Monday, December 21, 2009

A Child's Christmas List

Four year old little B could hardly sit still while her mommy braided her hair. She was so excited, any moment her daddy would be home from work and they were going Christmas shopping for her mommy, four aunts and two grandmas. In her pocket was a clear zip-lock baggie that contained her life savings, $1.65. All day as the ideas popped into B’s head, out they came, “maybe I will get you a new pair of shoes mommy or maybe a new coat, would you like a new dress mommy? I know… a new purse – maybe I will get you a blue one.
Grayquill did not know this shopping expedition included the Aunts and Grandmas. If he had known such a monstrous task was before him it is unlikely his excitement would have matched his daughters’ enthusiasm. Mrs. Grayquill stood watching at the window, worry lines pressed her lips as the two drove off.
“B, have you thought what store you want to go to first?”
“A store that has slippers and purses; I think I will get mommy a blue purse and maybe I will get slippers for grandma and maybe a shirt for Aunt T and Aunt B”
Grayquill was not caught off guard seeing that a four year old does not exactly have a perfect concept of money. “B, a new purse will be pretty expensive, I don’t think you will have enough money for a purse.” B didn’t even hear her daddy’s words. Her excitement continued rattling off who and what different people would get.
Grayquill pulled the car into a parking spot and soon they were inside a large department store. Grayquill decided he would have to show B she did not have the funds for her large list. Arriving after sometime in front of the purses they began perusing the choices. “B, let me see your money.” B pulled out her little bag of money. “See this purse B? If you had 10 bags of money just like this one, you would not have enough money to buy this purse.” B, was quiet for a minute the wheels spinning.
“Okay…Maybe I will get slippers for mommy, let’s go look at slippers.” Off the two went to look for slippers. Here the exercise was repeated. “B, you will need 6 bags of money to buy these slippers. I think we should go to the Dollar Store, maybe we can find something nice for your mom there.”
B, was up for that idea because the Dollar Store was one of her favorite stores. Arriving, they worked their way up and down the aisles. Soon B found a little glass horse that she thought her Aunt T would like. “B, if you buy that for your Aunt T, you will not be able to buy your mother a present here, you see you need 4 bags of money to buy something at this store for everyone on your list. Maybe you should just buy your mom something and for your grandmas and aunts, maybe you could paint them a picture.” B, shook her head in a firm no but she slowly put the glass horse back on the shelf. B’s eyes starred down at the floor and without another word B turned and Grayquill followed his little daughter out of the store.
Back in the car Grayquill was at a loss where to go next. Finally in desperation, Grayquill pulled into a large drug store. This store had some small trinkets and it was a good place to buy filler for the stockings. Maybe here they could find something. Up and down the aisles they walked. After leaving the last store B’s mood had become much more serious and she had stopped talking unless spoken to. She was realizing her $1.65 was not going to buy even one of the nice gifts she had envisioned let alone gifts for her aunts and grandmas. Grayquill looked at her and at one point thought she was going to cry.
After several more conversations about not enough money the two once again started up isle number three. A shelf held some small tea candles on sale, 10 for a dollar in several different colors. “B, what about candles, you know how your mother likes candles. You have enough money for candles and you even have enough money so that you could buy candles for your grandmas and aunts.” For a minute B just stood there staring. Grayquill held his breath because if this didn’t work he didn’t know what he would do.
A long silence went by, then B said, “Blue ones for mommy, Aunt T likes yellow, Grandma B, white,” and carefully B started stacking and laying out the small candles in neat rows. When she was done she had seven rows, colors separated, all tallied and organized for the chosen recipient. Some got only one candle but her mommy got 5. The excitement and energy had returned. B told the cashier all about who the candles were for and how she was buying these with her own money. B laid all of her coins out on the counter and when it was all said and done, B had 6 cents left.
On the way home, Grayquill gave final instructions, “B, now don’t tell your mom what you bought her, it needs to be a secret, that way you mommy will be so surprised when she opens her gifts. Can you keep it a secret?”
“Yes.”
Immediately upon arriving home, B with the package under her arm rushed into the house. She yelled running past her mom toward her bedroom, “I got you a present mommy, I can’t tell you what color the candles are.”
D’OH!

19 comments:

Tall Guy said...

That was a good way of handling the situation :)

Wish you a Merry Christmas.

Karthik said...

Long time no see. Christmas preparations I guess. :)
Well, it was a very cute post. Enjoyed reading it wholeheartedly. The child is so adorable. :)
Happy Christmas and a Happy New Year! :)

Ashley said...

Oh Grayquill! This was such a beautiful little Christmas tale...

You are right...Christmas is all about giving...
I could picture little B walking in the stores, feeling sad, while her concerned thoughtful Dad kept trying to solve her problem...Thank you for sharing this with us.

Wish you a Merry Christmas and a Rocking New Year! :)

Sylvia K said...

What a great Christmas story! I loved it! Sounds as though a fun time was had by all!!

Have a great week, Grayquill, and wishing you and your family a very Merry Christmas!

Sylvia

Lynda G. said...

Merry Christmas!

Betty said...

That was a sweet story. I hope you and your have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Anita Jeyan said...

Oh no...poor little B...innocent ilttle daughters cant keep secrets from parents, Grayquill!! Such a subtle and cute tale. Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year to u and all at home :-)

Grayquill said...

The Survivor: Thank you! - I hope you have a Merry Christmas

Karthik: Adorable children grow up – HA! But she for sure was and actually she still is.
Best Christmas wishes to you and your family

Ashley: A rocking new year? – Yeah that is what I will have HA! I hope you have a Merry, joyful Christmas and a happy Rocking New Year. :) :)

Sylvia K: We might not talk again until after the new year – Be safe and I hope you and your family have a great Christmas.

Lynda: Merry Christmas – and I hope with all the work you get to enjoy your great family – some how I don’t think you will let anything stop that from happening.

Betty: I trust all is well in the Betty family and you get to spend time with those you love and those that love you.
Merry Christmas.

Anita: Thank you! and Merry Christmas! BTW: Great new picture of yourself. I feel so lucky – this post didn’t generate even a small Grrr from you :)
Be safe. See you in the New Year may God bless you and your new family!

Debra said...

Merry Christmas GQ to you and your family. Have a great day today!

Dianne said...

what a sweet lovely story :)

I hope your Christmas was wonderful

Shriti said...

Hi!
Thank you for visting my blog!
and for leaving those cheerfull words
am really feeling better :)

btw that was an awesome story :)

Pink Mango Tree said...

How sweet and adorable...!! :)
Belated Merry Xmas and a very happy new year!

Cheers!

Amrita said...

Lovely post GQ. God bless you and your daughter

Sid said...

Ha ha superb story... :)

Asif said...

Oh my goodness…! Such a sweet expression of feelings of that little girl….
All the way through I was making a picture of B’s facial expressions. Really the innocence of children is such a sweet thing to watch. Moreover each and every feeling of the heart is reflected instantly on face of them either it is anxiety, sadness, happiness, anger…Ohhhh I Love kids sooo much….
It was a great read….
Well I guess sometimes Blog Hopping is good to do…We can find so many wonderful things.
Hope Xmas was wonderful...
And I hope New Year would be wonderful too...:)

Blunt Edges said...

i ended the post with a smile n the only word that comes 2 my mind after reading this is 'sweet' :D

Grayquill said...

Debra: Thanks for stopping by. I hope your Christmas was great, Best wishes for the New Year to you and your family.

Dianne: I hope all is well with Hope. Did you have way to much fun sticking Christmas bows on her little head? I will expect pictures. May this year be a year of great health, shallow anxiety, many times for Grandma and Granddaughter to bond.

Chocolate Lover: Your name makes me want to call you Choco! Welcome…Thank you for your kind words. Maybe we will become friends. Happy New Year!

Shalini Surendran: Cheers back at you. It is nice to meet a new friend. Thank you for your kind comment.

Amrita: I hope you had a great Christmas and wishing you a great new year. Thank you for your nice comment.

Sid: Thanks – I hope to see you more.

Asif: Thank you for your very kind comment – I hope you hop back this way sometime. Happy New Year.

Hilary said...

That's a sweet story. I hope you had a wonderful Christmas. Happy New Year!

Grayquill said...

Hilary: Thank you! And, I appreciate your many comments this past year on my blog. Keep taking those fabulous pictures!