Chapter 3-Opening Presents
"You almost lit the tree up! Be careful, Joshua!" I hear Mother say as I enter the Great Hall. I quell a giggle and take a waxed stick to light the last candles up. Father lights it for me and I pass the small flame onto three candles before blowing it out.
"Can we open one of our presents now, Father?" Joshua asks after he lights up the last candle. Father nods, Laura goes to her pile of presents and picks up the first box. Joshua grabs the present from Grandpa Henri; I sit next to my pile while Pavia comes up and sits in my lap. I scratch her head while everyone looks at me expectantly.
"I already have one of my presents." I reply logically.
"You may have two others, since the cub wasn't wrapped up. What did you name her?" I grab the nearest box with the hand that isn't petting Pavia.
"Penny, for the color of her coat." I open the box after gently pushing the year-old cat off my lap. "She is very pretty. Thank you, Mother, Father." I pull out the doll as I speak. She has curly black hair and is wearing a blue-and-black-striped dress with blue shoes. I grab another box, and open it to reveal a pair of brand-new dancing slippers. They are brown with embroidered green leaves. "OH! Thank you so much!" I immediately switch shoes.
"Oh, Mother, Father! It's beautiful! I love it!" I look over at Laura and see her holding up a dark rose pink dress with a brown sash going from the right shoulder to the waist, where it wraps around. She takes it over to the mirror and holds it up to herself. I turn my head back to the doll, who I haven't yet named, while she announces she's gonna put it on.
"TOY SOLDIERS! This is the best present I've gotten from Grandpa in a while!" Joshua says as he opens the box. "There are even cannons and cannonballs! And they're real!" he tests one cannon out and Pavia chases the cannonball across the room. I laugh as I stand to put Tealea in the toy cabinet that is near the Christmas tree. Just as I'm about to put her in, Laura sweeps into the room wearing her new dress.
"Well, what do you think? How do I look?" she says as I walk back.
"It fits you perfectly." Mother says.
"Laura, you look just like a princess!" Father says as she twirls around. I mimic her behind her back, but Joshua gives me away by laughing.
"You're still such a child Kyrie. And you shouldn't act like that! You are almost fourteen!"
"Laura, that's enough." Father says to her and Verte comes in, announcing that the first guests have arrived. "Laura, come with us to greet them. And Joshua, try to stay out of trouble this year!" but my brother doesn't hear a word; he's too busy with his new toy soldiers. Father sighs, Mother takes his arm and they leave the room.