Peter the Christmas Pine

The refreshing scent of pine in the Christmas tree tent filled the chilly evening air
with a peaceful Christmas atmosphere. I dont think any Yankee candle can really capture
the sweet fragrance and cheer that a Christmas pine tree brings. Christmas trees bring
families together during the Christmas season. Stringing the lights on the tree, decorating
with ornaments, reminiscing old memories, placing the angel on top, and singing O
Christmas Tree but dont forget the most important part! Way before all of that happens,
you need to find a Christmas tree. And it cant be just any tree. It has to be The Tree. This
year, I knew exactly what the tree had to look like. It had to be a Douglas fir, tall, about 8 ft,
not too wide, have evenly spaced branches, and it had to look like a Peter.
As soon as I finished my carolers performance at Avalon Aglow, I raced across the
grass field to find my family. All along the streets were little shop stands, a Mulberrys Pizza
restaurant, a parade of people dressed in red and green, and Christmas brownies and treat
stands. Suddenly, I remembered something. I looked across the street, and my eyes fell
upon the Avalon Christmas Tree tent. Yes! Time to find our Peter!
Its about time I tell you how I found the name for our Christmas tree. I have always
loved to name things, like stuffed animals, lizards I catch, my rose named Rita, my triop
pets Ernie and Nellie, and even my contact lenses named Flip and Flop! So you can see
why I just had to name our Christmas tree. I started thinking of biblical names, since
Christmas is all about Jesus birth. Isaac, Abraham, John, Jacob I thought to myself.
Hmmm Maybe it should be a name in the New Testament, a disciple of Jesus! Then it
clicked. Peter, the rock for the church! The strong foundation of Christianity! My creative
mind turned Peter the rock into Peter the tree, and I had a solid image of what Peter had
to look like. He had to be tall, strong, dark green colored, sweet-smelling, enlivened, and
high-spirited. (Yes, a tree can be high-spirited. You need to look at a tree and feel its soul.
Listen to Ombra Mai Fu by Handel for practice at feeling a trees soul. And no, I am not a
treehugger!)
On my quest to find Peter at Avalon Aglow, I rushed over to my brother Morgan.
Lets go find Peter! I shouted, jumping up and down.
Peter? Morgan asked, looking confused.
Yes, Peter. Thats his name! I replied impatiently.
Whose name?
You know. THE TREES NAME!

Oh! Our Christmas tree! he burst out as he finally understood. But I was already
running to Avalons Christmas Trees.
Come on, Mama and Papa! Lets go find our Christmas tree! Morgan called out.
Okay. Well go look at Avalons Christmas Trees first. Then we can get some
dinner. Mama said, walking towards Morgan.
Sounds good. We could go to Amigos for din-din, my father suggested.
Yes! Morgan said excitedly in agreement.
Already at the Christmas tree tent, I dashed through the rows of bushy green trees,
trying to find the perfect Peter.
Too bristly.
Too short.
Mmm too wide.
As I was examining a blue spruce, I noticed Morgan passing by.
Morgan! Look at this one! I pointed to the blue spruce.
Hmm I like its shape, but its needles are too sharp, Morgan pointed out.
I suppose youre right. It might be hard to put on ornaments.
On Morgan and I went, scrutinizing each possible Peter. Our family decided to go
look at another tree tent after we got dinner at Amigos. Dinner satisfied our tummies, and
we set back out on the road to Razzitis Christmas Trees.
O Christmas tree, o Christmas tree, how lovely are your branches Morgan and I
sang out happily, swaying from side to side as far as our seatbelts would let us.
Not only green in summers glow, but ever green, midwinter snow Oh here we
are! Razzitis Christmas Trees! I announced. Our car pulled in on the rocky gravel
entrance. Morgan and I immediately jumped out of the car, swinging open our car doors.
The air was so crisp, it reminded me of previous Colorado ski trips. The tree tent was full of
thick, fresh pines, firs, and spruces. Peter must be somewhere in here! I thought to myself.
Mama and Papa walked up to the tent to find assistance. They found a tall, burly,
man with a blue woolen cap.
Hi there. Our family is looking for a Christmas tree named Peter! Would you know
any tree by that name? Mama said with a grin. She meant it as a joke, but the man, trying
to conceal his shock, had a puzzled expression on his face.
Well, we have some nice-looking trees. I have never seen a Peter round here, but
I can help you find a good tree.
Mama gave a little laugh as she realized that the man didnt get the joke.
We are looking for an 8 or 9 ft tall tree, and a Douglas fir would be our preference.
Sure. Ill show you around, he offered.
I darted around all of the trees, but stopped when I saw a beautiful Douglas fir.
Thats one pretty tree. Could this be Peter? I asked myself. It was tall, had fluffed out
branches, and had great shape. But then I realized that it was slightly leaning to one side.
Oh no. Peter cant be a leaning tree.
Then, I walked around the section of trees that were packaged up in netting. A man
was opening up the bundled trees. First he used scissors to open up the netting. Then he
would lift up the tree with amazing strength and ram the trunk into the ground to fluff out the

rumpled branches. One tree in particular caught my eye. As I observed it from top to
bottom, I knew that it had to be Peter. I grabbed Morgan and my parents and led them to
the tree. They loved the tree just as much as I did. It was a breath-taking sight. It looked
tall and grand.
Yep. This is a beautiful Douglas fir. It looks filled out, and its the right height, too,
the man said.
This must be Peter! I can already imagine our angel on top of it too! I rejoiced.
I love it! Morgan exclaimed in agreement.
Mama and Papa nodded their heads.
It looks so magnificent and grand, Papa said.
That night, we went home with a Christmas tree strapped onto the roof of our car.
We stood Peter up on our tree stand, and we went to bed, sleeping soundly. The next
morning, the sunroom that Peter was in was filled with the sweet aroma of pine. By the end
of that day, Peter looked dazzling with all the shiny ornaments on him. It was so much fun
listening to the Charlie Brown Christmas music booming out, stringing the new lights we
bought, hooking the ornaments, putting them up, and then adding our old homemade and
special ornaments all together as a family. We also ordered a new angel because our
angel we had for 15 years wouldnt light up. Everything was perfect until the next week.
Peter was leaning. He couldnt stand up straight because the hole drilled in his
trunk wasnt deep enough to stay upright in the stand. Papa, Morgan, and I worked hard to
try balancing it, but nothing was working.
Ugh! Papa grunted.
Were trying to keep it balanced! I said, pushing the tree up with Morgans help.
Whew! That tree is giving us a hard time. Its all because the workers didnt drill
deep enough.
Should we take it back? I asked.
No, we cant do that. Ill have to build a frame, he croaked.
It took one and a half hours, but Papa built the perfect frame for Peter. The whole
family marveled at Papas genius idea.
He-he, I chuckled.
Whats so funny? Morgan inquired.
Peter the Leaning Tree! Isnt he supposed to stand tall and strong? After all, he is
the strong rock.
Ha! I suppose youre right! That is pretty ironic, Morgan replied, laughing.
As Papa climbed up the ladder to fix the angels alignment on top of the tree, I
pondered.
Hey, I just found the perfect name for our angel! I declared enthusiastically.
What name? Morgan asked.
Mary!