Today was the last school day of the year.

The last day before winter break and the holidays.

Even without consulting a calendar, it was clear, something, was happening.

The buzz that had been building all week; extra “outdoor time” for the day school kids to run around and scream and scream and scream some more; the high school kids more boisterous than usual, the staff at both sites extra cheerful as they sent the kids home for the day, boiled over this afternoon as the final bell of 2020 rang and the kids ran home for the holidays.

It was a year that ended without the usual pageantry.

Without the choral performance, or the Christmas play.

Without an audience or a standing ovation.

Yet, the children knew.

Knew that Christmas, at its core, was much more than any of those things.

They felt the magic in their bones despite the dreariness of this year.

And although it was calling on a much smaller scale, the children heeded the Piper’s call, and headed towards Christmas and the small, twinkling lights, and managed to keep hope alive and close the door on the darkness nipping, at their heels.