The Night B4 Christmas

It's Christmas eve, Tommy, Joe and Mindy are decorating the living room. Mom and Dad left the house to pick up the presents at Grandma's. The three kids planned to purchase a present for their parents while they were gone. They stopped at a store for the perfect gift. "So what are we getting mom and dad?" Tommy asked. "How about this," Joe pointed to the window display. Mindy shook her head, "we're running out of time, we better find something soon." Joe found a cat on display made out of porcelain.

They all chipped in and paid for the gift. The three kids ran home to wrap the present. Tommy and Mindy fought on who should wrap the gift. They tugged back and forth holding on to the cat. "Let me do this," Mindy cried. Tommy shouted back, "No, I want to do this." Immediately, both Tommy and Mindy fell to the floor. All three kids watched the porcelain cat shatter in pieces. "Now, look at what you did," Tommy shouted at Mindy. Mindy started to cry, "it's not my fault." She ran upstairs and slammed the door. Joe and Tommy quickly cleaned up the mess. "What are we going to do?" Tommy asked. Joe stared at the clock and sighed, "It's too late," Joe said, "mom and dad will be home soon." Mindy called Uncle Ted on the phone. She told him the dilemma all three kids were in. "Don't worry about anything," Uncle Ted said, "I will take care of it." Mom and Dad came through the door carrying presents. Joe and Tommy helped their parents place all the gifts under the tree. "Where is Mindy?" Mom asked. Joe and Tommy looked at each other. "She's taking a nap." The door bell rang  and Uncle Ted arrived. He asked the kids to help him unload the presents from his car. Mindy came down the stairs and helped move the presents under the tree. "I can't stay," Uncle Ted said, "but I will be back at midnight." The three kids went upstairs to put together a handmade Christmas card. "I'm sorry I yelled at you," Tommy said to Mindy.  "I'm sorry too," Mindy replied. They worked together to make the special card for their parents. The clock struck midnight, the kids ran down the stairs and sat on the floor near the tree. The parents stood back and watched all three kids eyes light up the moment they opened each gift. "Thanks Mom and Dad," all three kids shouted together. They took turns and hugged their parents. "Let's sit down and read about the first Christmas," Dad announced. Mindy raised her hand and volunteered to read from the bible. Before they settled down to rest, Dad noticed there was one more present behind the tree. He picked up the gift and saw it was marked for Mom and Dad from the kids. All three kids stood in shock. They whispered to each other, "how could it be?"  Mom opened the present and found a porcelain cat inside. "Thank you, kids," Mom replied, "this is a special gift." The kids wondered where it came from.  "You must have spent all your savings on it," Dad said. "Ah, Yeah," Joe replied, "we're broke, tell them Mindy." Mindy stared at Joe, "we have no money left." Tommy announced it was a shattering experience. Uncle Ted finally came back to join the family in a sing along. They walked toward the couch when Mindy stopped Uncle Ted along the way. "Thanks, Uncle Ted," Mindy said, "please don't tell anyone." "It will be our secret," Uncle Ted said. Mindy gave him a big hug.