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Caseen Gaines
Caseen Gaines writes nonfiction that explores popular culture. He is the author of We Don't Need Roads, a book about the making of a classic film. His writing offers a close look at cultural touchstones.
Christmas Story
In the winter of 1940, young Ralphie Parker becomes convinced that his family's Christmas is incomplete without a leg lamp — a gleaming brass lamp with a painted leg, which he believes will bring good luck. His quest to acquire it, coupled with his father's desperate search for a real Christmas tree, sets off a series of escalating mishaps and comedic set-pieces. Told through the eyes of an adult Ralphie looking back, the story blends slapstick humor with genuine warmth as the Parker family navigates the trials of a botched tree delivery, a frantic trip to the department store, and the bittersweet reality of loss and hope. A timeless holiday classic of American small-town life.