The Holiday Card Photo

Every December, Rina's family makes a holiday card. It is a tradition. Everyone stands in front of the tree. They take a photo. Then they send it to all their friends.

This year, Rina puts the camera on a small table. Her daughter Zara holds the dog. Her husband stands in the middle. Grandma sits on a chair at the front. She wears her best red dress.

"Wait," says Grandma. "Is my hair okay?" Rina fixes her hair. Zara fixes her bow. Her husband fixes his tie. At last everyone is ready.

"Okay," says Rina. "I press the button. Then I run. We have ten seconds."

"Ten seconds is too fast," says Grandma.

"It is enough," says Rina. She presses the button. A small light blinks. She runs across the room and stands next to Zara. Everyone smiles.

Click.

Rina runs back to the camera. She looks at the photo. Her husband has his eyes closed. "You blinked," she says.

"I did not blink," he says. "I think about dinner."

"Try again," says Rina.

She runs back. The light blinks. Everyone smiles. Then the dog, Mango, jumps out of Zara's arms. He runs under the tree.

Click.

The photo shows four people and a dog's tail. Zara laughs. "Mango wants a solo photo!"

"Hold him tight," says Rina.

Zara holds the dog with both arms. Mango sits still. The light blinks. Rina runs across the room. She jumps next to Grandma.

Then Grandma sneezes. It is a very big sneeze. Her hat falls on the floor.

Click.

The photo shows Grandma's open mouth and her flying hat. Zara cannot stop laughing now. Her father laughs too. Even Rina smiles, but she shakes her head.

"This card is hard," she says. "Let's try once more. This time, nobody moves."

They all stand very straight. Rina presses the button and runs. She is halfway across the room. Then she steps on Mango's toy. It makes a loud squeak. The dog barks. Zara jumps. Rina falls on the sofa, right on her husband.

Click.

For a moment, nobody talks. Then everyone laughs so hard that nobody can stand up. Grandma holds her stomach. Zara cries from laughing. Her father cannot breathe.

They stay like this for a long time. At last, Rina wipes her eyes. She walks to the camera.

She looks at the photo. Rina lies on the sofa. Her feet are in the air. Her husband looks like a surprised fish. Zara laughs with her mouth wide open. Grandma has both hands up. Mango jumps in the middle of everyone. He holds the squeaky toy in his mouth.

"This is terrible," Rina says.

"This is perfect," says Grandma. "It looks like our family."

Rina looks at the photo again. She starts to smile.

"Okay," she says. "This one goes on the card."

Zara cheers. Her father picks up the dog. Rina writes the words for the card by hand. They are short. "Happy holidays from the loud house."

Grandma puts her hat back on. She looks at the camera.

"Next year," she says, "I want the sneeze."