"Advent and the Family" <em>Visitor</em>
Though this story by "Bob" Cormier is written in the third person, about a girl and her father, it reads as autobiographical. He recounts the daughter's last Christmas party and her father coming to grips with her growing up.
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=39&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Bob+Cormier">Bob Cormier</a>
<em>Visitor</em>
Robert E. Cormier Collection at Fitchburg State University's Amelia V. Gallucci-Cirio Library
10 December 1978
AnnaMary L. Consalvo
Katharine Covino
Elise Takehana
<a href="https://robertcormiertwistedintimacy.omeka.net/items/show/80" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">"The Last Party" John Fitch IV Column</a><br /><a href="https://robertcormiertwistedintimacy.omeka.net/items/show/71" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><span>"The Santa Problem" John Fitch IV Column</span></a>
JPG, 8.5x11 cardstock paper
English
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=51&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Xerox+of+newspaper+article">Xerox of newspaper article</a>
"As The Hour Nears" John Fitch IV Column
In this column, Cormier discusses the magic of Santa and the innocence of childhood. His daughter, seven going on eight, isn't sure if she believes in Santa any longer. But she writes to him just in case, and she tries her best to stay up late to see him come down the chimney with the gifts. Cormier dodges answering her questions on his existence but knows that the time is coming when she will know the answers herself.
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=39&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Robert+Cormier%0D%0A">Robert Cormier
</a>
<em>Fitchburg Sentinel</em>
Robert E. Cormier Collection at Fitchburg State University's Amelia V. Gallucci-Cirio Library
24 December 1974
AnnaMary L. Consalvo
Katharine Covino
Elise Takehana
JPG, 8.5x14
English
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=51&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Newspaper+column">Newspaper column</a>
"The Last Party" John Fitch IV Column
In this John Fitch IV column, Cormier explores the growth trajectory of his daughter from childhood to adolescence, this time through the lens of her last Christmas party and her evolving views about Santa Claus. Ironically, the writer seems to be more caught up in the "magic and mystery" of the holiday than his daughter.
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=39&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Robert+Cormier%0D%0A">Robert Cormier
</a>
<em>Fitchburg Sentinel</em>
Robert E. Cormier Collection at Fitchburg State University's Amelia V. Gallucci-Cirio Library
23 December 1977
AnnaMary L. Consalvo
Katharine Covino
Elise Takehana
<a href="https://robertcormiertwistedintimacy.omeka.net/items/show/113" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><span>"Advent and the Family" Visitor</span></a><br /><a href="https://robertcormiertwistedintimacy.omeka.net/items/show/71" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><span>"The Santa Problem" John Fitch IV Column</span></a>
JPG, 8.5x14
English
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=51&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Newspaper+column">Newspaper column</a>
"The Santa Problem" John Fitch IV Column
As with many of his Christmas columns, Cormier addresses the idea of Santa, Christmas magic, and the innocence of childhood. He admits never telling a child that Santa is not real but cannot defend his existence, just as faith or a joke cannot be explained without polluting its existence. Believing in Santa Claus keeps the child alive, so he laments the time that his children no longer believe.
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=39&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Robert+Cormier%0D%0A">Robert Cormier
</a>
<em>Fitchburg Sentinel</em>
Robert E. Cormier Collection at Fitchburg State University's Amelia V. Gallucci-Cirio Library
24 December 1976
AnnaMary L. Consalvo
Katharine Covino
Elise Takehana
<a href="https://robertcormiertwistedintimacy.omeka.net/items/show/113" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><span>"Advent and the Family" Visitor</span></a><br /><a href="https://robertcormiertwistedintimacy.omeka.net/items/show/80" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">"The Last Party" John Fitch IV Column</a>
JPG, 8.5x14
English
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=51&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Newspaper+column">Newspaper column</a>