Carols on Maple Street

On Christmas Eve, my neighbors and I went caroling for the first time. It was my idea. I'd seen it in old movies and wanted to see if people still did it.

Twelve of us gathered at the corner in hats and scarves with printed song sheets and a thermos of hot chocolate. None of us could sing. We went door to door anyway.

At the first house, a family opened the door and listened to "Silent Night" with their mouths open. Then the dad joined in. At the second house, an older woman cried and gave us cookies. At the fourth, a toddler in pajamas danced on the welcome mat. At the end of the street, the retired opera singer who lives in the blue house came out on her porch and sang "O Holy Night" back to us.

We were all quiet after that. Then we went inside and drank cocoa until midnight. We've agreed to do it every year.