the store would run out before Santa got my Intellytron. Aunt Holly came and picked me up and when we were outside she started to cry. When I asked her why she was crying she said it was because she was happy I was safe.
Are you mad at me? I wish Aunt Holly had gotten mad instead of crying. I felt awful inside and got a tummy ache. She took me back to her office and made me sit quiet all afternoon. But that was okay because I knew I didn’t do the right thing. Her boss is real pretty. I don’t think she’s around kids much because she talked to me like I was in kindergarten or something. I think she’s nice, though.
You said you had a gift coming for me for Christmas. It isn’t here yet. I know I was bad, so you don’t have to send it if you don’t want. I’m sorry I made Aunt Holly cry.
Love,
Gabe
Emily sank down in the big comfortable chair, rested her feet on the matching ottoman and took out her knitting. She turned on the television and had just finished the first row when Gabe joined her. He didn’t say anything for a long time, but Emily could see his mind working.
After a while he said, “My dad’s going to be mad at me.”
“It was brave of you to tell him you did something you weren’t supposed to,” she murmured.
Gabe looked away. “I told him he doesn’t need to send me anything for Christmas. He said there was a special gift on the way but it hasn’t come. He probably won’t send it now.”
“Don’t be so sure.” She pulled on the skein of yarn as she continued knitting.
“What if Santa finds out what I did?” His face crumpled in a frown. “Do you think maybe he won’t bring me the robot ’cause I went to Finley’s by myself and I didn’t tell anyone where I was going?”
“Well, now, that remains to be seen, doesn’t it?”
Gabe climbed onto the sofa and rested his head against the arm. “I didn’t think Aunt Holly would be so worried when I didn’t go to Jonathan’s house after school. She got all weird.”
“Weird?”
“Yeah. When we were still at her office, all of a sudden she put her arms around my neck and hugged me really hard. Isn’t that weird?”
Emily shrugged but didn’t answer. “Are you ready for Christmas?” she asked instead.
Gabe nodded. “I made Aunt Holly an origami purse. A Japanese lady came to my school and showed us how to fold them. She said they were purses, but it looks more like a wallet to me, all flat and skinny.” He sighed dejectedly. “I wrapped it up but you can’t really see where the wrapping stops and the gift starts.”
“I bet Holly will really like the purse because you made it yourself,” Emily said with an encouraging smile.
“I made my dad a gift, too. But Aunt Holly and I mailed off his Christmas present a long time ago. They take days and days to get to Afghanistan so we had to go shopping before Thanksgiving and wrap up stuff for my dad. Oh, we mailed him the picture of me and Santa, too. And I made him a key ring. And I sent him nuts. My dad likes cashews. I’ve never seen a cashew in the shell, have you?”
“Why, yes, as a matter of fact I have,” she said conversationally.
Gabe sat up. “What do they look like?”
“Well, a cashew is a rather unusual nut. My goodness, God was so creative with that one. Did you know the cashew is both a fruit and a nut?”
“It is?”
“The fruit part looks like a small apple and it has a big stem.”
The boy’s eyes were wide with curiosity.
“The stem part is the nut, the cashew,” she explained.
“Wow.”
“And they’re delicious,” she said. “Good for you, too,” she couldn’t resist adding.
“What are you doing for Christmas?” Gabe asked.
“I’ve been invited to a party, a big one with lots of celebrating. I’ll be with my friends Shirley, Goodness—”
“Goodness? That’s a funny name.”
“Yes, you’re right. Anyway, the party preparations have already begun. It won’t be long now.”
“Oh.” Gabe looked disappointed.
“Why the sad face?”
“I was going to ask you to come here for Christmas.”
Emily was touched by his invitation. “I know you’ll have a wonderful Christmas with Holly,” she said.
“I invited Aunt Holly’s boss, too.”
She had to make an effort to hide her smile. This was all working out very nicely. Very nicely,