My very best "Christmas"

By Ruthe

My memory at 6 years old will be with me until my death, a recession was setting in for America, many people was having difficult times and losing their jobs, we were a family of six, my Mother and Daddy and their four little girls, my sisters and I could hear our parents discuss their financial problems and we knew that our Daddy would soon be out of work and we also heard how hard it will be for him to get a job, being a Carpenter and knowing that people were not building homes and not doing repair work unless absolutely necessary because money was so hard to come by. We little sisters were very young and couldn't understand what was happening, I just worried because I thought we wouldn't have any food to eat, but Mama reassured me that we would never be without groceries. The winter was about to start and living in cold Illinois and knowing that we'd be needing warm clothes and there was no money to buy them with, but Mama could sew and she made many nice warm clothes for her four little girls. Things was getting worse and Christmas was coming, I could hear my Mama almost crying because there was no money to get us presents, but we knew we would have one of our stockings filled, Santa always filled them with Christmas hard candy, some nuts and maybe an apple, we three older ones understood but our little one would expect a present and we all decided that she be given at least one gift and we would not want any since we knew there was no money to buy any of us a present.

The snow started falling and each day it would get deeper and deeper, we loved playing in the beautiful soft snow drift's and we would be so cold but kept on playing until ice sickles were forming on our nose, eyelashes and on our snowsuits, and we would have to be dragged in to our house by our Mama. The wood burning stove would be so hot and would soon have us all warm and our clothing would soon be dried. We couldn't wait until tomorrow to go back out and play as long as we could.

Christmas is coming this week and Mama took me shopping with her she was busy buying food for Christmas dinner, I strolled over to the toy counter and was looking at baby dolls I picked one up and cradled this beautiful baby boy in my arms, and wanted him so badly, every-time Mama would get us a baby it always was a girl baby and each time I wanted a baby brother, she finished her shopping and walked over to me and said you must put the baby doll back now. I started crying and begged her to buy him for me for Christmas, knowing she would say no because we have no money for a Christmas present-- but she did wipe my tears away and put her arm around me and with tears in her eyes led me out of the store saying maybe next year we'll get him for you. I cried so hard for that baby boy (but to myself ) because I knew Mama couldn't get him for me and she was hurting badly too for having to turn her little girl down at Christmas time.

I soon realized I couldn't have a present this year and I will wait until next year and hope that the little baby boy will still be for sale.

One more day and Santa will be coming, we all worked hard getting our Christmas tree decorated, stringing pop corn from the top of the tree to the bottom and placing beautiful ornaments where every one can see them shine under the lights, what a beautiful tree Daddy cut down for us, how happy we little girls were--- even though we knew there would be no presents for us this year-- Christmas Eve we sang carols with our church group and then was eager to get home because we had to go to bed early, I snuggled in and covered up real good but couldn't go to sleep I was so excited about Santa Claus and thought maybe I could sneak a look at him, but Mama says he won't visit us if we're still awake. I finally went to sleep and I had a dream of the baby boy doll--- Santa said he had heard me cry and he knew I was a very good little girl and he brought that special little guy to me. What a wonderful dream I had, and when I woke up I heard Daddy starting up the fire in the stove to get the house warm and I knew Santa had come and already had left, I was in a hurry to get to my stocking to see what was in it, Mama, Daddy and my sisters were all waiting for me to join them and to my surprise there was my baby boy sitting next to my stocking, I was estatic and started crying with joy and I ran to my Mama and threw my arms around her and asked her how did Santa know I wanted that little baby boy, she was crying too, and said--- *God told him. What a believer this had made me-- not only in God but Santa Claus too. I dearly loved that little boy doll and I named him * Jimmie--- I finally have a baby brother now ---- this was my very best "Christmas " Truly yours,

Ruthe