Magic Aunt
About a week before Christmas, three big boxes arrive in the mail. These are really big, measuring 3 feet long, two feet wide, and three feet tall. My little sister and I know what they are and who sent them. They show up every year. They're from our Aunt Molly and they're full of Christmas presents! Everyone should have an Aunt Molly. Actually, she's our great aunt and the only one we have. My little sister, Vickie and I were born later in our parents' lives. Both were in their late 30s. She lives in another town about an hour and a half away and won't be coming for Christmas because she has a son and grandson that live in her town. So, she sends all the presents for all the nieces and nephews to our house because my Mom is the oldest in the family. Our cousins will get theirs when they come for Christmas dinner at our house. What is really special about the boxes is that there isn't just one present for each of us, but maybe three or four. They're not big expensive presents, but they're PRESENTS, with an "s",,,more than one. There might be a yo-yo,or a bag of army men, or a car, or even handkerchiefs for me. Vickie might get a toy necklace or bracelet, a makeup kit, or something for her hair. But, as a kid, numbers of presents means something. Mom will put all the presents under the tree. But Vickie and I will make sure that Aunt Molly's presents are up front. We have a plan for them. About a day or two before Christmas, we'll beg Mom to let us open just one present. Just one. And, of course, she'll say no. But, we'll get to her by asking to open one of Aunt Molly's presents since there's more than one for each of us. Just one. After a few minutes of begging, we'll get to open JUST ONE. It's a game played every year. And every year we seem to "win". Aunt Molly was a dear lady we loved all through the year, but at Christmastime, she as good as Santa.
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