THE MAKING OF A CHRISTMAS STORY IN COLLABORATION WITH CHATGPT

 

[This Christmas story I composed in an hour, thanks to ChatGPT. I visualized five scenes and framed an instruction depicting each scene. ChatGPT responded with the corresponding dialogue.]

PROLOGUE. Instruction: Write a brief introduction about the meaning of Christmas, family, forgiveness, and love.

 

ChatGPT Response:

Christmas is a time for family, forgiveness, and love. It is a time to come together and celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. It is a time to forgive those who have wronged us and to show love to those around us. Christmas is a time of joy, hope, and renewal.

 

SCENE 1. Instruction: Write an intense dialogue between Joe and pregnant Mae who eloped and argue about whether or not they go home to Mae’s parents. Joe is scared of Mae’s angry father while Mae insists on going home on Christmas Eve as the right time to ask her parents for forgiveness and blessing on their first child.

 

ChatGPT Dialogue:

JOE: Mae, I don’t think it’s a good idea to go back to your parents’ house. Your dad is going to be furious when he sees us.

MAE: Joe, we have to face the music sooner or later. And what better time to do it than on Christmas Eve? We can ask for their forgiveness and blessing for our child.

JOE: I know you’re hoping for a happy ending, but I just don’t think it’s going to happen. Your dad had never liked me, and now we’ve eloped and are having a baby. He’s going to lose his mind.

MAE: Joe, please. This is the child we’re talking about. We can’t just hide from my parents forever. And besides, it’s Christmas. Surely they’ll be in a forgiving mood.

JOE: I don’t know, Mae. I don’t want to put you or our baby in danger. Your dad has a temper, and I’m not sure he’ll be able to control himself when he sees us.

MAE: Joe, I understand your concern. But I believe in the power of family and forgiveness. We have to at least try to make things right with my parents. It’s the right thing to do.

JOE: Fine, Mae. If this is what you want, then we’ll go. But I’m not making any promises about how it will turn out.

MAE: Thank you, Joe. I know it won’t be easy, but I have faith that everything will work out in the end. Let’s go home and face my parents together.

SCENE 2. Instruction: Write a serious dialogue between Mae’s parents, Dad and Mom, talking with each other, worrying about pregnant Mae’s situation. Dad is still angry about what Mae did, eloping with her fiancée Joe, while Mom calms down Dad telling him it’s Christmas.

 

ChatGPT Dialogue:

DAD: I can’t believe our daughter has gotten herself into this mess. How could she be so irresponsible?

MOM: I know you’re upset, dear, but let’s not jump to conclusions. We don’t know the full story yet.

DAD: What’s there to know? Mae has gotten herself pregnant and eloped with that no-good Joe. And on top of that, they didn’t even have the decency to tell us.

MOM: I know you’re angry, but it’s Christmas time. Let’s try to be understanding and forgiving. Mae is our daughter, and she’s going through a difficult time.

DAD: I understand that, but she made her choices. She chose to run off and get married without our blessing, and now she’s going to have to face the consequence.

MOM: I understand your anger, dear, but let’s not be too hard on Mae. She’s still our daughter, and we love her. And think about the grandchild we’re going to have. It’s a blessing, not a punishment.

DAD: I suppose you’re right. It’s just hard for me to understand how she could do something like this without thinking about the consequences.

MOM: Let’s not dwell on the past. Let’s focus on the future and our growing family. We’ll get through this together, as a family. And maybe, just maybe, we can find it in our hearts to forgive Mae and Joe. It’s a season of forgiveness, after all.

 

SCENE 3. Instruction: Write a dramatic dialogue of the tense encounter between Dad with Mom and Mae with Joe. Dad is still angry while Mae is sorry and begging for forgiveness for the wrong they did, Mom is pleading with Dad to forgive the couple and bless their grandchild in her womb because it’s Christmas Eve, while Joe remains silent the whole time. But, Dad is inconsolable and drives Mae and Joe out of the house. Mom cries while telling Dad he’s mean.

 

ChatGPT Dialogue:

DAD: Mae, I can’t believe you would do something like this to us. Running off and getting married without our blessing? And now you’re pregnant? What were you thinking?

MAE: Dad, I’m so sorry. I never meant to hurt you. I just fell in love with Joe, and we couldn’t wait any longer to be together.

MOM: Please, dear, let’s not be too hard on them. It’s Christmas Eve, after all. Let’s forgive them and bless their child.

DAD: I can’t believe you’re taking their side, Mom. They’ve disrespected us and betrayed our trust. I won’t forgive them, and I won’t bless their child.

MAE: Please, Dad, I’m begging you. I know I made a mistake, but I love Joe and our baby. Please, let us make things right.

DAD: I won’t have you in my house any longer. You’ve made your choices, and now you’ll have to live with them. Get out of my sight, and don’t come back until you’ve learned to respect your parents and the sanctity of marriage.

MAE (tearfully): Dad, please. I’m sorry.

MOM (crying): How can you be so mean, dear? They’re our children, and they’re going through a difficult time. Have a heart.

DAD: I’ve had enough. Mae, Joe, get out of my house. And don’t come back until you’re ready to apologize and make things right.

MAE (sobbing): I’m sorry, Mom. I’m sorry, Dad.

JOE: Let’s go, Mae. There’s no point in trying to reason with him.

SCENE 4. Instruction: Write an angry monologue of Mom berating Dad for what he did, challenging his religiosity, for not forgiving her remorseful daughter. After Mom’s monologue, Dad realizes his meanness, says sorry to Mom, and tells her they’ll be after Mae and Joe.

 

ChatGPT Dialogue:

MOM: How could you do that? How could you turn your daughter and son-in-law away on Christmas Eve? They’re sorry. Can’t you see that? Mae was crying, begging for your forgiveness. And what about the baby? Our grandchild? Don’t you care about them at all? And what about forgiveness? You call yourself a religious man, but where is your forgiveness? Where is your compassion? Our grandchild is innocent in all of this. How can you be so heartless? I think you need to take a long, hard look at yourself and your priorities.

DAD: You’re right, Mom. I’ve been mean and heartless. I’m sorry. Let’s go after them and bring them back home.

MOM: That’s all I’m asking for, dear. Let’s go and be family again.

 

SCENE 5. Instruction: Write a poignant narrative of a scene depicting how Dad and Mom find Joe and Mae who just gave birth to a baby boy in an abandoned homeless tent, so small that they kneel to get close and touch their grandchild while Joe and Mae smiling and looking at the amazing scene unfolding before their eyes. Nearby children are singing “Silent Night.”

 

ChatGPT Narrative:

As Dad and Mom walked down the street, they could feel their hearts with guilt and regret. They had turned their daughter away on Christmas Eve, and now they didn’t know where she was or how she was doing.

But as they rounded the corner, they saw a small tent on the sidewalk, with a flickering candle inside. They approached the tent cautiously, not wanting to intrude, but they could hear the soft sounds of crying coming from within.

They knelt beside the tent and peered inside, and what they saw made their hearts swell with love and joy. There was Mae, holding their precious grandchild in her arms. The baby was small and fragile, but they could see the love and happiness in Mae’s eyes.

Joe was by her side, smiling with tears in his eyes. He nodded at Dad and Mom, permitting them to come closer.

Slowly and gently, Dad and Mom reached out and touched the baby’s tiny hand. They felt a surge of love and pride, and they knew that they had been wrong to turn Mae and Joe away.

They apologized to Mae and Joe, and they asked for their forgiveness. Mae and Joe smiled and forgave them, and they all embraced in a tearful hug.

As they knelt there, huddled together in the small tent, they could hear the sweet sound of children singing a Christmas carol.

“Silent night, holy night!

All is calm, all is bright.

Round yon Virgin, Mother and Child.

Holy infant so tender and mild,

Sleep in heavenly peace,

Sleep in heavenly peace.”

Head still photo courtesy of freepikdotcom