A Four-year-old's Christmas: Part One

Tucked in by my parents, I lie snug in my bed, holding tightly to my stuffed flannel Santa. With wide-awake eyes, I watch my parents shut the door as they leave me alone in my room. I look at the little plastic reindeer on top of my bookshelf. I smile at its shining red nose, the only light left on in the room.

We have already been to my aunt and uncle's for a feast and nativity. I recall my aunt's reading of The Polar Express, and I wonder if I will hear sleigh bells tonight. The red-nosed reindeer on my shelf reminds me of something that makes me grin. While we were getting into our car, I looked up at the vast and clear Arizona night sky. And I saw a red star! It must have been the red nose of Santa's lead reindeer. I am determined that tonight I will hear sleigh bells.

I normally make a fuss about going to bed, but not tonight. Tonight Santa is on the move, and I should be in bed. But I so want to be awake to hear those bells. Once I hear them, I will go to sleep because I really shouldn't be awake when Santa comes in the house. I hope he enjoys the rum-raisin cookies we set out for him. I think he'll be pleased with the carrots for the reindeer. Dad thinks we shouldn't give rum-raisin cookies to the driver of a sleigh, but I think Santa will like them.

I sigh and turn my head to look at the colorful lights I can see glowing outside my window: red, green, orange, blue, yellow, purple. There is one red light among them that blinks on and off every few seconds. I watch in contentment, waiting for sleigh bells. Just as all of the lights start flickering to black in front of my eyelids, I hear a faint jingling from the direction of the roof. I drift peacefully to sleep.