Nutcracker
I was at home one Christmas many years ago. We had all the relatives over. My uncles and aunts and cousins.
My Aunt Janis uncle Norman and their daughters Kelly and Kimberly (who had recently come back from an adventure in strange new places Kelly even danced with a king). They always gave the best presents.
My little brother Kenneth or sometimes Yo-yo by his friends (he really hates it when he's called that) but Kenny as he was usually known as liked those cousins the best. They were the funest to be around.
When I opened my present from them and saw the piece of wood that was inside it I nearly keeled over. It was a nutcracker. It was so below their usual standards.
When I pulled the gift out of the box my brother immediately grabbed for it. "Hey!" I yelped.
As he twisted away from me he looked at the nutcracker and laughed. "What's this thing?"
I grew angry. He didn't just insult my gift but he insulted the cousins. "A nutcracker Kenny. Now give it back!" I made a grab for it.
He yanked away again. "Ha ha Clara you can't catch me."
I growled "mom, dad make him give it back!"
"Kenny!" snapped my father. "Give your sister back her toy."
The family laughed. We always made them laugh.
My brother pouted and reluctantly gave me back the nutcracker.
I grabbed it away.
"Now Clara." Scolded my father.
"What!" I said.
With a laugh Kelly the oldest cousin said "oh it's okay."
I finally got my first good look at the toy. I had seen nutcrackers before they all seemed to have the same soldier's uniform and ugly hair. But this one was made of all wood. White hair and beard but a black mustache and looked handsome it a way. But then again I was a sap for facial hair.
My cousin Kimberly sat beside me and looked at the toy. "You know the story of the nutcracker don't you?" she asked.
I read a lot and like to watch T.V. I had a very good imagination and usually asked for books or movies. I nodded.
And so did she. At the time I didn't know what she meant. And I had no idea what was to come. I set the nutcracker down on a stand.
A yell came from the kitchen. "Its time to eat!" called my grandmother. We all rushed up except my little brother. I quickly gathered my food and ran back to the living room where I found my brother picking up pieces of wood. "What did you do?" I shrieked.
He jumped and dropped the wood. "I'm sorry I didn't mean to!" he cried.
I then saw that the wood shards belonged to the nutcracker the pieces were painted red and blue. I let my food on the floor and took the pieces. The arm and a foot had been torn off. "You broke it!" I screamed. My family came rushing in.
"What happened!" asked my mother.
I glared at Kenny, who was cowering "he broke my nutcracker!"
"I didn't mean to, honest." He tried.
"Dad can you fix it?" I asked my father he was really good at fixing things.
"Well let me see." I handed the pieces to him.
His huge tan hairy hands worked around the small pieces and somehow managed to put the nutcracker back together. "Thank you!" I said when he handed it back to me.