R – is for Ribbons

"What are you doing?" Sybbie opened the door to the housekeeper's sitting room and found her wrapping presents.

"I'm bathing a cat," Elsie answered with a serious expression on her face.

"Silly, Mrs. Hughes! You're not bathing a cat. You're wrapping presents," she said with a giggle and crossed the room to stand beside Elsie. "I don't think a cat would like a bath, anyway, especially not when it's this cold outside."

"No, I daresay not. Besides, I wouldn't want to try to bathe a cat. Would you?"

"I'd rather bathe Tiaa. I bet she makes a big mess when she gets in the tub with all the soapy bubbles."

Elsie finished wrapping one present then started on another, thankful that she'd put the presents for the children aside just in case she had an unexpected visitor. "Thankfully, she doesn't get into the tubs inside the house. A wet dog running through the house would make for a lot of work for my maids."

"That wouldn't be very nice, so I'm glad we don't do that." She watched, in awe, as Mrs. Hughes skillfully wrapped another present then tied the ribbon around it with ease and precision. "How did you learn to do that?"

"I've been doing this for years, longer than you've been alive, little girl. It just takes a bit of patience and a lot of practice. One day, you'll be wrapping presents for your children and loved ones and thinking back on this very conversation. I'll just bet money on it."

"Would you teach me how right now? I could help you with the presents you have left to wrap, then you'd be done in no time at all. I bet I'll be really good at it, and you're a good teacher."

Inwardly, Elsie sighed. She had a mountain of presents to wrap for various people in the household, not to mention her own presents to make presentable. She was just about to tell her helper that this might be a project for another day, when an idea began to form in her head. She rummaged around in her basket and pulled out several long pieces of ribbon and handed it to Sybbie.

"Grab a book from the shelf, and you can practice on that while I continue with the presents here. I'll go slowly for the first few so you can follow along. Sometimes, it's easier to learn something new by actually doing it instead of having someone like me trying to explain it."

"What a wonderful idea. I can wrap the book more than once and then, when I've learned how to do it quickly like you, then I can help." Sybbie grabbed her copy of Alice Through the Looking Glass and settled down on the floor awaiting instructions on the art of ribbon tying.

True to her word, Elsie went slowly and guided Sybbie through tying the ribbon around the book, making it look like a present ready to be presented to the receiver. They both caught a fit of the giggles when Sybbie's fingers and the ribbons got all tangled, and Elsie had to help her unwind them.

"How on earth did you manage that, lass? It's like you were trying to tie the ribbon around yourself," she teased as she untangled the plaid ribbon from tiny fingers.

Sybbie doubled over in laughter. "I think it was trying to make me a present for somebody. I didn't mean to tie my fingers together. And, look, the book isn't even wrapped at all." It was at that moment that she truly dissolved into laughter and couldn't stop.

"I think we're done for the day, silly girl. I have some work to do, and you should be upstairs. But, if you like, you can take some of the ribbon upstairs and keep practicing. I'm sure Nanny will know how to tie a bow, so if you get stuck, she can show you."

She reached into the basket and took a handful of ribbons of varying lengths and color. "If you don't need these, I can practice on more books and toys. And, the more I practice, the faster I can come back and help you wrap real presents."

With Sybbie on her way back upstairs, Elsie quickly finished wrapping the presents for the children, making sure that the bows were absolutely perfect and colorful, too. Looking over the stack of gifts in the corner of her room, Elsie decided to save one or two of the smaller, simpler ones for Sybbie to wrap, just in case she came back within the next few days to prove her skills.

The following day, Mrs. Hughes fully expected to see Sybbie back in her sitting room, ready to wrap presents like a professional. What she was not expecting was a summons from the nanny, Mrs. Potts.

"You asked to see me?" Elsie surveyed the nursery with a critical eye, looking for anything her maids may have missed when they were cleaning or something which might require the housekeeper's attention.

"Yes, I did, Mrs. Hughes. I hate to complain, but could you take the ribbons back to your sitting room? I'm afraid Miss Sybbie is driving us all a bit mad."

"Goodness. I wouldn't have thought a bit of cloth would be enough to undo one adult and two extra children. Would you care to explain the problem? Perhaps it could be solved with a little chat with Miss Sybbie instead of taking away the ribbon. She seemed very keen on learning how to properly wrap presents and other things."

"And therein lies the problem. She's wrapping everything! Books, small toys, the odd piece of clothing … those were fine. And, then, she moved on to trying to wrap Master George's shoes, Miss Marigold's doll, and even a few things of mine from my nightstand. What's worse is that when she wraps the things, and we untie them, she gets a bit cross."

"You're telling me that you're upset because she's tying ribbons around everything in the nursery and it's a bother for you to untie them? Forgive me, but I don't quite see the problem. She's not broken anything, is not being disrespectful or disruptive, and is actually staying in the nursery, and yet you're complaining." Elsie had to fight hard to control the urge to roll her eyes.

"I just thought you might be able to help her see that not everything needs a bow, and not everyone wants to untie random bits of string and cloth before using an object."

"And, where is she now?"

"She's out with Mr. Branson. They went into the village but should be back soon."

"Give me the ribbons, and when she comes to talk to me, I'll have a little chat with her. However, I will not be discouraging her from practicing her ribbon tying, only suggesting that she stick to things that belong to her."

"Thank you, Mrs. Hughes. That's very kind of you."

"It's also something you could have suggested to the child in your care, but never-you-mind. I'll do it and with less tears shed on her part, I'm sure." Feeling a bit flustered and like she shouldn't say anything else, Mrs. Hughes left Mrs. Potts in the nursery looking a bit bewildered.

As soon as she returned from the village with her Papa, Sybbie looked all over the nursery for her ribbons, but couldn't find any of them. "I'm sure I left them on my table. Did George or Marigold take them? If they did, that wasn't very nice. I need them for my practice. I have to get it just right, Mrs. Potts."

"Mrs. Hughes stopped by and took the ribbons with her. I'm sure if you go and ask her, she'll tell you why, and if you need to continue to practice, perhaps you can do it under her supervision. That would be more appropriate, and I'm sure she has lots of things you can wrap and tie."

"I can't do that, though. I'm trying to learn how to use the ribbons so I can make a pretty package for her, but she doesn't know that. She taught me how to wrap and use the ribbons but I need to get it just right so I can make her Christmas present as pretty as possible. That's one reason Papa and I went into the village today. I needed to pick out my own special spool in just the right shade of blue. See, isn't it pretty?" She held up a brand new spool of deep blue ribbon. "I chose it with her in mind. Do you think she'll like it?"

Nanny felt a lump forming in her throat for being so aggravated with the girl earlier, so much so that she'd asked Mrs. Hughes to intervene. "It's very pretty and she's going to love it. What are you planning to give her that needs to be wrapped with such sweet care?"

"It's a secret but I think I can trust you not to tell her. Do you promise?" The older woman nodded her head and crossed her heart, promising not to breathe a word to the housekeeper. "Papa took me to sit for a portrait, and we got the photographs back two days ago. He let me choose one to give to Mrs. Hughes and Mr. Carson. We even picked out a nice frame to put it in. So, since I couldn't buy the photo or the frame myself, I'm wrapping it all by myself with a skill she taught me. Oh, and I also got them each a chocolate bar, since we're always sharing sweet treats."

Now that she knew the whole story, Nanny Potts felt awful for losing her patience with the kind and caring child. "Tell you what, I'll help you this evening, if you'd like. We don't have the other ribbons, but that's my fault. I told Mrs. Hughes to take them with her when she visited the nursery earlier. But, if you'd like, I'll help you wrap your presents and make them really special."

"No, thank you. I'd like to say I did it all by myself, and even if it's a little less than perfect, I'm sure she won't mind. It's the thought that counts. She and Mr. Carson are always reminding me of that."

Over the next week, Sybbie Branson wrapped any and everything she could get her hands on and that the ribbon would fit around tightly. She never asked Mrs. Hughes why she'd taken the ribbons back to her sitting room, assuming she'd needed them for her own presents, and by the time she was ready to get her photograph and the chocolate bars ready, she was doing very well with her new skill.

Tom had made arrangements with the Carson's to visit them during one of the slower times in their daily schedule. He wanted to be there when they opened the photograph and to explain, if necessary, how the idea came about. With her packages held carefully in her arms, Sybbie and her father entered Mr. Carson's pantry.

"I brought you a present," she exclaimed excitedly. "I couldn't wait until Christmas to give it to you, and Papa wanted to be here when you opened it."

"Goodness! This is exciting." Mr. Carson offered Mr. Branson a seat as Elsie took her usual chair across the desk and Sybbie climbed into her lap.

"We have a little something for you at the cottage, but you'll have to wait, I'm afraid. We didn't know we would be exchanging gifts today. I've had to keep it there since someone likes to visit our offices and might have seen it," she said, tickling Sybbie.

"Look at my pretty bow. How'd I do with the ribbons?" Sybbie bit her bottom lip and waited to hear the verdict from Mrs. Hughes.

She pretended to study the wrapped frame from all angles, pulling lightly on the top of the bow and remarking on how straight the lines were across the front and back. "You've been practicing, and it shows. You've done a wonderful job. It's almost too pretty to unwrap."

"Oh, but you have to or you'll never know what's inside. If you don't want to undo it, I'm sure Mr. Carson wouldn't mind."

"I have an idea," he said from his seat across from them. "How about I take one end and Mrs. Hughes takes the other end of the ribbon. You hold the package steady and we'll gently pull it until it unravels? Everyone gets to play a part," he suggested.

"Wonderful, Mr. Carson." Elsie placed Sybbie between them and made sure she had a good hold on the package before they began to slowly unravel the gift. When the ribbon was off, Sybbie helped them unveil the gift inside.

"Look! It's me. I had a photograph taken and Papa and I thought you might like one of me. You can keep it here or at your cottage. Oh, and I have one more thing for you," she said, turning to her father who gave her the wrapped chocolate bars. "You don't have to share with me since I have one of my own."

Elsie and Charles were both left speechless and feeling incredibly happy and blessed at the very thoughtful gift. They each took a turn hugging the child and expressing their heartfelt thanks to her father for the gift as well. "We will take the photograph home and place it on the shelf with our other family photos. Would you mind if I kept this bit of ribbon?" Elsie asked, holding up the one that had been wrapped around the frame.

"I don't mind. Are you going to put it with the others in your basket so we can practice even more?"

"No, lass, this one will stay with the photo and frame. See, I'll wrap it here, along the top and then tie it in a nice bow around the back."

"Why would you do that?" Sybbie and her father were both puzzled by the odd request.

"It's a way to always remember that sometimes we don't have to be related to someone to love them as family. Sometimes, it's as simple as the little ribbon that binds us all together."

And in that pantry, three adults and one child became even closer as a family, not a conventional one, but one of the heart and one that mattered more than anything to the little girl with the blue ribbon.

A/N: Another chapter in the books. Another day when ffnet isn't cooperating with answering reviews. I love that you're still enjoying these snippets in the Christmas season. I realize it's not everybody's cuppa but for those of you still with me … massive hugs! To the guest reviewers, you guys are wonderful and I wish I could reply to you personally!