The Perfect Gift

                In a tiny house in Ohio lived three small children.   Kelsey, Kaelin and their little brother Jase.  

                It was their favorite time of year and a fresh fallen snow coated the ground.  The two older children, Kelsey and Kaelin, slipped into their snow suits and boots and rushed outside, while their little brother watched from the window.

                Having trampled through the fluffy flakes, Kelsey, the oldest sister, fell down onto her back and proceeded to make a snow angel.  Kaelin, who was working diligently to make a whole snowman family, suddenly stopped what she was doing.

                “Kelsey!” she cried.  “Do you know what today is?”

                Kelsey paused mid angel and climbed to her feet.  “It’s Christmas Eve, duh.”

                “That means tomorrow’s Christmas!” Kaelin said, “Which means…”

                The two girls turned to each other and howled in unison, “Presents!”

                They linked hands and danced in jubilation as thoughts of barbies, tablets and candy filled their heads. 

                “I wonder what Santa will bring us,” Kelsey pondered.

                “Hopefully some beanie boos or a new glow pet,” Kaelin mused.  “I have been really good this year, I only got in trouble…” she paused and began to count on her fingers.  When the number exceeded the amount of available fingers, she shrugged and said, “Like I said.  I’ve been good this year.”

                “Yeah,” Kelsey agreed.  “We did clean up our room that one time.”

                “That should be enough to get us some really cool stuff,” Kaelin added.

                With the excitement of the coming morning hanging in the air like a titillating fog, the two sisters returned to their play.  Kelsey finished her snow angel and then went to work making snowballs to hurl at her unsuspecting father whenever he came outside.  Kaelin completed the mother snowman, having topped her off with one of her mom’s old scarves and then started on the father.

                “Kaelin,” Kelsey said as she placed another handful of snow into the snowball maker, “What did you get Mom and Dad?”

                “Hmmm…” Kaelin stopped rolling what was destined to become the torso of the father snowman and touched her chin.  “I don’t think I got them anything this year.”

                “Me neither,” Kelsey said.  “I forgot.”

                Kaelin frowned.  “That’s not good, is it?”

                “Nope, but the good news is that it’s only Christmas Eve.  Which means we still have some time.” 

                Kaelin took a seat on the snowball she’d been rolling.  “Do you have any ideas of what to get them?”

 

                Kelsey stood silent for a couple seconds then asked, “Kaelin, do you have any money?”

                “No,” Kaelin replied.  “I don’t even have a job.”

                Kelsey gestured for Kaelin to scoot over and make room on the snow ball.  Kaelin did so and the two sat next to each other in silence as they search their minds for ideas.  Soon they heard the sound of a garage door opening.  They both whirled around to see their friends Hudson and Savannah come bounding out of their garage across the street.

 

                Kelsey pointed.  “Let’s ask them, they’ll be able to help.”

                After asking for permission and checking in both directions, the two sisters hurried across the street.  Their friends, Hudson and Savannah, were in the midst of a sibling snowball fight with chunks of ice and snow being hurled from one end of the lawn to the other. 

                Hudson, the top of his orange and black Bengals hat poking out from behind his father’s Chevy truck, waved his arm.  “Kelsey, over here!”

                Kelsey ran to him and leaped behind the truck. 

                Savannah launched a snowball in her brother’s direction then called to Kaelin, “Come here and help me, Kaelin.”

                Kaelin darted over to the tree that Savannah was using as cover.  Savannah handed her a fresh snowball and Kaelin flung it toward her sister.  Kelsey dodged then tossed one back.  Hudson joined in on the barrage.  Savannah and Kelsey dropped to the ground and covered their heads, laughing as snowballs landed like tiny meteors on the ground around them.   

                The battle raged on until all gloves were thoroughly soaked and the Chevy truck was covered in snow.  With no clear winner, a truce was agreed upon by both parties. 

                “Do you want to go inside and play Minecraft?” Hudson asked as he rubbed his hands together for warmth.

                “Sure---“ Kelsey started to say before she remembered the reason they’d come across the street in the first place.  She sighed.  “I would like to but there is something me and Kaelin have to do.”

                “What?” Savannah asked.

                “We have to get a gift for our parents,” Kelsey replied.

                Savanna showed her palms dramatically.  “Tomorrow’s Christmas and you haven’t got a gift for your parents yet?”

                Kelsey frowned.  “We forgot.”

                “Bummer,” Hudson said. “What are you going to do?”

                “We don’t know,” Kaelin said.

                “We were hoping that you could give us some ideas,” Kelsey added.

                There was a lull in the conversation as the four kids pondered the present possibilities.

                “Parents love money,” Savannah said, breaking the silence.  “How about a million dollars?”

                “How much does that cost?” Kaelin asked.  “Because I only got a nickel and I took that from Kelsey.”

                Kelsey and Hudson exchanged glances then shook their heads.  

   

                “That won’t due, Savannah,” Hudson said.  “They need something they can get today.”

                Savannah shrugged.  “I tried.”

                Hudson turned back to Kelsey and Kaelin.  “Have you tried asking your grandparents?  Ours helped me and Savannah pick out our presents for our mom and dad.”

                “That’s a good idea,” Kelsey said.  “They’ll know what to do.”  She grabbed her sister by the hand. “Come on Kaelin.”

                After a wave goodbye the two were off, sprinting home as fast as their little legs would carry them.  Once inside, they slipped out of their boots, stripped off their snow suits and went looking for their Mom.

                Their dad, who had been outside shoveling the driveway while they played with their friends, followed them inside.

                “Is everything alright?” he asked.  “You came inside in a hurry.”

                “No!” Kaelin blurted out.  “We forgot to---

                Kelsey nudged Kaelin with her elbow, who stopped and glared at her sister.

                “Forgot to do what?” their father asked.

                Kaelin paused.  “Forgot to…”

                Their dad raised an eyebrow.  “What Kaelin?”

                “Forgot to get milk and cookies ready for Santa,” Kelsey said, coming to her sister’s rescue.

                “Oh,” their dad smiled.  “We don’t want to forget that.  I know Santa loves your cookies.  In fact, he adds a few inches around his waist every year because of those cookies.”  He paused.  “Or maybe it’s because he has a tendency to overeat Mrs. Claus’s delicious cooking.”

                The two girls just stared at him curiously.

                Their father waved a hand.  “Nevermind about that,” he said.  “And don’t you worry there’s still plenty of time to get the milk and cookies ready.”

                With those words, he patted them each on the top of the head and then disappeared into the kitchen. 

                When he was gone, Kaelin spun toward her sister.  “You didn’t have to hit me!”

                Kelsey pressed a finger to her lips. “Shoosh.  You almost spilled the beans.”

                Kaelin flashed a look of confusion.  “What beans?”

                Kelsey rolled her eyes. “Nevermind.”  She placed both hands on her sister’s shoulders and after a glance around to ensure that no one was in hearing distance, whispered, “Now.  We need to get a hold of mom’s phone so we can call Grandma Lou Lou and Grandma Sheri.”

                “We’re going to steal Mommy’s phone?”

                “No,” Kelsey said.  “We’re just going to borrow it.”  She gestured for Kaelin to follow.  “Now come on.”

                The two tip-toed across the room and down the hallway, peeking their heads in every room until they found their Mother in the nursery sitting in the glider with their baby brother, Jase, cradled in her arms.

                “I think she’s asleep,” Kaelin said.

                “Now’s our chance,” Kelsey added.

                Their mother’s phone sat on the arm of the glider, just inches from the edge.   

                Kelsey looked at Kaelin. “Wait here,” she whispered.  “I’m going to go get it.”

                Kaelin nodded then brought her knuckles to her face to suppress a giggle. 

                Kelsey pulled in a deep breath then crept forward.  As silent as a mouse, she snatched the phone and scurried out of the room.    With the phone in hand, the two sisters rushed to their bedroom and quietly shut the door behind them.

                “Do you even know how to work that thing?” Kaelin asked.

                “I think so.”

                Kelsey unlocked the phone with a swipe of her finger then went to work pressing apps. When they failed to get the desired response, Kaelin ripped the phone from her sister’s hand.

                “Let me try.”

                In a less controlled fashion, Kaelin took her turn trying to contact their grandparents.  After a few seconds, her eyes widened.  “Kelsey look!” she held out the phone.  “It’s Mommy’s book face.”

                “It’s called Face Book and that isn’t going to help.” Kelsey reached for the phone.  “Now give it to me.”

                Kaelin tightened her grip and the two entered into a round of tug-of-war, grunting and growling at each other like they were two wolf pups fighting over a piece of meat.  Finally, Kelsey’s two more years prevailed and she fell backward into a seated position with the phone wedged tightly in her hands.  Kaelin dropped to the floor, crossed her arms and adopted a pouty face.

                Kelsey, flustered more with their failure to find a present for their parents, sighed, “We’re never going to get a gift in time.”

                Near the point of giving up hope, Kelsey opened up her fingers to look at the phone.  When she did, she saw a series of pictures with names and numbers attached to each one.  “Kaelin!” she said, jumping to her feet.  “I think we figured it out!”

                Kaelin scrambled to her feet as well then watched her sister scroll thru the pictures until they came to their Grandma Lou Lou. 

                Kailin pointed at the phone.  “Press the picture.”

                Kelsey poked the screen with her index finger and within seconds the phone began to ring.  The two girls exchanged celebratory grins. 

                On the third ring, their Grandma Lou Lou answered, “Hello.”

                “Grandma!” the kids shouted in unison.

                “Well hello there, Kelsey and Kae Kae.”

                “We need your help,” Kaelin said. 

                “We forgot to get Mom and Dad a present,” Kelsey added.  “What should we do?”

                “Let’s see here,” Grandma Lou Lou replied, “You could make them a present.”

                “Any ideas?” Kelsey asked.

                “Hmmm….” There was a few seconds of quiet, before Grandma Lou Lou said, “When your Mommy was little, I always like it when she made something that really surprised me.”

                “So we should make something that Mom and Dad won’t expect.”  Kelsey said.

                “Yep.”

                “Thanks Grandma!”  Kaelin said. 

                They talked for a minute more and then hung up with a Merry Christmas. 

                “Now we try Grandma Sheri,” Kelsey said.

                She scrolled down on the screen until she found the picture of Grandma Sheri.  She clicked on it and a few seconds later Grandma Sheri was on the line.

                “It’s Kelsey and Kaelin,” Kaelin shouted as soon as Grandma Sheri answered.

                “Hey girls,” she said.  “Are you ready for Santa to come?”

                “No,” Kelsey said. 

                “No?  Why not?”

                “We forgot to get Mommy and Daddy a present this year,” Kaelin said. 

                “Oh,” Grandma Sheri observed.  “Well, you can make them something.”

                “That’s what Grandma Lou Lou said,” Kaelin stated.

                Grandma Sheri chuckled, “Well good Grandmas think alike.”

                “Any ideas of what we can make them?” Kelsey asked.

                “Let me think for a moment,” Grandma replied.  “Both of your parents love the holiday season.  Why don’t you try to make something that shows the true meaning of Christmas?”

                “The true meaning of Christmas…”Kelsey repeated.

                “You got it,” Grandma Sheri said.

Suddenly, there was a voice in the background.  “Got to go, girls,” Grandma said, “Your Papaw Don is yelling about those Republicans again.”

“Bye Grandma!”

“Merry Christmas girls.”

                 They hung up and then quietly returned the phone to their still napping Mom.  This time placing it on the floor next to the glider.

                After a few minutes of pacing up and down the hallway as they brainstormed together, the two plopped down on the couch in the living room, tired and fearing that they’d ruined Christmas.

                “We need something surprising,” Kaelin said.

                “And something that shows the true meaning of Christmas,” Kelsey added.

                The girls sighed in unison, leaned forward and using their knees to brace themselves, cupped their chins with their hands. 

                After a few minutes, Kelsey’s gaze fell upon the Nativity Scene that sat high atop the DVD stand.

Her eyes widened and she sat up with a jolt.  “Kaelin, I have an idea for the gift!”

“You do?”

“Yes,” Kelsey cautioned. “But it’s going to take you, me and someone else.”

“Who?”

Kelsey leaned forward and whispered the answer in her sister’s ear. 

Kaelin’s lips curled into a wide smile.  “Perfect.”

Many hours later, after Christmas Eve turned to Christmas day and Santa had completed his traditional gift giving act, Kelsey’s Mom and Dad were awoken by the shouts of their two older children.

“Mom! Dad!  Wake up! Wake up!  Christmas is here!”

Their parents sat up in bed, rubbing their eyes. 

“Give us a minute,” they’re dad said.

It actually took two minutes and thirty-seven seconds for Kelsey and Kaelin’s parents to get themselves out of bed and when they did, they discovered a note taped to the inside of their door. 

They’re mom read the note aloud,

                Mom and Dad,

                We wanted to surprise you with something that showed you the true meaning of Christmas. 

                Love,

                Kelsey and Kaelin

                “I’m impressed, “their dad said after their mom finished reading the note, “Their handwriting is better than mine.”

                Their mom took their dad by the hand.  “Come on, let’s see what they got us.”

                As they reached the end of the hallway and stepped into the living room, Kelsey and Kaelin yelled, “Surprise!”

                Their mom’s mouth fell open and their dad’s eyes widened with genuine surprise at the sight what awaited them.

                Standing in the glistening white lights of the Christmas tree and under the watchful star was a tabernacle made of Disney Princess blankets, bed sheets and kitchen chairs.  Filling the inside of the tent was a herd of stuffed animals of all sorts and sizes and in their midst, directly under the star of the Christmas tree, was their blue eyed baby boy, peering up at them from his bouncer.  To each side were his older sisters, dressed in white, their heads adorned with homemade halos crafted from silver garland.

                “Jase is like the baby Jesus, Mommy,” Kaelin said. “And we’re the angels.”

                Their dad looked around in amazement.  “Did you plan all this yourself?” he asked.

                “We had some help from some family and friends,” Kelsey replied.

                Kaelin bit her bottom lip.  “So…Do you like it?” she asked nervously.

                Neither of their parents answered right away.  Instead their mom knelt down beside them, opened her arms and gestured for them to come to her.  They did and she wrapped her arms around them and squeezed. 

“Yes,” she said with a smile.  “I love it.”

Their father gently lifted baby Jase from the bouncer and the two of them joined in the embrace.

“Do you like it Dad?” Kelsey asked.

“Yes,” he replied, squeezing his family tight.  “It’s the perfect gift.”   

Kelsey and Kaelin grinned at each other and behind their parents backs, bumped fists. 

                                                             THE END