The Venusians for Christmas
ink and pencil
art by Jameson Currier
20221223001
by Jameson Currier
It was just before Christmas, when the very first visitors from Venus arrived on our doorstep. Strangely enough, they understood all six of us perfectly, even my ten-year-old French friend next door who spoke no English.
There were two of them and they had a robot. My sister and I wanted them to stay with us for Christmas.
“But what is Christmas?” they asked.
We said Christmas was when Jesus was born in Bethlehem. Shepherds and wise men brought gifts to the baby to celebrate his birth because it was said that he was the Messiah, the son of God. Now on December 25th, we celebrate by giving gifts to other people who are poor, sick, or old. Christmas is said to be a time of giving. Even rich people can get gifts. There is also an old tradition about a man named Santa Claus. At the beginning of the new year (which is January) to Christmas (which is near the end of the year) if boys and girls all over earth have been good, they get presents from Santa Claus. Santa Claus is known as Father Christmas, Saint Nick, Saint Nicholas and many other names too.
“Well, if Christmas is December 25th, what day is it now and how many more days is it till Christmas?” asked the Venusians.
“Today, it is December 10th so there are 15 more days till Christmas. Will you stay for Christmas with us?” we asked.
The Venusians traveled all the time. They parked their spaceship in our backyard. They talked it over and then answered, “Yes, we will stay for Christmas, and then we must be going back to Venus.”
During the next 15 days all of us were busy shopping for Christmas gifts. The Venusians were very secretive, but they liked watching my goldfish. My sister and I got to play with the robot because it liked puzzles too.
Early Christmas Day, the Venusians said that they had to do some more shopping.
“More shopping!” exclaimed my mother.
“Yes, and we will be back in about two hours.”
I didn’t think they would be going shopping so I trailed them to a hospital where they went in and, to my surprise, I saw them giving presents to the sick. I trailed them next to a poor neighborhood and into many people’s houses. They were giving them gifts too.
Then they went to an old folks’ home where they gave gifts to the older people who were there. I was so amazed at their kindness. They had even given the rich people gifts.
And then they headed toward our home. I sneaked back inside my house and told my mother all about it and she was overjoyed. Then the Venusians came in and gave us the biggest box and inside it was a television set!
We all sat around our big table and ate Christmas dinner with the Venusians. My French friend from next door also joined us. The Venusians said there was so much food but it made them happy and that made my mother happy!
Then the Venusians said they must leave, but I said “Wait!” because I had a gift for them.
I gave them a handmade Christmas card I drew so they would always remember their trip to our house.
And all over the town people were saying, “I’ll never forget the people from Venus!”
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In 1966, the author was enrolled in “sixth year” at Oatlands Primary School in Weybridge, Surrey, England. Because of his father’s employment with an aeronautics manufacturer, his family had relocated from Georgia several times—to Buffalo, Los Angles, and now England.
He was at this primary school for six months, until February 1967, when his family returned to Georgia. Every week at the British primary school he wrote an original essay, story, or poem—mainly as practice for spelling, grammar, and penmanship. While cleaning out a room at his father’s house, the author rediscovered the “book” of stories and poems that he wrote when he was at Oatlands. This is a Christmas tale written when the author was eleven and illustrated by him at the age of sixty-seven.
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“Lost Treasures” is Jameson Currier’s ongoing project to rediscover, revisit, and illustrate his early writings.
