Summary: The first Christmas with Inger brings some unexpected challenges to five-year-old Adam helping him learn the most important part of the Christmas season.
\nRating:\u00a0 G\u00a0 Words 1,620
\nWritten for the 2022 Bonanza Brand Advent Calendar<\/p>\n
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Bonanza<\/span><\/strong> True Meaning of Christmas<\/strong><\/p>\n Pa had sent me to bed hours ago, but I couldn\u2019t get my body to sleep tonight. It was only a few weeks away from Christmas and with Inger joining the family this year, this was going to be the first one that actually felt \u2018normal\u2019.<\/p>\n I slowly crept out of my room and down the hall. Mama (it still felt weird to say that) was in the kitchen making yet another batch of cookies. It seemed like she has made a new batch every night since Thanksgiving. I slowed my steps and peered into the room Pa and Mama shared. Pa was sitting at the little desk near the corner of the room with his back to me. I saw him hold up a little burgundy box whose contents glittered in the dull light of the lamp. He gently fingered the jeweled pendant on the end of the silver chain before closing the box and tying it with a matching burgundy bow.<\/p>\n I moved just in time to avoid Pa seeing me standing at the doorway. As I settled back into my bed, I couldn\u2019t help but think of the wonderful present Pa got for Mama. I hadn\u2019t even gotten her anything yet. I didn\u2019t have much more than a few cents to my name which wouldn\u2019t buy much from the general store. Maybe I could ask Pa for a few dollars so I could buy her something just as nice? Nah\u2026 that won\u2019t work as it wouldn\u2019t actually be a present from me then. Despite the non-stop thoughts swirling in my brain, I gave into the sleep which tugged at my eyes. I\u2019ll worry about this again tomorrow.<\/p>\n *****<\/p>\n The next day, thoughts and ideas continued to plague my mind. Every minute that ticked by was one minute closer to Christmas. I needed to come up with a gift quickly before time ran out. I tried to remain focused on the chores Pa gave me, but once or twice I saw him giving me one of his disapproving looks.<\/p>\n It wasn\u2019t until bedtime, and he was tucking me in, that he mentioned anything to me, though.<\/p>\n \u201cYou seemed a bit distracted today, son. Do you want to share what\u2019s going on in that little head of yours?\u201d<\/p>\n I struggled with what to say and how much to say. I wanted to figure it out myself, but then again, I was at a loss for how to solve this problem.<\/p>\n \u201cWell\u2026don\u2019t get mad. I saw the gift you got Mama and I haven\u2019t gotten her anything yet. I want to get her something just as special.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAdam, you know you aren\u2019t supposed to spy on people, but on account that it\u2019s the holiday season, I\u2019ll overlook it this one time. Now, I can understand your problem. Why don\u2019t you draw her a picture or decorate a cookie just for her?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNuh-uh. Those aren\u2019t special enough.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHmm\u2026 You do know you don\u2019t have to give your Mama something at all. She loves you no matter what.\u201d That wasn\u2019t the response I expected or needed to calm my mind. Pa must have seen the frown and disappointment grow on my face because he swiftly continued. \u201cBut, if you must get her something, think about what she likes. Sometimes the best gifts are those that come from the heart and aren\u2019t expensive at all. In all honesty, she\u2019ll love anything you give her.\u201d<\/p>\n He kissed me goodnight and left me alone with my thoughts once again. I knew he was right; Mama would love anything I\u2019d get her\u2026 or not get her for that matter. I couldn\u2019t not get her anything, though. I\u2019ll count the few coins I had saved up tomorrow and ask Pa to take me to the store to see what I could buy that I know Mama would love.<\/p>\n *****<\/p>\n Main Street was filled with the hustle and bustle of people going about their Christmas preparations. Pa guided me into the general store and into a much quieter and more peaceful atmosphere. He leaned down and told me to take my time browsing, but to call out to him if I needed something. After all, I was a big boy of five now and didn\u2019t need him to hold my hand when shopping for presents anymore!<\/p>\n I made my way over to the perfumes first, but I couldn\u2019t remember a time when Mama ever wore some before. Even though the bottles all sparkled in the light from the window, I quickly concluded this wouldn\u2019t be a good gift if she wouldn\u2019t ever wear it.<\/p>\n My next stop was the jewelry. I didn\u2019t want to get the same thing as Pa, but there were a couple hair pieces that caught my eye. I sighed as I pulled out the 50 cents that I had brought with me. It wouldn\u2019t be nearly enough to buy even the simplest one.<\/p>\n There were fancy hats and scarves to wear for a night out. I didn\u2019t know enough about those types of items to even consider them. Plus, where would she even wear it in this tiny town?<\/p>\n I was just about to admit defeat when I came across the book section. Mama liked to read, but not nearly as much as I liked to hear stories. Buying a book would just be a present for me, not her. However, near the bottom of one of the shelves was a book I thought she might like. It wasn\u2019t exactly a book she\u2019d probably pick up on her own, but perhaps she\u2019d enjoy it if I got it for her. It was a silly idea, but at 40 cents it fit within my budget and I didn\u2019t have any other ideas.<\/p>\n I grabbed the book before I could talk myself out of it and took it to the counter. I wanted it to be a surprise for Pa just as much as it\u2019d be a surprise for Mama. I paid for the item and took my change before finding Pa near the front of the store. He tried to look inside the bag, but I told him he\u2019d have to wait until Mama opened it. He chuckled a little at my statement but agreed to be patient.<\/p>\n *****<\/p>\n Christmas morning finally arrived. It was the one day of the year that Pa didn\u2019t have to wake me up. I scurried down the hall and into the main room where our modest Christmas tree stood. It was nothing extravagant; there weren\u2019t even any ornaments on it. Just a string of popcorn and cranberries that we all helped make the other day topped with a plain gold star. Underneath the tree lay the couple of presents I recognized from me and Pa for Mama in addition to a few others that I hadn\u2019t seen yet.<\/p>\n It wasn\u2019t long before Pa and Mama were up as well. After we had a quick breakfast (Pa insisted on breakfast first and no amount of begging would change his mind), we began digging into our presents. We had agreed to let Mama begin and since I was the youngest, she got to open mine first.<\/p>\n I handed her my badly wrapped brown paper package and then sat down next to Pa. As she began to tenderly open the corners, it felt like my heart was going to jump out of my chest.<\/p>\n She pulled the book out of the wrapping and turned it over. On the cover in big letters read \u201cBook of Paper Dolls\u201d. She looked up to Pa, then me, then back to the book. I had expected there to be joy and excitement, not this mix of shock and confusion. She hated my present!<\/p>\n The tears began to cling to my eyes and I couldn\u2019t help but let a few fall silently down my face. It wasn\u2019t until I let out a sob that Mama came rushing over to my side, wrapping an arm around me.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat is wrong my child? There shouldn\u2019t be any tears on Christmas!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou hate my present. I know you\u2019re much too old to play with paper dolls, but I thought you\u2019d like the book since you\u2019re always talking about owning fancy clothes and the latest styles. I figured at least if you couldn\u2019t have the actual dress, you could still look at it and pretend. I\u2019m sorry I couldn\u2019t get you a better gift!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh dear, I do love the dolls. I was only surprised that my child, one that isn\u2019t even blood-related at that, would go through the trouble and money to buy me such a meaningful gift. You didn\u2019t have to spend so much on me. I would have been happy with just some penny candy or even just your company while I cook. I couldn\u2019t have asked for a better son. Family and the love we share mean more to me than any present ever could. In the end, that\u2019s what Christmas is all about.\u201d<\/p>\n My tears gradually began to dry as she pulled me in for a tight hug. My first \u2018real\u2019 Christmas was definitely one I would remember for a long time, not only due to the strong emotions but for the important lesson I learned that year.<\/p>\n For years later, and generations later, the Cartwrights always hung at least one paper ornament or doll on the tree in the Great Room in remembrance of Inger, the true meaning of Christmas, and that emotional holiday way back in 1835.<\/p>\n -The End-<\/p>\n Chosen Character: Adam<\/p>\n Item: doll, bonus points for paper doll<\/p>\n Secondary Character: None<\/p>\n \n
\n~*~*~ Advent Calendar ~*~*~<\/span><\/strong>
\n* Day 20 *<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n