Merry Christmas

DOLL HOUSE

 

It's only 5 a.m. when I hear our five year old angel open her bedroom door. She tries to close it quietly but it clicks in my mind as loud as Big Ben might. I jump out of bed and almost bump into her in the hallway. My arms folded meanly on my chest, I block her and order her back to her room. A lecture follows. 'If Daddy or I catch you out of your room before we call you, rest assured you will be sorry. No breakfast, no anything!' Our little honey angel starts her easy tear routine, almost wins, but Ralph and I manage to control her. We aren't quite ready to let her see what god has given us to give her for Christmas.

 

'Yes, Ma am,' she whispers as she slinks upstairs. Ralph and I get dressed in our regular Christmas red outfits, go to the kitchen for cups of coffee and manage to get the last box of tree ornaments to our den. He still hasn't managed to place our twinkling star on top. He's tried several times but something is wrong. Even though no windows are open, it tilts, sways as if it is going to fly away, then lays limp on a  lower bough. Ralph is steadfast, won't let me try it. He's the big boss and he'll do it.

 

Carol whines from the upstairs hall, 'Mommy, can I come down? I'm hungry.' ' Soon. Go watch t.v. The Brandenburg Parade is on.' There is semi-quiet for all of five minutes, when miss big shot Carol yells at the top of her lungs, 'Ready or not, here I come!' She falls on the bottom step but isn't hurt much and heads towards the living room to see the tree (and her presents.) Ralph tackles her, pulls her close to his body and warns her not to try that trick again.

 

The door bell rings and Carol opens it, lets the cold wind in with her friend Flo. Flo doesn't hesitate. 'Is your tree ready yet? What presents did you get?' Poor Carol doesn't know what to say so just tells her friend to go home. She has things to do.

 

'Eureka, Eureka,' Ronald shouts. ''As soon as Flo leaves you can come in. This is OUR special time.' The front door closes, the living room drapes are shut, making the room almost dark. 'Come in, come in, Child. Be ready.' He touches the switch near the door and the room turns into a flood of colors, lights twinkle, silver stars spin around. Gaily wrapped packages are everywhere. Carol squeals with delight, kisses, hugs, her parents and dives into the packages.

 

She doesn't know where to begin. Should she open the small things first or the big ones? The little boxes look easier so she opens the first and find a real, an honest to god real, watch. It is silver colored and has a white face with black hands. Her joy is overwhelming. Next she opens a pale blue fuzzy angora sweater with a matching blue beret, slips them on over her nite gown and declares, 'Don't I look beautiful Mom?'

 

Dad suggests she open the biggest box next. He helps her undo the ribbons, the scotch tape. He needs something to actually open the sealed box and uses a screwdriver. A noise comes out of the box and frightens Carol. 'Is somebody in there? Let her out. She will die.' The box comes apart and her Dad lifts a baby doll from the tissue paper.
Carol does get frightened. The doll is a copy of herself. It even walks and talks a little. It takes a few minutes before she can accept her double and then she falls in love with it. 'Am I as pretty as my doll?' Mommy', she asks. Mom comes back at her with a  'No, you are prettier. You have a heart that beats, eyes that shine, kisses that are warm and wet.' Carol is so happy, happy until there is a loud noise behind her.

 

There laying flat on the floor, broken to pieces is the gold star that her Daddy had tried so hard to put on the tree. Everybody laughs as Carol gives her parents the pretty things she made for them.