A child who is poor talks about why Christmas time is such a difficult time for him and his family. They live in a suburb of Dallas, Texas.

As in most of my writings, all the main characters I use are of my imagination. Any resemblence to actual persons, living or dead, is purely out of coincidence.

Christmas time is always a major bummer for me.

I don't expect anyone to get me anything for Christmas; 'count of my being poor and stuff. My mami and papi, they don't have much money. Mami works, but she don't make much bein' a waitress person in a restaurant, and my Papi, he can't work 'cause he disabled. He walks on crutches, and he is always in pain. Sometimes the pain be so bad he cries at night. I hear him; and it makes me sad.

My name is Paco F. Jiminez, Jr., and I am eight and a half. I live in Texas, with mi familia, and we never been rich. We moved to Texas from Mexico when I was a little boy of four, and we been here in America since; but it seem that life here don't get any easier. I have two older sisters Gabriela Maria and Teresa Angelica, and a baby brother, Jose' Ricardo Miguel, he's two; but we never have much in way of toys or games. Mami and Papi can't afford new ones; so we get hand me downs, toys or clothes or games that used to belong to someone else. We get money from government to help us with food and medicine, but it still isn't easy when we have to pay the rent or electric. Sometimes we are late with the bills, and our power gets shut off, but Papi, he argue with the electricity people to tell them not to shut the electricity off 'cause he have babies to care for; and we need the power. Mami tries to help out by working at the restaurant, but she is always so tired when she comes home, and sometimes she doesn't have much money; people don't like to tip her 'cause she Mexican, and she doesn't speak the English good. I am learning English, but it no good either. Kids always laughing at me at la escuela, they say I am stupid Taco Head, and they tell me to go back to Mexico, which makes me cry. People can be so mean!

Now with Christmas coming up, I don't expect nothing..no tree, no toys, no nothing. We just stay home and watch other people be happy, and we always feel bad 'cause nobody care for us poor people. They only care for theyselves, and they don't give a darn about us poor folk who have nothing. I know Christmas supposed to be happy time, but when you're poor, you can't ever be happy because I will never get that toy HUMMER car I have been wanting, and my brother will never get his red wagon; and my sisters will never have pretty clothes to wear. My Papi will never get that operation he needs to take away the pain, and mi Mami will never be able to make enough to pay all the bills; and we may end up on the street, homeless, if things don't get no better quick.

This is why I hate Christmas 'cause it only for the rich peoples anymore, and to heck with the poor peoples, and it only makes me cry. I wish I could hide in my room and sleep 'til it's over; it is too painful and too sad for me to handle!