O is for Ornaments
"Look Mommy! I made another ornament!" Callie called out enthusiastically, racing into the living room to show off her newest creation.
Buffy made herself smile as she looked over her first grader's newest design- a cut-out circle with glitter and excessive, not-quite-dry glue scattered about its surface, a hook hastily jammed through a corner.
"Uh, that's great, Callie…you've been making an awful lot of these lately, haven't you?"
"Yep!" Callie replied, bobbing her small blond head enthusiastically. "Let's go hang it up with the other ones!"
At that, Buffy had to restrain herself from cringing. In the past week or so, Callie was suddenly very interested in designing her own, hardly-professional-looking ornaments. Which was fine, of course…except that she was expecting every single one of them to end up on the Christmas tree. Buffy had done so willingly enough at first, thinking it cute..but this was Callie Creation Number 37, and she seemed to be showing no signs of stopping. The ornaments made by a first grader were taking over the entire Christmas tree- a tree that Buffy had gotten to look so nice…
Nevertheless, Buffy took the 'ornament' from her and hung it, watching as Callie beamed in satisfaction. This must have been how Mom felt, with me and Dawn…and she had the both of us to pacify, she thought to herself as Callie ran off to her room.
She sensed Faith appearing in the doorway and looked up to see her grin, a knowing look in her eyes as she came towards her by the tree.
"Face it, B…you're a mommy now," she said playfully, slipping an arm loosely around her shoulders and giving them a little shake. "Bye bye clean house, and unlimited privacy…and bye bye crap-free Christmas tree."
"You're a mommy too," Buffy shot back a little defensively, "in fact, you're the one that gave birth to her. Just because you're younger than me-"
"Yeah, but I'm not the sucker," Faith smirked. "And Callie knows it."
Buffy scowled, wanting to protest at that, but she knew it was true. SO annoying…
"Well then why don't YOU tell her not to make any more?" she shot back.
"Because I really don't think it's a big deal," Faith said casually, giving her another squeeze. "And I'm waiting to watch the dramatics when you finally can't stand it anymore and tell her to take them down."
Buffy pulled away from her indignantly then, giving her a shove as she glared at her. "Faith, you're so horrible!"
"But at least I'm not a sucker…"
Buffy just scowled.