Soon Daddy and Elizabeth went downstairs. My brothers and sisters and I sat at the top of the steps and waited to be called. (Nannie was already downstairs. She was sleeping in the den so that she wouldn’t have to climb steps.)
“I hear the fire going,” said David Michael excitedly.
“I smell coffee,” I said.
(When the fire was lit and the coffee was made, Daddy would let us come downstairs and open presents. But not before then.)
“Okay!” Daddy called.
I have never seen seven people rush down the stairs as fast as we did. We dashed for the living room. There was the tree, glowing with lights. There were our stockings. Now they were stuffed. And under the tree was a huge pile of presents for my big-house family. I knew none of them were for Andrew and me. We had gotten our presents the night before. I also knew that we would find another pile of presents at Mommy’s house later that morning. Those presents would be for Andrew and me. (Well, some of them would be.)
“He made it! Santa Claus made it here!” cried Andrew, looking at our stuffed stockings. (The cookies and milk were gone, too.)
We dumped the things out of our stockings in a mad rush. Everyone sat on the floor except for Nannie. She sat on the couch. Inside our stockings were small toys and presents, candy, and a tangerine and some walnuts. Inside Boo-Boo and Shannon’s stocking were catnip for Boo-Boo, and chew toys for Shannon. The catnip made Boo-Boo wild. He tore around the house. He pounced on pieces of wrapping paper. He even tried to climb the living-room curtains. Shannon just chewed away happily. But then she discovered that there was candy lying around. She tried to steal it.
Emily looked as if she didn’t know what was going on.
When our stockings had been emptied, Elizabeth called us into the dining room. We ate breakfast together. Elizabeth had lighted candles and set them on the table. She had put a sprig of holly by each of our places. We ate a Christmas coffee cake and also grapefruit that a friend of Daddy’s had sent.
After breakfast, Elizabeth said, “Karen, Andrew. It’s time for you to get dressed now. Your mom will be here soon.”
So Andrew and I left the table. We changed into party clothes. While we were changing, Daddy and Elizabeth packed up our presents and the things from our stockings. By the time Mommy and Seth arrived we were ready to go. I did not want to leave my big-house family, but I was looking forward to another Christmas at the little house.
“Good-bye! Thank you! Merry Christmas!” Andrew and I called as we left.
Seth drove us through Stoneybrook. Andrew and I talked and talked about Christmas. I was gigundo excited.
“Did Santa come to the little house?” asked Andrew anxiously.
“Wait and see,” said Mommy.
But what I saw when we reached the little house was Nancy. She was running across our yard. And in her hand she was holding a present. Something about it looked … familiar.
Nancy’s Present
Seth parked our car. He and Mommy and Andrew and I tumbled out. “Hi, Nancy!” I cried. “Merry Christmas!”
Nancy grinned. “I thought you guys would never get home. I’ve been watching for you from our front window.”
“Well, come on inside,” said Seth, as he unlocked the door.
Once again, I walked into a Christmas house. There was our tree with lights and decorations. A pile of presents was under it. And there were the stuffed stocking at the fireplace.
“Santa came here, too!” was the first thing Andrew said.
We hung up our coats and put away our boots. Then Mommy said, “Okay, let’s look in our stockings.”
“Yea!” I cried. I ran to the mantelpiece. I counted the stockings. One, two, three, four, five, six. “Six!” I exclaimed. “Wait a sec. One for me, one for Andrew, one for Mommy, one for Seth, one for Rocky and Midgie … ”
“And one for Nancy,” Mommy finished.
Nancy loved her stocking. “I never had a stocking before,” she said.
“And I never had a dreidel until I went to your house for Hanukkah. That’s what’s fun about trading holidays.”
“Yeah,” agreed Nancy. “We better do this every year.”
Suddenly Andrew cried, “Oh, no! Not again!”
I looked up. Rocky was lying on his back with his feet in the air. He was chewing up a catnip mouse. And Midgie was tunneling under bits of wrapping paper.
Then the doorbell rang. There were Grandma and Grandpa Packett. (They are Mommy’s parents. They come for Christmas and Thanksgiving every year.)
“Mommy, can we open our presents now?” asked Andrew as soon as Grandma and Grandpa had taken off their coats.
“Dinner first,” said Mommy.
Once again, we sat down to a huge Christmas dinner. (Once again I ate everything except the turkey.)
Then it was time for presents. Andrew and I like to rip into them all at once. But Grandma and Grandpa Packett always say, “Just one present at a time. It’s more civilized.” (Whatever that means.)
So we took turns opening presents. Mommy and Seth had even bought some gifts for Nancy.
Some of the presents under the tree said “From Santa” on the tags. Andrew got his Dyno-cars. He and I each got the art kit we wanted. And I got more clothes and books and a game called Sorry!
“Karen?” said Nancy.
“Yeah?” I was trying on a pair of knee socks with snowflakes on them.
“This is for you.” Nancy held out the present she had brought over. The one that looked familiar.
I opened it up. And inside was … The Bobbsey Twins in the Mystery Cave! I couldn’t believe it.
“Nancy, I — Where did —?”
“I had already bought it for you when you gave me my book,” said Nancy. “I found it at an old bookstore. There was only one copy of number fifty-three left.”
So that’s why Nancy had looked so surprised when I had given her the book. She’d gotten a copy for me.
Nancy and I smiled at each other. “You know what?” I said. “This must be because we’re best friends. Only best friends would give each other the same present.”
“Right,” agreed Nancy. “And you know what else? This has been the best Hanukkah and the best Christmas ever.”
“Definitely,” I agreed.
Next Year
Late on Christmas afternoon, Grandma and Grandpa Packett went home. Then Nancy went home, too. Mommy and Seth cleaned up the kitchen and the dining room. Andrew and I sat in the living room with our gifts. Andrew crashed his Dyno-cars around. Then he looked inside his art kit. But I opened up my copy of The Bobbsey Twins #53. I could not wait to read about Bert and Nan and Freddie and Flossie in a mystery cave.
I read until Mommy said it was time for supper. I read during supper. Then I read after supper while Mommy and Seth put Andrew to bed. By then, I was almost finished with the book. I could have finished it, but I didn’t. I wanted to have something to look forward to on the day after Christmas.
Plus, there was something I wanted to do right now, while I was alone in the living room. I put a marker in the book. Then I turned off all the lamps. Only the fire glowed in the fireplace. And the tree lights twinkled in front of the window.
“Good-bye, Christmas,” I said softly.
I could not believe that the holidays were almost over. Well, New Year’s Eve was just a week away. But New Year’s Eve is not my favorite holiday. Christmas is. And it was almost over.
I started at the tree. I thought about how I had not made a Christmas list because I had had only one wish this year. And suddenly I got one of my ideas. I ran to my room.
In my room I found a piece of paper and a crayon. I began to make a list.
My list was just finished when Mommy came in. “Karen,” she said, “it’s bedtime.” She peered at my paper. “What are you doing?”
“I’m making a Christmas list,” I told her. “I never gave you one.”
“But, honey,” Mommy said. (She sounded confused.) “Christmas
is over.”
“I know,” I replied. “This is what I want next year.”
Mommy took the list. She read it.
Here is what I had written down:
Mommy finished reading the list. She smiled at me.
“I’m just getting a head start,” I told her.
“Okay. I’ll save the list for next year,” said Mommy. “Now it’s time for you to get into your nightgown.”
So I did. I climbed into bed with Goosie and Tickly.
“Merry Christmas, sweetie,” said Mommy.
Seth poked his head into my room. “Merry Christmas, Karen!”
“Good night and Merry Christmas,” I replied.
Holiday Activities for You to Try
These are some of Karen’s favorites — so you can be sure they’re gigundo fun!
Countdown to Christmas Calendar!
When the calendar turns to December, grown-ups like to say that Christmas is just around the corner. But to Karen, December 25 seems a long way off, so sometimes she makes this Countdown to Christmas Advent calendar. It makes the time go faster.
You will need:
1 large sheet red construction paper
1 large sheet green construction paper
glue
scissors
crayons
Here’s what you do:
1. Cut a large Christmas tree out of the green paper.
2. Cut 24 little doors into the tree. Make sure the doors open and close.
3. Glue your tree to the red paper.
4. Decorate the inside of each door. Use your crayons to draw pictures of tree ornaments, presents, Santa, or anything that reminds you of Christmas.
5. Close all the doors. Number all the doors as you see in the picture.
6. Each day, beginning at the top of the tree, open the door that shows what day of the month it is. When you reach the last door … hooray! It’s Christmas Eve!
Clay Menorah
Each night of Hanukkah, Nancy and her family light the menorah. You can make your very own menorah. Here’s how.
You will need:
1 cup flour
½ cup salt
⅓ cup water
food coloring
1 Hanukkah candle
Here’s what you do:
1. Mix the flour and salt together in a bowl.
2. Pour the water in, a little bit at a time, kneading the clay until it is smooth.
3. To color the clay, work a few drops of food coloring into it as you knead.
4. Form your clay into any shape you like. (A menorah doesn’t have to look like a nine-branched candleholder.) Just make sure your menorah is at least ½-inch thick in any place where you want to put the candles.
5. Use the bottom of your candle to make nine holes in the clay. The holes should be about ½-inch deep, in order to hold the candle. Be careful not to poke the candle all the way through the clay.
6. Let your menorah dry overnight. Happy candlelight!
An A-door-able Holiday Wreath!
You will need:
1 paper plate
glue
green tissue paper
red crepe paper
Here’s what you do:
1. Cut out the center of the paper plate so only the outer circle is left.
2. Cut the tissue paper into many 2-by-2-inch squares.
3. Roll one of the squares into a cone-shaped tissue-paper bud.
4. Dab some glue onto the bottom end of the bud.
5. Glue your tissue-paper bud to the wreath.
6. Keep adding more buds to the wreath until the whole circle is covered with tissue-paper buds.
7. Make a bow from the red crepe paper.
8. Glue the bow to the bottom of your wreath.
The Very First Christmas Tree
Nancy trimmed her first Christmas tree at Karen’s house. But she wanted to know about the real first Christmas tree. There are lots of stories about why people bring trees into their houses and decorate them. Karen told Nancy her favorite story. Here’s what she said:
“The first Christmas tree was a poor little fir tree in the stable where Jesus was born. It watched all the shepherds and the Three Wise Men bring gifts to Jesus. The tree felt sad that it didn’t have a gift. God saw how bad the tree felt, so He told the stars in the sky to go to the tree. When they did, they rested on the tree’s branches and made the tree beautiful. The tree felt happy. It looked pretty for Jesus. Ever since, people have decorated trees. First they decorated them with candles. Now they decorate them with lights and ornaments.”
There are other stories about Christmas trees. Some people say that the decorations symbolize the gifts the Wise Men brought to Jesus. Others like the story about a man named Martin Luther, who found a fir tree in the woods and decided to bring it home to his children. It looked beautiful when starlight shone on it through a window.
But Karen’s favorite story is the one she told Nancy!
Tree Trimmers!
These easy-to-make ornaments are real treats for your tree!
Tiny Boxes
You will need:
small gift boxes (like the kind jewelry comes in)
wrapping paper
tape or glue
brightly colored yarn
small paper clips
Here’s what you do:
1. Wrap each box in wrapping paper.
2. Use tape or glue to hold the paper together.
3. Tie each of the boxes with a bow of brightly colored yarn.
4. Use a paper clip as a hook.
5. Hang your gift boxes from the tree.
Fun Felt Ornaments
You will need:
1 sheet of thin cardboard (the kind your dad’s shirts are packed in)
2 pieces of felt
Magic Markers
glue
scissors
cotton balls
glitter
yarn
Here’s what you do:
1. Decide what shape you want your ornament to be. Draw that shape on the cardboard.
2. Cut out the shape.
3. Place the cardboard shape on one piece of felt. Trace around the shape with the Magic Marker. Cut out the shape. Repeat the same step on the second piece of felt.
4. Glue one piece of cut felt to the front of the cardboard shape. Glue the second piece of cut felt to the back of the cardboard shape.
5. Decorate your ornament any way you like. If you decide to decorate your ornament with glitter, first spread a thin layer of glue where you want the glitter to go. Then sprinkle glitter on the ornament. The glitter will stick only where there is glue.
6. Glue a loop of yarn to the top of the back of your ornament. Use the loop to hang your felt ornament on your tree for everyone to see.
Fine Pinecone Ornament
You will need:
1 medium-sized pinecone
glue
glitter
yarn
Here’s what you do:
1. Dab glue all over your pinecone.
2. Shake glitter onto the wet glue.
3. Let the glitter and glue dry.
4. Tie the yarn around the wide end of your pinecone. Make sure to tie the knot tightly.
5. Tie the pinecone to your tree.
Karen’s Christmas Chain
You will need:
12 sheets of different-colored construction paper
scissors
glue
Here’s what you do:
1. Cut the paper into strips. Each strip should be about one inch wide and six inches long.
2. Roll the first strip into a circle.
3. Glue the ends together.
4. Put one end of the next strip through the circle.
5. Glue the ends of the second strip together to form a circle.
6. Keep going until you have a long chain to swirl around your tree.
Luscious Latkes
Mrs. Dawes made Hanukkah latkes for Na
ncy and Karen. Karen thought they were yummy! Here’s a recipe for potato latkes. You can help with the mixing. But when it comes to the frying, let a grown-up do the work.
You will need:
9 medium-sized potatoes
3 small onions, chopped salad oil
3 eggs, slightly beaten
3 tablespoons flour
¼ teaspoon pepper
1½ teaspoons salt
¾ teaspoon baking powder
collander
pancake turner
frying pan
Here’s what you do:
1. Wash the potatoes thoroughly.
2. Grate the potatoes.
3. Let the grated potatoes sit for 10 minutes. Then, using a collander, get rid of any excess water.
4. Fry the chopped onions in just enough salad oil to cover the bottom of the frying pan.
5. Add the fried onions to the drained potatoes. Stir in the eggs.
6. Add the flour, pepper, salt, and baking powder. Mix thoroughly.
7. Drop the batter by tablespoons into a large frying pan with about ¼ inch of hot salad oil. Flatten with a metal pancake turner.
8. When the latkes become brown, turn and brown on the other side.
9. Drain cooked latkes on paper towels.
10. Serve with applesauce or sour cream. Mmm! They’re gigundo good!
What a Card!
These holiday cards have a fun twist to them!
Jigsaw Jolly Holiday Card
You will need:
construction paper
crayons
scissors
1 envelope
Here’s what you do:
1. Draw a holiday picture on construction paper.
2. Write a message on the back of your picture and sign your name.
3. Cut your picture into pieces, like the ones in a jigsaw puzzle.
4. Put all the pieces in the envelope.
5. Write this message on the envelope: Put me together to find a secret holiday message!
6. Give the card to someone who makes you fall to pieces.