Setting

The short story “Red Christmas” by Paula Morris takes place in Te Atatu South, a suburb in West Auckland, New Zealand. The main events take place during a single evening. Uncle Suli is wearing “his usual summer weekend outfit”, and there is a mention of the islanders beginning to go through garbage as soon as church is over, which suggests it is a Sunday. The story takes place in December, very close to Christmas, as Uncle Suli asks the children to get him a Christmas present.

The houses in the story are described in s...