Jake and I were
taking a nap on the couch one afternoon when Mommy woke us.
“Jake, Ruthie’s
Sunday school class is here.”
I opened my eyes.
Mommy smiled at
us. “Wake up, honey. They’re caroling.”
“Huh?” Jake yawned
and rubbed his sleepy face.
“Come on in. Come
on in, but don’t bring in all the cold air.” Daddy walked into the living room
with a bunch of little kids and Ruthie.
They did look
cold, and cute, with coats and hats and mittens.
“So what brings
you all here today?” Daddy asked the group.
Ruthie giggled.
“Daddy, we’re here to carol.”
“Carol?” Daddy
asked. “Oh, well, that’s nice of you. Christmas caroling, huh?” Daddy shook his
head. “Thanks for reminding me. I almost forgot it was Christmas time.”
Jake sat up and
cuddled me on his lap. Mommy sat on the couch beside us.
“Well, go ahead
and start then.” Daddy stood in front of the kids and nodded his head.
I noticed a couple
of other grown-up people then, standing behind the kids. One of the ladies
smiled. “Ready, guys?”
The children sang
some of the Christmas songs I’d heard on the radio. Mommy reached over and held
Jake’s hand. Jake smiled and rubbed my head with his other hand.
“Silent night.”
“Joy to the
world.”
“Hark, the herald
angels sing.”
“We wish you a
merry Christmas.”
Their voices were
loud and squeaky. I shook my head.
They finished
singing and laughed and clapped.
“Well, thank you
very much,” Daddy said, clapping. “You guys stay warm now. It’s cold out
there.”
“Daddy,” Ruthie
giggled and ran to him. “We’re supposed to have cookies and hot chocolate now.”
“Oh, we are?”
Daddy turned around. “Did you know that, Mommy?”
Mommy stood up. “I
did know that, yes.”
Ruthie helped
Mommy bring out some of the cookies and candy they made, and Daddy went in the
kitchen and brought out a tray with little cups of something sweet-smelling to
drink.
Ruthie brought all
the kids by to say hi to Jake. “Jake can’t get up to play with us,” she
explained. “He broke his ankle.”
All the kids
gathered around, patting Jake and touching his cast. “Can we sign your cast?”
one little boy asked.
“Sure.” Jake
grinned at him. “I’d like that. Ruthie, do you have some crayons or markers?”
Ruthie ran for
crayons, then all the kids wrote their names or made a picture. Jake laughed
and talked to them, and I was happy to see him having a fun time.
“Want some hot
chocolate?” Mommy asked Jake, handing him one of the cups.
I leaned down from
his shoulder where I sat and sniffed at the cup. It smelled nice. I leaned a
little closer. It was warm.
“Hey, you sneak.”
Jake laughed, nudging my face away from the cup. “You can’t have my hot
chocolate.”
When all the other
kids left, Ruthie came back and snuggled on the couch beside Jake. “Did you
like our caroling?”
He hugged her.
“You guys were great.”
They sat quiet for
a minute, then Jake tickled Ruthie’s nose. “You know, bug, I’ve got a Christmas
surprise for you.”
“You do?” She
pulled away a little. “What is it?”
Jake poked her
side. “It’s a surprise.”
Ruthie jumped off
the couch. “Come on, Jake. Tell me.”
“Nope.” He shook
his head. “Not until Christmas.”
“Where is it?
Please?”
“I’ve got it in a
good hiding place.”
Ruthie begged him
for a long time, but Jake wouldn’t tell her anything else. Well, I knew all the
hiding places in the house. And Ruthie was my best friend. I would have to help
her look for it.
No comments:
Post a Comment