousins. Happy chatter filled the air as they all crowded in front of the fireplace and started to toast their little white treats. Maria tried her best to toast her marshmallow just right, by not getting it too close to the flame. She also slowly rotated it so that the marshmallow would be completely brown and the inside would be soft and gooey. However, she either was closer to a flame than she thought or the flame had a sudden burst of heat because, in a matter of seconds, her marshmallow was in flames.

Maria just calmly blew out the flames and ate the marshmallow with a wide smile. Her attempt at the perfect toasted marshmallow had failed but it was okay, she liked them burnt too. Her aunt had also brought the bag of marshmallows into the dining room so Maria could just try again.

And try again she did, and again and again until she and her cousins, aunt, grandpa, and other family members finished up the whole bag. Maria looked at the marshmallow in her hand, which was warm and tender to the touch, and was a beautiful golden brown color. The young child grinned with pride and satisfaction as she popped her last marshmallow into her mouth, making sure to savor the sweet taste.

As she chewed, Maria happened to turn to her right and saw the Christmas tree near the head of the dining room table. The Christmas tree lights shined with all their multi-colored splendor and glory in the dimly lit room. Ornaments, homemade and gifted, that were gathered through the years decorated the tree from top to bottom, as well as from front to back.

Maria swallowed the last delicious bits of her treat as she kept on gazing at the Christmas tree. The light it gave off wasn’t natural like the stars, but it was beautiful too.

The young girl smiled warmly.

Beautiful and serene.