Alas, the Christmas season has come to an end and so must this story. I tried to channel my inner Barbara Park for this. I've always admired the late Barbara Park's writing because she was amazing at getting in the head of Junie B. Since we're entering the ordinary season, I thought I might do something out of the ordinary and try to get into Frankie's head. It was a fun challenge for me and I hope you enjoy it too.
**I Wish Everyday Could be Like Christmas, Bon Jovi**
Nana strapped me into my seat and she took me for a surprise. It could be a puppy. I didn't get one for Christmas like I asked Santa. I was excited because I saw her put presents in her purse before we got our coats. They had the rainbow wrapping on them that is special for me so I knew we were going to have a good time. She took me to the hospital so I started to get worried. But then she took her purse with her, so I knew it was ok.
The hospital turned out to be really cool inside because we got to go up this humongous elevator and I got to push the button. Pushing the button is my elevator job. Sometimes Nana says that's my job at home too. Silly Nana. We don't have an elevator at home.
Nana gave me and Goldie 'structions in the elevator. We had to keep our mouths closed and our eyes and ears open because hospitals are busy places. Goldie's mouth is always shut and his eyes don't close. He's not a dolly Nana!
Some ladies in matching jammies smiled at me from behind a really big desk. I don't know those ladies so I didn't smile back. That happens to me a lot. Daddy says it's the curse of being a Green. Nana and I went on a hunt for room 417 on a very long hallway. That place was crawling with jammie ladies. I read every sign. Most were plain but every few doors one would be blue or pink. I hoped 417 would have a blue one 'cause pink is for girls.
I found room 417! It had a yucky pink sign. Nana knocked and guess what? I heard Daddy inside! I jumped a little 'cause I missed that guy. I hope he knows where Mama went. Nana shushed me real good and said "Don't wake your sister Frankie!" It was almost lunch time so I don't think Mama will let her sleep that long. She calls me a slug-a-bed if I don't get up before Sesame Street and that means being a lazy bones.
Daddy picked me up and we went inside. It was like a really neat hotel room in there. Mama was in a really cool bed that folded up and she had a table on wheels! She gave me a super big hug like when she comes home from her trips, but she wasn't even dressed for work! She let me play with the buttons on her bed while Nana oohhed and ahhed over something on a funny table.
Then Nana got out the presents in my special paper. Mama let me sit on her bed and push a button to make it go up. I got to open the presents too but they were no good. One was some lotion for Mama's hands. She put it on and then the whole room smelled girly and flowery. The other had a little basket of baby stuff like butt powder. I had to wear that stuff in my soccer shorts and it does feel good, but I don't think the baby will be playing soccer anytime soon. I don't know what Nana was thinking using my paper on those presents! But Mama liked them. She can be such a girl sometimes. Daddy said we better convince Vince to stay a while so we guys aren't outnumbered.
Then Daddy asked me if I wanted to see the baby. He held me up over the funny table and there was a baby in there! It was wrinkly and squirmy. It opened its eyes and looked at me but it didn't talk. Then it cried real loud and Nana didn't tell it to be quiet! Daddy set me down and took off its diaper. I almost barfed. I told Daddy that Jayne and Vera Simpson-Slattery got a puppy for Christmas and it is way cleaner than that baby. Maybe we should get a puppy instead.
Mama told me that baby was my sister. But it didn't look like a sister. Jayne and Vera are sisters and they don't have funny gummy mouths like that. Mama said I could hold her if I was really careful. I didn't want to, but I thought maybe if I showed her how gentle I am, she'll let us get a puppy. (Don't tell Mama, but Daddy said that if Halsey ever has a puppies, we can keep them all!) I sat in Mama's lap again and Daddy put the baby in my lap. Then Nana cooed over us all and took a million pictures. A zillion million! And the whole time that baby smelled like girly stuff.
Mama says her name is Georgina, but we can call her Georgie. Nana cried, again. Nana had better stop crying or Mama will think she's not ready for a puppy. After Daddy put Georgie back on the table, she cried too. Mama and Nana were busy talking logistics. Logistics is when Mama makes a plan and then Nana simp'fies it later.
I didn't like Georgie crying. Daddy said crying was what babies do because they can't talk. Goldie can't talk and he doesn't cry all the time, neither does Halsey. I held Goldie up to show her and she stopped crying. She liked Goldie so I put him in the table. Daddy said that was nice of me. I told him that maybe Georgie should have Goldie and I should have a puppy. He hugged me and laughed at the same time. I laughed too because his beard tickles. Then he said Mama and the baby needed a nap. He promised to come home and make me our favorite Crazy Bugs mac & cheese for dinner. I really hope he does, because I have to eat a lot of ketchup when Nana cooks.
Nana told me I could bring Goldie home, just in case I needed him too. I told her that I'd be OK 'cause I heard Mr. Garth tell Jayne to share with Vera because that's what you do with a sister. So Georgie can share Goldie with me. When Daddy sees what good sharers we are, he'll know I'm ready for a puppy.