“Oh, do not worry about it,” Kristy said airily. “Everything will be all right. You will see.”
I looked at her. “How do you know everything will be all right?” I asked. “We might not earn enough money. Maybe not enough people are here. Maybe the Stones —”
“It will be okay, Karen,” Kristy said. “I am sure.”
I did not know how she could say that. But she was my big sister. She was not wrong very often.
Soon the contest was over. A man from the library board was the judge. He gave the first prize to the man who had made Jack Frost. We all cheered and clapped. The second prize went to a lady who had carved a log out of ice. Third prize was awarded to a small ice dog.
“Maybe next year I will try the ice-sculpting contest,” I said as we headed outside again. “I will practice on ice cubes at home.”
“Good idea,” said Nancy. “Maybe you could make an ice mermaid or an ice unicorn.”
“Or an ice castle,” said Hannie.
“Those are good ideas,” I said. “I will be ready for the contest next year.”
“Speaking of ice,” said Nancy. “We have not been ice-skating yet. Did you bring your skates?”
I nodded. “Daddy has them.”
“Well, what are we waiting for?” asked Nancy.
“I will meet you guys at the pond,” I said. Then I ran to find Daddy. Snowbunnies, Jack Frost, ice-skating … The winter festival was even more fun than I had thought it would be!
Merry Christmas, Mrs. Stone
Skating at night had been gigundoly fun. Now all the contests and games were over, and people gathered around the refreshment booths. Mrs. Stone passed out small white candles. Nancy, Hannie, and I were each allowed to have one. (I had to share mine with Andrew.) When all the candles were lit, they looked very beautiful.
“Deck the halls with boughs of holly,” I sang. “Fa la la la la, la la la la. ’Tis the season to be jolly …” Everyone joined in to sing Christmas carols together. It sounded wonderful to hear us singing in that cold air. In the distance, the sleigh’s jingle bells jingled.
Hannie and Nancy smiled at me, and I smiled back. We sang more carols. It was very special and Christmassy, but I felt sad. I bet that we had not earned enough money for the Stones’ new barn, no matter what Kristy had said.
Next to me, Andrew started singing his favorite Christmas song. “Rudolph, the red-nosed reindeer …”
So we all started singing that.
After we had sung practically all the holiday songs we knew, Daddy stepped up onto a box and clapped his hands for attention.
“Good evening, everyone,” he said. “I hope you have all had a good time at the first annual Stoneybrook Winter Festival.”
People clapped and cheered.
“As you know, we did not hold this festival just for fun,” said Daddy, “although it has been lots of fun. But this festival was our way of trying to help our friends Mr. and Mrs. Stone.”
We clapped again.
“Over the years,” continued Daddy, “the Stones have been good friends and neighbors to all of us, and to our children. We would hate to lose them. I hope we will not have to. Since my daughter Karen thought up the winter-festival plan, I would like her to present this check to Mr. and Mrs. Stone.”
Everyone clapped again. (Except me. It is not polite to clap for yourself.) I walked through the crowd and climbed up on the box next to Daddy. He handed me a check. I tried to smile, although I did not feel like it. All of our hard work was for nothing. The Stones would not have a merry Christmas. They would move away. I would lose Ollie and Elvira and all the other animals.
Mr. and Mrs. Stone came forward. Mrs. Stone had to wipe her eyes several times.
I held out the check. “This is for you. Merry Christmas from all of us,” I said.
“Oh, thank you, Karen,” said Mrs. Stone. “Words are not enough to thank you, and everyone else here, for what you have done. But they are all we can offer just now.”
Mr. Stone put his arm around her, and they hugged. Mrs. Stone sniffled. Then she and Mr. Stone looked at the check. Their eyes widened. They stared at each other, and then at me, and then at Daddy.
“Why, this is …” said Mr. Stone.
“This is exactly what we need to rebuild the barn!” said Mrs. Stone.
My mouth dropped open. I looked at Daddy.
He smiled. “I guess we took in more tonight than we had expected,” he said.
“But how?” I said. “That is almost twice as much as we thought.”
Daddy shrugged.
“Thank you, thank you!” the Stones cried. First they hugged me, then Daddy, then anyone else they could get their hands on. Mrs. Stone was crying, and Mr. Stone was shaking hands left and right.
I jumped off the box and went back to Hannie, Nancy, and Andrew.
“I do not know how that happened,” I said. “Somehow we earned enough money.”
“Maybe Santa Claus donated some money too,” said Andrew.
“Santa!” cried Emily Michelle. She bounced in Nannie’s arms. “Santa!”
“It is a Christmas mystery,” I said. “A wonderful one.”
Karen’s Sleigh Ride
“It is getting late, Karen,” said Elizabeth. “If you are going to take a sleigh ride, you better do it now.”
“Okay!” I said. “Who will go with me?”
“I will,” said Kristy.
“Me too,” said Daddy.
“Me, me!” shouted Andrew.
The four of us climbed into the sleigh. Charlie tucked warm blankets over our laps.
“Everyone ready?” he asked.
“Ready!” I said.
Charlie clucked his tongue at General Sherman, and we set off.
Well, if you have never been on a sleigh ride, you do not know how gigundoly fabulous it can be. It was dark outside, and cold, but we were toasty warm. The sleigh bells jingled, and the little white lights strung through the trees made them look like an enchanted forest.
Best of all, I knew I did not have to worry about the Stones anymore. They were going to stay. Their animals were going to stay. Everything would be all right.
General Sherman knew the sleigh ride path so well by now that Charlie did not have to do very much. The sleigh slid smoothly over the snow. I leaned my head on Daddy’s shoulder, and he put his arm around me on one side, and Andrew on the other.
I thought that this might just be the very best Christmas ever.
“Dashing through the snow,” I sang, “in a one-horse open sleigh, o’er the fields we go …”
“Laughing all the way!” Kristy sang.
“Bells on bobtails ring,” sang Daddy, “making spirits bright …”
“Oh, what fun it is to ride and sing,” sang Andrew.
“A sleighing song tonight! Hey!”
The Perfect End to a Perfect Day
It was way past my bedtime. It was a good thing I did not have school the next day. (I had the whole next week off for our winter vacation.)
Almost everyone had left the winter festival. Only a few people were there, besides my family. We were all helping to clean up and pack things away.
David Michael and I were walking around the farmyard, picking up trash. Kristy was collecting signs and posters. Daddy and Elizabeth were helping to take down the booths. Sam and Charlie were removing decorations. A few people were gathering up their trays and punch bowls and other things they had brought to the festival.
Close by, Nannie was rocking Emily Michelle in her arms.
“Mrs. Taylor, wouldn’t you rather take her inside?” asked Mrs. Stone. (Mrs. Taylor is Nannie.) “We have a nice rocking chair in the living room.”
“Oh, no, thank you,” said Nannie. “As soon as I took her coat off and got her settled down, it would be time to bundle her back up again. But thank you anyway.”
Emily wriggled in Nannie’s arms. “Santa’s sway!” she cried. Her eyes were shut, and she was almost asleep.
“Shh,” Nannie soothed her. Nannie walked around slowly, trying to lull Emily to sleep.
Daddy had pulled up our station wagon and opened the back.
“Karen, could you please put these things in the car for me?” asked Elizabeth. She handed me some bags of paper plates and napkins.
“Sure,” I said. Inside the car, Andrew was stretched across one of the seats, covered with a blanket. He was sound asleep. I wished I could curl up next to him. But I was not a little kid like he was. I needed to help Daddy and Elizabeth and everyone else.
I leaned into the car and pushed the bag of stuff way in the back.
“Well, I am so glad the Stones will be able to rebuild,” I heard someone say.
“Yes, thanks to Watson Brewer,” someone else said.
I stayed very still. Didn’t they mean thanks to Karen Brewer? I was the one who came up with the winter-festival idea.
“What do you mean?” asked the first person.
“Didn’t you know? He donated the rest of the money they needed. The proceeds from tonight were not enough,” said the second person. “So Watson made up the difference with his own money.”
“Oh. How generous of him!”
“Yes …” Their voices faded away as they walked on.
I sat on the bumper of the car for a moment. So that was how we had been able to give the Stones that big check. No wonder Kristy had never been as worried about it as I had been. She had known that Daddy was going to pitch in so that the Stones could rebuild their barn.
Even though I was very tired, I felt gigundoly happy. Those people had been right: Daddy was generous. I was proud of him. I decided I would keep his secret. If anyone asked me, I would say that the extra money must have come from Santa Claus.
“There you are, honey,” said Elizabeth, from behind me. “I think we are about done. Could you please wake Andrew and make sure he is buckled in? I know you are ready to go home and go to bed.” She smoothed my hair off my forehead.
“Yes. I am very tired,” I said. “But I am happy too. It was a great winter festival.”
Elizabeth smiled. “Yes, there was plenty of fun to be had,” she said. “And it was all thanks to you.”
“Not all of it,” I said, thinking of Daddy.
Chill Out, Emily Michelle
“Want wide!” Emily Michelle yelled. “Want sway!” She kicked the sides of her high chair and squirmed to get down. “No lunch!”
“You do not have to eat lunch,” said Nannie firmly. “But you do have to sit in your high chair and keep us company for awhile. When we are done, you may get down.”
Andrew looked at me across the kitchen table. He rolled his eyes. I shrugged, and took another bite of my sandwich. Emily Michelle had been a pain all morning long.
“I cannot believe Christmas is still three whole days away,” Andrew said. “I do not know if I can wait that long.”
“Me neither,” said David Michael. “Time is crawling by so slowly.”
“I am glad I have three more days to get ready,” I said. “I still have a lot to do. I have to wrap my presents, and get Hannie’s and Nancy’s presents ready.”
“Pwesants!” cried Emily Michelle. “Pwesants!” She burst into tears. Nannie tried to soothe her.
“Wasn’t Hanukkah last week?” Kristy asked. She had to raise her voice to be heard over Emily.
“Yes,” I said. “But Nancy said we could exchange presents closer to Christmas, because I was not ready last week.”
“Will you help me wrap my presents, Karen?” asked Andrew. “I am not a very good wrapper.”
“Yes,” I said. “But first I think I will go to my room for a little peace and quiet.” I gave Emily Michelle a Look.
But up in my room, I did not find peace and quiet. What I found was a mess! My dresser drawers had been dumped out on the floor. My closet door was open. All my shoes had been thrown around. Not only that, but some of my very special things had been taken off their shelves: my unicorn statue, an angel from my angel collection, and the friendship bracelet I had made at pony camp.
Only one person in the house would have done this. I stomped out into the hall. I stomped down the stairs. I stomped around until I found the culprit in the family room.
“Emily Michelle!” I shouted.
She was sitting on the floor, playing with a puzzle. She jumped when she heard my voice.
“I cannot believe what you did!” I said. “You wrecked my room! You have been very naughty! Naughty, naughty, naughty!”
Emily stared at me with her big black eyes. Then her face crumpled and her mouth opened.
“Waaaahhhhhh!” she cried. Fat tears rolled down her cheeks.
“Why did you do that?” I said, frowning at her. “You have your own things in your own room.”
“Pwesants!” Emily Michelle sobbed. “Want Santa! Want pwesants!”
Ohhhh. Suddenly I thought I understood. We had been talking about Christmas and Santa Claus all month. And we all knew about Christmas. But Emily Michelle was just a toddler. She did not understand it the way the rest of us did. So all month she had been waiting for presents and for Santa Claus. She did not understand why they had not come yet. Finally she had searched my room, looking for them.
“Come here, Emily,” I said. I sat down on the floor and pulled her onto my lap. She was sobbing and rubbing her eyes with her fists.
“I am sorry I yelled at you,” I said. I patted her hair. “I was angry about my room. But do not worry about it. Now listen. I am going to explain to you about Christmas, and about Santa Claus. We will talk about it until you are sure you understand. Okay?”
“Okay.” Emily Michelle sniffled and snuggled up closer.
“Okay. Now. A long time ago …” I began.
With Love from Santa’s Elf
That night, at dinnertime, Emily Michelle found a small gift on the tray of her high chair. Her eyes opened wide, and she started hopping up and down.
“Pwesant!” she cried, clapping her hands.
Nannie put her in her high chair, and Emily Michelle tore off the wrapping. Nannie took the card and read it for her.
“It says, ‘Three more days until Christmas! With love to Emily Michelle from one of Santa’s elves,’ ” said Nannie.
“What did Santa’s elf give you, Emily?” asked Andrew.
“Ball!” she said, holding it up.
I had taken one of Daddy’s tennis balls (I had asked him first) and written a big E.M. on it. It was a little present, but Emily looked very happy.
“Lucky Emily,” said Nannie. “You have your very own tennis ball.”
Emily beamed.
I smiled to myself as I took a dinner roll from the basket.
* * *
“Look,” I said. “This is where we are now. This is Christmas, two days away.” I pointed on the calendar to show Emily Michelle what I was talking about. “This is today. That is tomorrow. And the very next day is Christmas. Get it?”
Emily nodded solemnly. I did not know if she really did get it, but I was trying.
My little sister patted her hair. “Pwesent,” she said. “Santa’s eff.”
“Yes,” I said. “Santa’s elf brought you a barrette today.” She seemed happy, wearing my barrette with the little wooden tiger on it. I knew I would not miss it.
* * *
“Merry Christmas Eve!” said Hannie. She stomped her boots to shake the snow off.
“Merry Christmas Eve,” I said. “Nancy will be here soon. Come on up to my room.”
I could not believe that the very next day would be Christmas. All morning I had felt tingly and excited. I was sure I would not be able to sleep a wink tonight. But at least I was ready for the big day. I had asked Hannie and Nancy to come over to celebrate the holidays with me. Their gifts were waiting for them.
A few minutes later the doorbell rang, and then we heard Nancy running up the stairs.
“Hi,” she said. “Merry Christmas Eve.”
“Thank you,” I said. “Happy late Hanukkah.”
“Should we open our presents now?” asked Hannie.
“Wait,” I said. “I have this all planned. First, a special snack.”
I pulled out a plate of cookies and three cups of punch that I had hidden under my bed. (We are not really supposed to eat in our bedrooms. But Elizabeth had said it was okay, since it was Christmas Eve.)
Hannie and Nancy each took a cookie and a cup of punch.
I raised my cup in a toast. “I would like to make a toast to my two best friends,” I said. “You helped me with the winter festival. You are always there for me. You laugh at my jokes. You will always be my two best friends. Merry Christmas. And Happy Hanukkah.”
“Merry Christmas,” said Hannie.
“Merry Christmas,” said Nancy.
We all clinked cups and took a sip.
“Now, presents!” said Hannie. “You each get two things.”
“Two? Wow,” said Nancy.
We opened our gifts. Hannie had given us each a brand-new box of sidewalk chalk and a cool pair of shoelaces.
“See?” said Hannie. “The laces glow in the dark. So if you suddenly had to put your shoes on in the middle of the night, you would be able to find them, no problem.”
“These are so cool,” I said. “I will put them on my sneakers right away.”
“I need new sidewalk chalk,” said Nancy. “As soon as the snow melts, we can make new hopscotches on the driveway.”
Hannie smiled at us.
“Here are my presents to you,” said Nancy. She handed us each a very small package.
“Lip gloss!” I said. “Oh my gosh.”
“I have some myself too,” said Nancy. “On one side it is cherry, and on the other side it is plain.”
I put some on right away. “Cherry! Thanks, Nancy. This is a great present.”
My gifts for Hannie and Nancy were hidden in my desk drawer. I took them out.
“This is so we’ll always remember the Three Musketeers,” I said. I handed them each a square, flat package. They opened them.
“Perfect!” said Hannie with a smile. She held it up.