Christmas morning, 2004, pretty much is where it all began. My family and I, (Mom, Dad, and Jenni, my older sister) were driving to my grandmother's house to exchange presents. I was driving with my temps, just beginning, and in the snow, yikes. I pulled carefully into the driveway of Gram's house, praying that I wouldn't total my Uncle Mike's car, yet thankfully I didn't.
We got out of the car and went into the trunk to get their presents. I had my Cousin, Kris, for Christmas this year. It took me ages to find the right gift. Pulling her big box out of the car, I trudged through the snow into Gram's house.
Grandma met me at the door, wearing a red sweatshirt and dark green pants. Mom was wearing a sweatshirt with a snowman motif with green pants as well. Dad was wearing a Santa Claus tie with a dress shirt and pants. Jenny wore a green skirt and red sweater. And as for me, I was wearing a red skirt, that I'd made, and a white blouse, all topped off with a Santa cap on my head.
"Merry Christmas!" Kris said, running out and then giving me an enormous hug that I wasn't quite expecting. Kris is a total tomboy, like me, but sometimes she'll dress up for special occasions. Today, she wore a red sweater and a black skirt, with a horse pin on her sweater. She rides horses as a hobby.
I came into the living room and set down my present along with the rest. After the rest of my family got settled, we ate breakfast. It looked really yummy, scrambled eggs, pancakes, and cinnamon toast. We made a toast to Grandma for making breakfast, and hosting our Christmas celebration.
Then it was time for gifts. Kris and I watched everyone else get their presents, we were always last.
My family got what they wanted most. Dad got yet another Lionel train. Mom got a cooking book. Jenni got a sewing kit. Uncle Jeff got a radio, and aunt Sue got a new bag to keep her things in. When Kris's parent's and her brother were done getting their presents, it was our turn.
Kris went first. Uncle Mike got her a adorable German Shepherd Puppy. It was so cute, brown and black, and only half a foot tall, supposedly the runt of the pack. I'll bet you anything, in a month in Kris's caring hands and it would be bigger than the whole litter.
Kris was so excited, though I think that her other dog, Aggie, wouldn't be too pleased. Yet the two dogs would learn to get along. She had a named picked out for ages, and she decided to name the pup Bosco.
I was after her. Uncle Mike took out a box that looked a lot like Kris's. Was it a dog as well? Opening the box up, it was. Excitedly, I took out my little American Foxhound. She was white with brown all across her back and on her head, so beautiful. Cuddling into my arms, she fell asleep.
Grandma had yet another trick up her sleeves. She brought out two boxes that were the same size to us.
Kris opened her box. "A cell phone, camera, and passports?" She looked over at me mysteriously.
Grandma smiled. "The cell phones are already paid for, three years worth of use to you two chatterboxes." She grinned. "And the cameras and passports mean, that you two are going to Australia! You two are going to the Great Barrier Reef!"
I looked over at Kris, completely stunned. And if that wasn't enough, while Kris and I were bursting with excitement, my aunt Sandy came with two more presents. One looked large and very heavy, the other was a little bit smaller.
I let Kris open hers first. And she got awesome new snorkeling equipment. It was all soft sea-green colored. The snorkel had a splashguard, the fins were long and streamlined, and the mask was just her size. Under all of that was a short wetsuit, prefect for the Australian Climate.
"Go on Rebecca." Kris said, beaming.
"Alright." I put my puppy down into Kris's lap and opened the box slowly. Gasping, I closed it again. "You didn't!" Hugging Gram, I showed Kris my new SCUBA equipment, and the short wetsuit that I'd just gotten. There was no way to express my joy. Looking over at Kris, we started to giggle, then everyone joined in. Truly, this was the best Christmas ever!
"Oh yeah! I just remembered!" After hugging Gram about a million times, Kris and I sat down again. "Here you go Kris. " I handed her the enormous gift box. "Enjoy, though I'll bet this is
nowhere as good as a trip." We grinned at each other.
She started to open the box, only to find another box, and opening that one, another box. Finally, after about twenty boxes, there was a small gift card to Kohls, "Only you Rebecca, only you!" She gave me another hug.
Then, finally, Christmas was over. I got to stay at Kris's overnight, so our house could become "puppy-proof." We both sat in the rear seat of their van, talking about how fantastic it all was. Kris's brother Mike just laughed at the both of us and shook his head. My little American Foxhound fell asleep again in my arms. I decided to name her Weslar.