Christmas the most magical time of year, and this year I would not be working it. For years I have slaved away each year catering to other people so they could enjoy the holiday with their families. This year is my year! I finally get to see my niece and nephew I haven't seen them since Sophie was born.
I walked off the plane my brother Mike was waiting with his wife and children. "Jamie, Sophie, this is your Aunt Eloise." Mike just had to use the full name.
"Call me Ellie." I went down to their level. "You two have grown. I got a little present for you." I pulled out two cookies I had baked before I left home. If I remembered right Mike's wife Olivia was a horrible cook especially with cookies.
"Yummy!" Sophie gave me a small hug. "More." She giggled.
"After dinner alright?"
"You have more?" Jamie sounded just as excited. Her cooking hadn't gotten worse had it?
"I do."
I was wrong. Olivia's cooking had gotten worse. "Mom and Dad are flying in night tomorrow." Mike told me. "So if you don't mind sleeping on the couch, Eloise."
"Mike, it's still Ellie. I may get older, but I'm not growing up. I have no problem sleeping on the couch." I told him. It was true; my job for a living was testing toys for children. My boss decided this year I had blown a gasket because I was enjoying testing too much. He didn't know I enjoy testing nearly every year and just because I had booby-trapped my office was no excuse to get a vacation.
"I'm so glad you could join us this year. It has been a same you've had to work every year." Olivia said. "I was thinking we could go shopping together this year."
"I already have it done." I told her with a sad smile. Truthfully I hated shopping with my mother and Olivia. They took forever to shop. They could debate on one thing for hours.
"Oh…then I guess you can watch Sophie and Jamie."
"Of course I can! What do you say kiddos?"
"Yeah!"
"Great so how about sledding after dessert?"
I was pulling a sleeping Sophie on the sled behind me as Jamie rattle on about his amazing sledding adventure that happened in the spring. "Jack Frost did it! We saved the world from the Boogeyman too!" He went on to tell the tale. "I hope Jack comes to visit soon. He brings snow days you know."
I laughed. "I used to love snow days."
"I still do! I want a ton of snow for Christmas!" Jamie was overly excited.
"So do I." I smiled at him he reminded me so much of Mike. When we were kids Mike and I would attempt to stay up all night to see Santa or the Easter Bunny hiding eggs.
Olivia and Mike were waiting when we got back. Sophie was snatched from me and promptly put to bed. Jamie got ready for bed and asked for a story. "Alright, did your father ever tell you the one where we tried to capture the Easter Bunny?"
"No."
"Well, it all started the week before Easter. Your father had a great idea if we left carrots out for the Easter Bunny like we did cookies for Santa. I had an even better idea. Why don't we capture the Easter Bunny and make him tell us were all the eggs were. That way we could get the most eggs throughout town!" Jamie was into the story. He was hanging on every word I said. "So we got a milk crate and…"
"That wouldn't work." Jamie informed me.
"Why not?"
"He's like 6 feet tall."
"He is?" I always thought he was this small rabbit.
"Yeah! He's super tall and Australian! He has these boomerangs and these tattoos. He's so cool!" I remembered he had mentioned the Easter Bunny in his story from earlier. "He's awesome, but Jack Frost is my friend and…"
Jamie went on to describe Santa, the Toothfairy, the Sandman, and Jack Frost. He even told me about the Boogeyman and how he ruined Easter. I remembered reading about kids not finding eggs anywhere this year. Jamie yawned near the end of his story.
"You can tell me tomorrow kiddo. Time to go to sleep." I tucked him in and headed for the door. As soon as the lights were off her asked me a question.
"Aunt Ellie, do you believe in the Guardians?"
"I do. Good night Jamie."
"Nite, Aunt Ellie."
I took a shower before heading down stairs. I was still drying my brown hair with a towel. I noticed my brother and his wife sitting at the table discussing presents for the kids. They almost looked like grownup version of their children.
"Evening." I greeted them.
"Eloise, we need to talk." Mike told me. I knew this tone I was in trouble. "I don't appreciate taking our kids out after dinner."
"We went sledding Mike. They were perfectly safe. Jamie even saw some friends there."
"Eloise, you're almost thirty. Isn't it time you stop acting like a kid?" Olivia asked.
"I work for a toy company you can't just not at like a kid!" I defended myself.
"I was thinking you should join my parents company." Olivia told me. "We could use someone with your skills."
"I like my job!"
"It's time to grow up! We're not kids anymore! You can't just put thoughts of Santa and the Easter Bunny in Jamie's and Sophie's heads! They'll find out they're not real!" I heard a whimper from the stairs. Sophie stood there looking ready to cry.
"Oh Sophie…" Olivia scooped her up and took her back to her room.
"Look what you did!" Mike shouted.
"I didn't do anything. You're the one shouting Mike. You have the problem. Don't you remember us trying to find Bigfoot? Or staying up all night after losing a tooth just to maybe catch a glimpse of the Toohfairy? Mike I'm not the one that needs to grow up! You need to find your imagination! You don't even have the house decorated yet! Chirstmas is in five days!"
"I'm aware of that Eloise!"
"Then what's your problem?"
He didn't answer. Instead left the room and I'm sure to his bedroom. I saw a blanket, pillow, and dog on my couch. "Abby off!" I shooed the dog. She didn't move. "Fine!" I grabbed my blanket and pillow and lay next to the couch. It wasn't the first time I slept on the floor.
