Big-House Greetings

It was Friday, the first of December. I woke up and got dressed at the little house. I went to school with Nancy on the little-house school bus. But when school was over, I took the big-house school bus home with Hannie.

My month at the little house was over. Two months at the big house were beginning.

“See you tomorrow!” I called to Hannie when we reached our street.

I raced to Daddy’s house. Nannie was waiting for me at the door. She had a big smile on her face.

“Come in!” she said. “Emily Junior is upstairs in your room. Emily Michelle and Andrew are in the kitchen. And I have a snack ready for you.”

Nannie had picked Andrew up from pre-school. Then she picked up Emily Junior and Bob from the little house.

I kissed Nannie hello. Then I raced into the kitchen to say hello to Emily Michelle and Andrew. I hugged Emily. (I did not hug Andrew since I had just seen him in the morning.) Then I ran to the office to hug Daddy. I did not stay long. I did not want to bother him while he was working.

“I will be right back,” I told Nannie.

I ran upstairs to make sure Emily Junior was okay. (She was.) Then I unpacked my angel collection and set it on my dresser. I did not want my angels to be in a dark knapsack any longer than they had to. Angels are probably happy wherever they are. But I did not want to take chances.

After I washed up, I went back to the kitchen to have my snack. Nannie had made cinnamon toast with cream cheese, and hot chocolate to drink. Yum.

While we were eating, Kristy walked in.

“Welcome back!” she said. “I am happy to see you. I missed you guys.”

(I told you she is the best stepsister ever.)

Then David Michael came running in.

“Hi, Karen. Hi, Andrew,” he said. He dropped his book bag and grabbed a piece of cinnamon toast.

“Please wash your hands,” said Nannie.

After I ate my snack, I visited with Kristy, checked on Crystal Light, and did my homework. Before I knew it, Sam, Charlie, and Elizabeth had returned home. Elizabeth gave Andrew and me great big hugs. She was gigundoly happy to see us. Everyone was.

“Are you ready for a big-house Christmas?” asked Elizabeth.

“I am ready!” I said.

The Christmas spirit was already in the air. Sam was humming “Jingle Bells.” David Michael was telling Christmas jokes. My whole big-house family was in an extra good mood.

At dinnertime, the ten of us sat down around the table to eat. Big-house meals are always noisy and fun.

“We should get our tree early this year,” Charlie said to Daddy. “The best ones go fast.”

“We need to buy plenty of wrapping paper this year,” Kristy said to David Michael.

“You are right,” David Michael replied. “Last year we almost ran out.”

Sam and Elizabeth talked about decorations. Nannie said something about the cookies she and Emily were going to bake. It sounded as though everyone already had an important Christmas job to do. Everyone except Andrew and me.

“What about us?” I said. “Do we have a job?”

Daddy and Elizabeth gave each other funny looks. I think they had forgotten about us.

“We are sorry,” said Elizabeth. “You have not been with us much at Christmastime. So we did not think of a job for you yet. We will think of one very soon.”

“All the important jobs are taken,” I said.

“Do not worry,” said Daddy. “I promise we will find an important job for you and Andrew.”

I hoped so. Important jobs are my favorite kind.