The fragrance of Christmas was always a favorite, spices and cookies, ham and beef, cakes and tea and pastries. Mints and candies and chocolates and pies. And never forget those candles. Of course, one must never forget the crisp, white snow, blanketed outside every Christmas day. Jodie never did, she would come out every Christmas morning, and gather the crisp snow into a bowl; topping it with syrup. Her family would sit round the christmas tree, and read the Christmas story. Nor does one forget Christmas Eve, when one must go to sleep at bedtime, and not wake up for Santa only brings presents to good children. Jodie always got to bed several minutes before bedtime, so as to discover presents for her under the tree waiting for her. And in the morning of Christmas Eve, one always gets a hot cinnamon bun and hot chocolate for breakfast. At least, that was how it was every Christmas Eve, and every Christmas day for Jodie. But her neighbor, Cindy, was quite the opposite: Christmas Eve for Cindy never meant snacks for breakfast, the usual was porridge. She got to bed however late she wished, for her parents set no bedtime for her. She never got presents -- her parents could not afford them, and she did not believe in Santa Clause. Christmas Day was just a normal day, no unusually pleasant smells came from the house, and the snow lay on the ground, never being eaten. Her father never read the Christmas story to his family. On the day before Christmas Eve, Jodie was playing around with her expensive porcelain dolls that her father had gotten her from Japan. She was quite dull sometimes, for she had no brothers and sisters to play with. Her friends were all away for the holidays, and she thought that she must get someone to come over for Christmas. She thought about the other rich girls who stayed at home for their celebration, and then she thought of Cindy. She did not want to be seen with Cindy, though, and she kept trying to push the thought out of her mind. She knew how Cindy was every day. Even on holidays she never had much fun, besides, Cindy was three years younger than her fourteen year old self. Jodie finally remembered the verse 'Do unto others what you would have them do unto you.' She went downstairs to her mother and asked her if she could invite Cindy over. The answer was yes, in fact, her mother was very pleased that her daughter was so thoughtful. Jodie ran over to Cindy's house and knocked, no answer. She knocked again, then she peeked through the window, and she heard yelling. She saw Cindy's father yelling at Cindy's mother and slapping her, Cindy was sitting on the floor crying. Jodie had never seen her father act that way towards her mother, she felt awful for Cindy. She slowly walked away, wishing she could have invited her, but then she turned around and knocked again. A moment later, Cindy, wiping tears from her eyes opened the door. "Yes?" she said, "I wanted to invite you over for Christmas Eve and Christmas celebration. Would you like to come?" she said with a soft tone. Cindy looked up at her with questioning eyes, "what be Christmas about?" she asked. "We celebrate Jesus' birthday on Christmas, just ask if you can come. You will have lots of fun!" replied Jodie. "Well..." hesitantly, "I don't know. My father ain't in very good spirits right now." she said, choking back tears. "Let me go ask." A moment later, Cindy came out with a bag of clothes, saying, "father said he'd be glad to see me go." Jodie replied, "Never mind about the bag, I have real nice clothes you can wear! Follow me." Jodie walked Cindy over to her house, and showed her inside, "Wow! Now ain't that one might' big house?" Cindy marvelled. And the following two days, the two girls had much fun. Cindy also came to know Jesus as her savior. Jodie invited Cindy over to her Christmas party every year, and the two became great friends.