There were just a few more weeks to go before Christmas. Everyone was so excited.
Parents were busy planning their lists of items they would buy. Some had hidden them
in the attic and garage, waiting for that special day. Grandparents, uncles, and aunts
wanted to surprise their grandchildren, nieces, and nephews with some of the newer
toys which were popular that year. Everyone was getting ready for Christmas until – Mayor Duffer and his councilmen decided to ban Christmas from the town of Holly.

The Mayor and his councilmen had nothing else to do that day, and they thought
they would play a joke on the entire town. They signed an ordinance prohibiting anyone
in the town of Holly from decorating homes, windows, or Christmas trees. All
stores were banned from selling Christmas toys or gifts. All Christmas parties, plays, and
programs were canceled. Any Christmas festivity must come to a halt according to the
ordinance. Anyone violating the ordinance would be called before the council and
fined.

When the ordinance went out, the entire town of Holly wanted to know why Mayor
Duffer and his councilmen would do such a thing. They immediately called City Hall.
The town clerk answered the telephone and told everyone who called that the mayor and
all the councilmen were not available for comment. She told them they were all out of
town and would not be returning until after Christmas.

The whole town of Holly was in an uproar. Just a few more weeks, and it would be
Christmas. The boys and girls were waiting so patiently for that day, justing knowing
that they would be getting toys, clothes, books, computers, games and dolls which
they had asked for all year. Now the Mayor and his councilmen had spoiled everything.
Parents were upset, and very angry. They, too, could not understand why this terrible
decision had been made.

Now, the town of Holly was made up of law abiding citizens. Everyone in the town
always made it a duty to keep the law. This law, however, was most unusual. No one
in the town agreed with it. Nobody liked the No Christmas Ordinance, and everyone was
extremely sad. The boys and girls of the town cried for several days. There was no
happiness anywhere to be found.

As Christmas drew nearer, it was a time of sadness. No homes were decorated, not even
a window. There were no Christmas trees, or presents anywhere. Parents went about their
daily actitivities in a state of dismay. For fun, a few children played outside in the snow,
making snowmen and snow angels. Even the dogs of the town looked sad. Somehow they
knew something was wrong.

Finally, the long awaited day of Christmas came. It was bleak and without cheer. Families
just sat around looking at each other and recalling all of the Christmas pleasures of the
past. Nothing was the same. Parents made some cookies, pies, and cakes to try to
cheer up their families, but even these did nothing to cure the general feelings of sadness.

One week later, when Christmas had come and gone, Mayor Duffer and his councilmen
returned to the town of Holly. They looked happy and pleased that the whole town did
not violate their ordinance. Everyone gathered around them to ask them about the No
Christmas Ordinance. To their surprise, the Mayor and his councilmen confessed that
they had been out of town enjoying Christmas with their families and friends. They told the
people The No Christmas Ordinance was just a joke.

Joke or not, that was the saddest Christmas in the history of Holly town. The parents
made snowballs and threw them at Mayor Duffer and his councilmen. At the next election,
they voted them out of office for their terrible deed. From that day on, Christmas was always
celebrated in the town, and the people of Holly made sure that it was the happiest day of
the entire year.