The Bicycle

Sandy rose early from her bed anxious for the day to begin. This was to be a special day, and she didn't want to miss a moment of it. It was Christmas Day.

She hurried into the living room and stood in awe at the brightly lit tree and the mound of presents underneath. There is the corner stood the bicycle that she had longed for all year long. How beautiful it was. She walked over and touched it, running her hand along the shiny blue bar up to the black seat.

Her mother appeared at the doorway. "Well, looks like Santa was good to you this year, Sandy. How do you like it?"

"Oh, Mama, it's beautiful. Isn't it beautiful? It's just what I wanted. Can I sit on it?" she said looking at her mother hopefully.

"Sure, honey, just be careful. It's too early to take it outside right now, but maybe a little later in the day when it warms up. Let me put the coffee on, and we'll open up some of the presents and see what else you've got." Her mother left to make the coffee, and Sandy sat and examined each package so she could easily find her gifts quickly.

When her mother returned, her mother sat down beside her and reaching over, gave her a little hug and whispered, "Merry Christmas, honey. Now, let's see what we've got here." She handed Sandy a small package which she hurriedly opened.

They took turns opening a gift, carefully making sure to see whether it was from Granny or Aunt Sylvia and others, and then put it to the side. Later as a pile of discarded wrapping paper covered the majority of the floor, both sat back and viewed all the nice presents they had received. Although she had received a number of presents, she was still excited about the gift yet to come.

"Do you think he'll call soon, Mama?" she asked looking at her mother.

"I'm sure he'll call as quickly as he can, honey, but I'm afraid you'll just have to wait. I tell you what, let's go fix some breakfast, and by the time we get through eating, maybe it'll be warm enough for you to take your new bike outside. Okay?"

Although Sandy didn't really feel very hungry, she went with her mother into the kitchen. While her mother prepared pancakes, Sandy set the table and poured the juice. All the while they ate, her mother talked of Christmases when she was young and even when she got her first big bicycle. Sandy listened with one ear, but the other she kept open in case the phone rang. Finally, it did.

Sandy ran to answer it, "Hello, Daddy?"

"Merry Christmas, sweetheart, it's Granny. Are you having a nice Christmas? Did Santa come to see you?"

"Yes, Granny, he brought me a bike and a bunch of nice presents. Mama says when it warms up, I can go outside and ride."

"That's wonderful," she said. Sandy handed the phone to her mother who had entered the room.

"Hi, Mom," he mother said. "No, not yet. I hope so, but you know how it is."

Sandy listened for a minute and then went to her room to change clothes. As the day went on, she played with her new toys, and later took her bicycle out for several spins around the yard. Several times during the day, she would take a break and check with her mother to see if her father had called, but in her heart she knew that her mother would have come and got her if he had.

By the end of the day, when her mother suggested it was bedtime, Sandy was so tired she didn't even protest. She took one more look at her bicycle still shiny and new sitting on the back porch.

Her mother came in to kiss her good night and tuck her in. "Why didn't Daddy call, Mama?"

Her mother leaned down over the angelic head of her daughter, trying to hold back the tears welling in her eyes and replied, "I don't know, honey. I guess he just got busy and forgot it was Christmas. Maybe he'll call tomorrow. Night, my sweetie." She kissed her forehead.

As Sandy rolled over, her last thoughts were about her glorious new bike and how she wished Daddy could have seen it. He had always told her she would be ready for a big bike someday. She felt a little sad, but thought maybe, Mama was right; maybe he'll call tomorrow, and I can tell him all about it. She drifted off to sleep.