It had been raining since the sun had risen, the sky was grey, and the streets flooded with murky water and bug-eyed frogs. Chyna watched sickly from the fogged glass of her living room window. Her thick curls pulled into a loose ponytail with a few strands tickling her forehead.
"Momma," She said. "How come it don't snow here?"
Her mother, a short woman with a fade and high cheekbones, looked up from her book.
"Baby, We live in the south. Ain't no snow coming here." She said, turning a page.
Chyna pouted and sat back against the couch, her little arms folded across her chest. She glanced at her mother and sighed.
"Yes, Chyna." Her mother said, not looking from her book.
The young girl said nothing and sighed again. Her mother closed the book and stared at her with a small smile gracing her lips.
"You know," Her mother said. "If I do this, it counts as a Christmas present."
Chyna frowned for a second and then shrugged. Her mother stood from the couch and raised her hands with her palms facing away from her body. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, Chyna watched with excitement as the lights in the home flickered and the TV distorted, the Christmas tree bulbs popped one by one, and soon the whole house was dark.
Chyna's mother opened her eyes and frowned, "Damn."
The young girl pointed to the small jar in the window and smiled.
"One dollar in the swear jar, Momma." She said, glancing out the window.
Her mother laughed, picking up her book from the couch and sitting back down. She reached between the cushions and pulled out a small flashlight, shaking it twice before turning it on.
"Hopefully, I can fix the lights before your Daddy gets here and pitches a fit." she said, "You know he doesn't like when I do this stuff."
"I know, Momma." Chyna said, " and thank you."
Her mother smiled and returned to reading her book. Outside the home, the once murky and grey weather had cleared and in its place thick sheets of glistening snow and ice.
"Merry Christmas Eve Eve, Chyna."
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