by Abby Klein
“Your uncle makes maple syrup?” said Josh. “That’s so cool.”
“He gets the sap straight from the maple trees on his farm, and then he boils it into syrup,” I said.
“Wow! I’ve only had the fake syrup from the grocery store,” said Josh. “No one makes their own maple syrup out in California.”
“Maybe when it’s sugaring season I can take you to my uncle’s farm, and you can see how he makes it,” I said to Josh.
“That would be sweet,” said Josh.
“Of course it would be sweet,” I said. “It’s maple syrup!”
Josh laughed. “In California, ‘sweet’ means the same as ‘awesome.’ What I was trying to say was that it would be really awesome to see how your uncle makes syrup.”
“Oh, I get it.” I laughed.
“So what do you guys think the surprise is that Miss Clark is going to tell us about today?” asked Jessie.
“You guys get another surprise?” said Robbie. “I wish I was in your class this year.”
“Me, too,” I said. This was the first year that Robbie and I were not in the same class together. I hated not having my best friend in my class.
Chloe jumped out of her seat. “Maybe we’re going to do a holiday show. I could do my dance from The Nutcracker.”
“You are a nutcracker,” Max mumbled.
Chloe did a few twirls in the aisle before the bus driver told her to sit back down.
“I don’t think that’s going to be the surprise,” said Jessie. “I think it’s something else.”
Chloe stuck out her lower lip and pouted. “But I really wanted to wear my candy cane tutu to school.”
“Maybe we’re going to have a holiday party,” said Josh.
“Ooooo! I love parties,” said Chloe, clapping her hands. “I could still wear my tutu and paint my nails red-and-white striped like candy canes.”
“Maybe Miss Clark is going to let us plan the party,” said Josh.
“I don’t think the surprise is a party,” I said. “We usually have a holiday party every year. That wouldn’t be much of a surprise.”
“So what do you think it is?” asked Jessie.
“I don’t know,” I said, “but I don’t think I can wait much longer to find out!”
As soon as the bus pulled up to school, we all jumped out and raced down the hall to our classroom.
“You’ll have to tell me what the surprise is when I see you guys at recess!” Robbie called after us.
“We will!” we yelled back.
Chloe and Max arrived at the classroom door at the exact same time.
“Oh boy! Here comes trouble!” I said to Josh and Jessie.
Max was obsessed with being the first one in the room every morning. “Hey! I was here first!” Max shouted and shoved Chloe out of the way.
Chloe went flying and hit the ground hard.
“OOOWWW! OOOWWW! OOOWWW!” she wailed.
Miss Clark came running over. “Chloe, are you all right? What happened?”
“He … he … he … ,” she sobbed, pointing to Max.
“Did Max do something? What did he do?”
“He … he … ,” she sobbed some more.
“He shoved her out of the way, so he could be the first one in the room,” said Jessie.
“Max certainly wasn’t respecting you when he shoved you to the ground,” said Miss Clark. “Respecting others is one of our important school rules. Max, what do you have to say for yourself?”
“She was in my way,” Max grumbled.
“That doesn’t make it okay for you to push her like that,” said Miss Clark. “You need to take a break and think about what you’ve done. Why don’t you go sit in that chair over there.”
Max put his stuff down and went to sit in the chair, while Miss Clark helped Chloe dry her tears and calm down.
“Well, that certainly was a crazy way to start the morning,” said Miss Clark. “We must always remember to treat each other kindly and with respect. Right, Max?”
Max sat silently in the chair with his arms crossed.
“Right, Max?” Miss Clark repeated.
“Right,” Max mumbled.
“Miss Clark, when are you going to tell us about the surprise?” asked Jessie.
“Oh yes! The surprise! I almost forgot.”
“We didn’t forget,” I said. “I even woke up early today because I was so excited.”
“I’m glad you all are so excited,” said Miss Clark.
“I know what the surprise is,” said Chloe. “Presents!”
“We’re already giving each other presents for Secret Santa,” said Jessie. “So this surprise has to be something different.”
“This surprise is kind of like a present,” said Miss Clark.
“See! Told you so!” said Chloe, putting her hands on her hips. “I was right.”
“But the presents aren’t really for us,” said Miss Clark.
“What do you mean, not for us?” said Chloe, crinkling up her nose in confusion.
“Has anyone ever done something kind for someone else during the holidays?” asked Miss Clark.
I raised my hand.
“Yes, Freddy?”
“Last year at Christmastime, I bought some toys to give to other kids who might not get any toys at all.”
“That’s wonderful!” said Miss Clark. “I’m sure you made the holidays extra special for those kids.”
“I usually go caroling with my abuela, my grandma,” said Jessie. “We walk around our neighborhood and sing our favorite holiday songs for our neighbors.”
“What a great idea!” said Miss Clark. “I’m sure your neighbors love hearing you sing.”
“Back in California,” said Josh, “my family would pack food baskets for families who didn’t have enough money to buy food for their holiday dinner.”
Miss Clark smiled. “Wow! I am so impressed with all of the things you have done. You all have such big hearts.”
Jessie, Josh, and I grinned.
“My surprise also has to do with bringing a little holiday cheer to others,” said Miss Clark.
“I can’t believe it’s not for us!” said Max. “What a bummer!”
“Just a minute, Max. If you just listen, I think you’re really going to like what I have to say.”
“Fine,” Max grumbled.
“We all get to be at home with our families during the holidays,” said Miss Clark, “but unfortunately some children who are really sick have to spend the holidays in the hospital.”
“Really?” said Max.
“Really,” said Miss Clark. “Isn’t that sad?”
We all nodded our heads.
“Maybe we can do something to cheer them up!” said Jessie.
“That’s exactly what I was thinking,” said Miss Clark. “Do you remember the story we read called The Gingerbread Baby?”
“I do! I do!” Chloe squealed, waving her painted red fingernails in the air. “I love that story!”
“Do you all remember how Mattie finally caught the gingerbread baby at the end of the book?”
Max jumped out of his seat and shouted, “He made that awesome gingerbread house as a trap!”
“That’s right!” said Miss Clark. “So I was thinking we could each make a gingerbread house to give to a sick child in the hospital.”
“Sweet idea, Miss Clark,” said Josh. “I think the kids would love it.”
“I do, too!” said Jessie. “It would definitely cheer them up!”
“And it’s kind of like a present for us,” I said, “because we get to have fun making them.”
Miss Clark smiled. “I’m glad you are all so excited about doing something nice for others and spreading some holiday cheer.”
“When are we going to make them?” asked Josh.
“I was thinking we could make them on Friday, and then I could bring them to the hospital after school,” said Miss Clark.
“How are we going to make them?” asked
Jessie.
“I am going to make the actual houses out of graham crackers,” said Miss Clark. “Your job is going to be to decorate them. I would like each person in the class to bring in one thing we can use to decorate the houses.”
“I could bring in those mini candy canes,” said Chloe. “They match my Nutcracker tutu.”
“I’m starting to agree with Max,” Josh whispered to me. “She is a nutcracker.”
I chuckled.
“I could bring in white frosting,” said Jessie. “Then it would look like the houses were covered in snow.”
“That would be great!” said Miss Clark. “The frosting will also act like glue for the candy decorations.”
“I’ll bring gumdrops,” said Max. “Those would look cool on the roof.”
Everyone seemed to have an idea of what they were going to bring. Everyone, that is, except me!
When I got home from school, I went straight to my room and sat down on the edge of my bed. I hit my forehead with the palm of my hand. “Think, think, think. What can I bring for the gingerbread houses?”
“Freddy, is that you?” said a voice. It sounded like my dad.
The doorknob slowly turned, and there was my dad standing right in front of me.
“Dad! What are you doing home already?”
“I thought I would surprise you. I promised you we would hang the Christmas lights today, so I left work a little early.”
“Oh.”
“Oh! Is that all you can say?” he asked. “This morning you were so excited about hanging the lights that you couldn’t sleep.”
Just then my mom walked in. “What’s going on in here? Freddy, why didn’t you come into the kitchen when you came home?”
I shrugged my shoulders.
“Come on, Freddy,” said my dad. “Tell us what’s going on.”
“You know how last night I said Christmas was off to a great start?”
My parents nodded.
“Well, not anymore!”
“Why not?” said my dad. “Mom agreed that you could help me hang the lights on the big tree, so let’s go!”
“That’s not the problem,” I said.
“Then what is the problem?” said Suzie.
Where did she come from? And when did she sneak into my room?
“Gingerbread houses,” I answered.
“Gingerbread houses?” my mom repeated. “Why is that a problem? I don’t understand.”
“Are you kidding me?” said Suzie. “Was that the surprise today at school? Is Miss Clark letting you decorate gingerbread houses? You are sooooooo lucky!”
“Freddy, you’ve got to help us out here,” said my dad. “Decorating gingerbread houses sounds like so much fun. Why the sad face?”
“Because everyone is supposed to bring something to decorate the houses.”
“So … ,” said my mom.
“SO, I DON’T KNOW WHAT TO BRING!” I shouted.
“Just calm down. There’s no need to shout,” said my mom.
“Calm down? Calm down! I can’t calm down. I have to have something by Friday, and I have no ideas.”
“I’m sure we can help you think of something,” said my mom.
“Of course we can,” said my dad. “Suzie probably has lots of good ideas. Right, Suzie?”
“How about candy canes?” Suzie suggested.
“Someone’s already bringing that.”
“Oh! I know!” said Suzie. “Gumdrops. You always see those in gingerbread house kits.”
“Believe it or not, Max already came up with that idea. That’s what he’s bringing.”
“I have an idea,” said my mom. “What about frosting? It’s not candy, but you’re definitely going to need it.”
“Jessie already thought of that! You see? Everybody else knows what they’re bringing. Everyone but me!” I put my face in my hands.
The room went silent.
“I got it!” Suzie exclaimed.
I lifted up my head to look at her.
“You know how Grammy Rose has that secret recipe for making the best gingerbread cookies in the world?”
I nodded.
“Why don’t you have Grammy help you make gingerbread people that everyone can put next to their houses?”
“Suzie,” said my mom, “that’s a great idea!”
“It really is a great idea,” I said, hopping off my bed and giving Suzie a great big hug. “You’re the best sister in the world!”
“I know,” Suzie said, smiling.
“I bet no one in the class thought of that,” said my dad.
“Nope,” I said.
“Why don’t you call Grammy right now,” said my mom, “and see if she can come over tomorrow and make cookies.”
We all went down to the kitchen, and I dialed Grammy Rose’s number.
“Hello?” said Grammy Rose.
“Hi, Grammy! It’s me, Freddy.”
“Oh, hi, Freddy honey. How are you?”
“I’m great! I have a big favor to ask you.”
“Sure, what is it?”
“Well, my class is making gingerbread houses to give to kids who have to be in the hospital for the holidays.”
“Oh, what a wonderful idea! How can I help?”
“Well, everyone in the class is supposed to bring something to decorate the houses. Since you make the best gingerbread cookies in the world, I was wondering if you would come over tomorrow and help me make gingerbread people that the kids in my class could put next to their houses.”
“I would love to do that!” said Grammy.
“Really? Oh, Grammy, you’re the best!”
“I’ll make the dough in the morning because it has to cool in the refrigerator for a while, and then I’ll bring it over when you come home from school. We can make the cookies then. How does that sound?”
“That sounds sweet!” I said.
“Sweet?” said Grammy. “Cookies definitely are sweet.”
I laughed. “My new friend, Josh, told me that ‘sweet’ means the same thing as ‘awesome’ in California, so that sounds awesome!”
“Oh, I get it,” said Grammy Rose. “Maybe Suzie can help us make the cookies.”
“Of course she can help us!” I said, looking at Suzie. “It was actually her idea!”
“Well, Freddy, I look forward to seeing you tomorrow.”
“Me, too, Grammy. See you tomorrow. Bye,” I said, and I hung up the phone.
“So it sounds like Grammy can come tomorrow,” said my mom.
“Yep,” I said. “And Suzie can help us. We have to make a lot of cookies because I have twenty kids in my class.”
“I love making gingerbread cookies,” said Suzie. “We’re going to have a lot of fun.”
“See,” said my mom. “Your Christmas is off to a good start after all.”
“Yes, it is!” I said, jumping up and down. “Yes, it is!”
“Well, what are we waiting for?” said my dad. “Let’s go hang some Christmas lights!”
My dad and I put on our coats, hats, boots, and mittens, and went out to the garage to get all of the lights.
I blew a puff of air out of my mouth. “Look, Dad! It’s so cold I can see my breath.”
“I can make dragon breath, too,” said my dad, and he blew a big puff of air out of his mouth.
I laughed and did another dragon breath.
“Okay, my little dragon,” said my dad. “Don’t breathe too much fire. I wouldn’t want you to melt the lights!”
My dad grabbed the big rubber bin labeled CHRISTMAS LIGHTS, brought it out to the front yard, and took off the top. “Oh boy,” he sighed.
“What’s wrong?”
“The lights are a little bit tangled,” he said.
I looked in the bin. “They are not a little bit tangled,” I said. “They are a lot tangled! What are we going to do?”
“Well, we can’t hang them like this,” said my dad. “We’re going to have to untangle them.”
&nbs
p; “How are we going to do that?”
“If we lay them out on the front lawn, then I think it will be a lot easier to do. Come on, give me a hand.”
My dad and I started to pull the lights out of the bin and lay them down in the snow.
“This is going to take a while,” I muttered.
“Good thing I came home early,” said my dad, “or we would be trying to hang these lights in the dark!”
My dad grabbed one end of the string. “Watch. I think if we take one end like this and weave it slowly over and under the other strings, we’ll be able to untangle this mess. Are you ready, Freddy, to try?”
“Sure, Dad!” I said.
“Okay, then you grab one end, I’ll grab another, and let’s see what we can do.”
We each grabbed an end, and slowly, very slowly started to untangle the mess of lights.
“This is taking forever!” I whined.
“Did I just hear whining? I don’t think I’ve ever heard a dragon whine,” said my dad. “Dragons are fierce and brave. I don’t think they ever whine.”
I looked over at my dad and laughed. “That would be a funny fairy tale if it had a whiny dragon.”
“Ta-da!” my dad exclaimed. “I think I got our first string of lights untangled. I’m going to put it over here to get it out of the way.”
A few minutes later, I finally finished untangling my first string from the huge web of lights. “I did it! I did it!” I sang as I danced around waving the lights in the air.
“Great job!” said my dad. “Go put it over next to mine.”
We kept working for what seemed like forever. “I just can’t wait to start hanging the lights,” I said.
“I think we’re almost done untangling,” said my dad. “It shouldn’t take too much longer.”
Just then Mrs. Golden walked up with her dog, Baxter. I knew it was them without even looking up, because this time of year Baxter wears a special jingle-bell collar, and you can hear him coming from a mile away.
“Hi, Mrs. Golden!” I called over my shoulder.
“This looks like a big job. What are the two of you doing?” she asked.
“My dad and I are untangling the Christmas lights, so we can hang them up.”
“Wonderful!” said Mrs. Golden. “Your lights always look so lovely. I look forward to seeing them every year.”