"Sigh. Why is my internet connection so slow?" thought Leah as she finally got to her home page and typed in "www.whyville.net".

She signed in and gasped! Everything was covered in snow! What had happened?

She y-mailed some of her friends and asked them all about what they thought. Most of them replied with about the same answer: "Whyville's just getting into the Christmas Spirit. Doesn't it look beautiful?"

Christmas spirit? Not holiday spirit? Just Christmas spirit?

"I thought Whyville was a non-religion-based organization! This is disrespectful to all other religions! It's the night before the first night of Hanukkah, and if none of the other Jewish people of Whyville are going to do anything about this anti-Semitism, then I will. I'm offended by this and I want people to stand up for their religion! Everywhere I go I see Santas, Christmas trees, lights, Christmas decorations, and bells. This is not going to happen on Whyville, though!" Leah thought ferociously to herself.

First, she went to write a petition about it. On the way to City Hall, she saw a new place in Whyville Square... "X-Mas Tree Lane! No way, this is going too far!" She punched in her petiton, barely able to control her frustration.

Next, she went to her mailbox and wrote angrily to City Hall, and to ALL her friends. She also put out an airplane advertisment saying how she felt and if anybody felt the same way, they should Y-mail her, City Hall, and all their friends. She needed people behind her!

Lastly, she went to the Face Factory and spent the last of her clams drawing a Hanukkah Menorah, a Star of David, and a Dreidel. She put out four of everything. This had all taken about an hour and her mom wanted the phone, so she quickly got off-line.

The next day she logged back on to Whyville, glancing outside at the uncovered with snow, warm, sunny, California day.

This time a different shock hit her. Everyone everywhere was wearing her stuff! Total strangers came up to her and said stuff like "Way to go! My mom is Jewish," or, "You're really cool. I like people who stand up for what they believe in, even if it's not what I believe in!"

Leah could hardly stand it she was so happy! It had worked! The Whyville citizens had become conscious of other people's feelings and beliefs!

Leah spent almost all day on Whyville, basking in the glory of having done something good for her community.

THE END