I knew what I would do! I could be as silent as a little mouse and slip downstairs. I had lots of practice with being very quiet around the grown-ups, when I wanted to be. I knew which board creaked on the stairs, and how to hang onto the rail and skip that one. Easy! Down I went. There was no moon, but there were a few coals behind the fireplace screen. I could just make out the outline of my stocking. I climbed on the stool I had used to hang the stocking. I tried to take it down, but the stocking was too full and very heavy. What if I dropped it and brought down the house? So I left the stocking hanging.

A candy cane was sticking out the top. I love peppermint! By feeling carefully I could guess what most of the bumps and lumps were. It was the usual stuff, which I always liked. Finally I got to the toe of the stocking, and there was something different! I felt all around it. It was a tiny, tiny box.

I did not dare check the gifts under the tree because there was no light at all there. I might trip and crash into the tree. Besides, I wanted to get back to bed and solve the mystery of the little box. What could possibly be in a box that small? I already had a thimble that just fit my finger, and I did not like to wear rings. MONEY! That’s what it was! It had to be a folded bill. But how much money would it be? Living around grown-ups all the time, I knew the value of money and what it bought.

My aunt always spent Christmas with us, and she usually helped Santa. She was not married (her boyfriend died, so sad). She had a job and money to spend on gifts to bring me when she came to visit. It must be only one bill to fold that small. Knowing my aunt, it would be a five dollar bill, rather than a one. She was the generous type. What I couldn’t do with five dollars to spend just as I wanted! I started making the list in my head, and the time went fast.

On the dot of seven I woke everyone, and the family finally gathered. The stocking was what I wanted first. It was taken down and put into my lap. Quickly I dumped everything on the floor to get to what was in the toe. Holding my breath, I opened the little box. There was a perfect, very tiny and light blue, bird’s egg!

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What gift were you given, at any age, that was a disappointment? Or one that brought you joy, remembered to this day?

Write or tell your stories about gifts received and then share them with someone who will understand.