ANOTHER SKIMPY CHRISTMAS -- DAY 25

 

It was Christmas night. Ina sat in the rocking chair before the glowing embers of the fireplace. Everyone else was in bed, but she wanted a quiet hour to herself just to reflect on the Christmas now past.

Of course, the main event was over, but they would have a week of merrymaking, clear until New Year’s weekend. She would leave it to Shirley to decide when to take the tree down. No need to think of that now.

I just wish I could show you a picture of little Sadie as she discovered the cuddly homemade baby doll under the tree. And Jack had fashioned a rough but sturdy cradle for the doll as a surprise for Ina as well as Sadie. In order to pull it off, he had enlisted Shirley’s assistance. She was the one who, in the name of Santa Claus, had sneaked downstairs after everyone else was asleep to take the cradle from its hiding place and stage doll and cradle appealingly under the tree. It was truly a “Santa” moment.

Nothing much is lost on a child at Christmas, and Sadie guessed that Ina was the “Mrs. Claus” who made the doll, and if she was disappointed that the doll was not store bought, she didn’t let on. “Cuddles” was cuddly and fun to dress and put to bed, and she could even pretend to feed the doll with the little bottle that Santa had left in her stocking.

Before bedtime, Sadie and Cuddles had cuddled with Ina in the big rocking chair “before the blazing fire,” and Sadie had whispered a shy “thank you for Cuddles” in Ina’s ear as she began to doze in warmth and comfort. “But where did the cradle come from,” Sadie asked, and Ina simply said, “Santa brought it.” But Sadie said, “Santa Gramps.” And Santa Gramps lifted Sadie from Ina’s lap and carried her to bed.

“It was another skimpy Christmas with everyone well remembered,” thought Ina to herself.