A Christmas picnic in summer

On Christmas morning, the Park family checked the sky before packing their picnic basket. The day was warm, with a light breeze. Instead of building a snowman, Evie and her brother Chloe planned to make a sandcastle near the beach. Mum packed chilled mango, a salad and prawns. Dad added bread rolls and a few slices of meat saved from the previous evening. The family also brought a wide beach umbrella and reusable water bottles. “A summer Christmas needs plenty of shade and water,” Dad said. After lunch, the family walked along the shore. They noticed small pieces of rubbish near the dunes, so they collected them in a bag and put the bag in a bin. Later, they called their grandparents, who lived in a colder part of the world. The grandparents described frosty windows and a warm meal indoors. Evie realised that the same holiday could feel very different depending on the season and place. That evening, the family switched on the lights on their Christmas tree at home. Chloe said he liked the beach picnic best, while Evie loved hearing stories from her grandparents. They agreed that sharing time with people they cared about was their favourite part.

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