Dinner time came only a few hours later. My grandfather had rested up until that point while I was busy drawing and coloring on the dining table. I had everything planned out. I was excited for another great Christmas with everyone. Mom cooked grandfather’s favorite meal, meatloaf. I didn’t mind the meatloaf that much; it wasn’t my favorite but it was worth it having everyone together at the table. We laughed, told stories and even some jokes which resulted in my mother covering my ears and telling my grandfather that I was too young to hear such things. My grandfather only laughed and said, “Well Annie, the kid will hear these things eventually. Might as well be from her own flesh and blood.” He said with a jolly laugh. My mother made a sour face at him and she sat back down in her chair. Meanwhile my father was busy trying not to laugh at the scene. That would only make my mother scowl at him rather than grandfather.
After we ate it finally came for the presents. I leaped out of my chair so fervently that I almost fell onto the ground. But little me recovered with a smile on my face and made my way to our living room. The tree shined and glowed as if a beacon, a lighthouse to the wonders of the season where all is welcomed. I was the first one to the room and the first one to the couch; which was the closest to the tree. The tree shined and twinkled; it even played christmas music from a remote switch plugged into the wall. Mom and dad soon followed and then grandfather sat at the end of the couch. The gifts surrounded the tree and came in a variety of shapes and colors. The smile on my face grew as I sat on the couch; I was so excited I had a little bounce. Mom and dad looked at each other with their own smiles and grandfather sat there with his own smile.
“All right then”, Mom started. “Who gets to open the first present?” She said as she clapped her hands together. I immediately shot mine up and shouted, “Me me me. I wanna!” The couch shook a bit and my dad leaned over to me and lowered down my hand.
“Okay sweetie, you can go first.” He said as my hand was placed by my side. My eyes quickly turned towards the gifts and I laser focused on the newest one on the side. The one labeled that it was from grandfather and I leaped out of the couch and hurried over to it. I picked it up and turned towards my family and said, “This one”. Everyone had a little chuckle as I hurried back to the couch and sat down. It was a small little box with gold wrapping paper with white swirls on it. I tore the wrapping paper off and let the shred fall onto the floor. Underneath the wrapping paper was a little box and I undercovered the box to reveal a gold pocket watch. My eyes lit up and I turned towards grandfather. “Thank you, grandfather! I love it.” I said. My mother turned towards my grandfather and said, “Dad, don’t you think she's a little young for a pocket watch?” My grandfather waved his hand at her. “Course not. She's the right age. That little thing there is an old family heirloom. It contains a certain magic.” He said with a twinkle in his eye. My mother shook her head. “Dad, you can’t fill her head with such nonsense.”
“Ah poppycock.” My grandfather said. “That little thing there has helped me out in more ways than I can count.” He leaned closer towards me. “It contains a special protective spirit that will help you when the time is right. All you gotta do is listen for the tick.” And he pointed at the pocket watch. I looked at it rather confused and noticed the bit at the top. With a gentle twist I heard the gears inside spring to life and start ticking. I opened the watch and saw the little hand start to move with each tick. My eyes lit up with amazement as I carefully watched the hand tick away. “Thank you, grandfather.” I shouted. And with that I ran up to my grandfather and gave him a big hug. He let out a gasp of air as I collided into him; arms open wide. My mother shot up in a panic. “Lilith, please. Be gentle with your grandfather.” My mother said with concern in her voice and anxiety in her eyes. My father sat up and gently carried me off my grandfather who was still sitting there in the chair with his big old smile.
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“You’re welcome, little one.” He said as he leaned back into the couch. My father placed me back in my spot on the couch and I held the pocket watch in my hand as if I uncovered a rare artifact. My mother would then turn to the pile of presents and start passing them out to everyone. She had a tradition where the presents would be passed out to everyone after I got my first present. We went around, opening our gifts and taking pictures. The pictures would of course go right next to the scrap book that my parents had. It was an eventful evening. Mom and dad seemed to be having a wonderful time and grandfather would continue to sit on his side of the couch and laugh and smile at the whole scenery. It was not long before mom brought out the oddly shaped and silly Christmas hats with the little lights and ornaments on it. We all sat around the couch wearing them and making jokes on how silly everything was.
As things started to wind down and my father was busy cleaning up the mess we all made with the wrapping paper I continued to sit on the couch with my gifts next to me holding the pocket watch and listening to it tick. I looked at the watch at every angle I could see.
“Where's the ghost?” I asked myself as the watch continued to tick. My father apparently heard me as he came over to me with the trash bag filled with paper; he was still wearing his Christmas hat and I heard the bells on it jingle as he approached.
“Well, Lily sometimes the ghost may need some time or as your grandfather said it will appear when you need it; like a guardian angel.” My father said as he sat down on the couch next to me. I squirmed my way over to him and leaned against him as he placed his arms around me.
“Did you have a good Christmas?” He asked. I giggled.
“Heh, yeah.” I said. The watch continued to tick in my hand. It was a good Christmas. I looked inside the watch. The little hand was resting on the ten and the long hand was on the two. My father glanced over at me.
“Well, looks like it's time for someone to go to bed.” He said as he raised his arms in the air. I instantly closed the watch and turned to him with a sour face. I said nothing, only looked back at him as he just smiled and stood up. I rolled back onto the couch.
“I can sleep here.” I said. My father put his hands on his hip and shook his head. “Come on, Lily. Bed time means bed time in your own bed.”
I sat up and pouted. “Fine.” I said as I rolled off the couch in a dramatic fashion with my arms sticking out. I should have won an award for my performance. And so I stood up, gathered what I could with my gifts and made my way upstairs. My father followed behind me carrying the rest of my Christmas presents; jingle jingle jingle all the way up the stairs. I curled myself into bed with my pocket watch on my nightstand and drifted off to sleep.
