Karen's Christmas Carol by Ann M. Martin

Author:Ann M. Martin
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Scholastic Inc.
Published: 2016-08-23T04:00:00+00:00

A Mystery Gift

Mommy drove Andrew and me home from the community center. Andrew was excited about his first rehearsal. He was singing a song he had learned.

“Sleigh bells ring! Are you listenin’? In the rain, snow is … is …”

“You are doing a very good job singing ‘Winter Wonderland,’ ” said Mommy. “But I think the word is lane, not rain. And the snow is glistenin’.”

“Oh, right,” said Andrew.

Mommy was excited too. When Andrew finished singing, she told us about her day. She had gone to a silver shop to buy supplies for her new job.

“Karen, what about you?” she asked. “You are very quiet.”

“I am okay,” I replied.

But I was not. I was sad. It is sad to lose an Important Job like being a big sister. I had some thinking to do.

By the time I got home, I was finished moping. I was ready for action. After a snack, I went to my room. Maybe I was not important to Andrew anymore, but I knew someone else who needed me.

“Hello, Emily!” I said to my rat. “This is Karen, your new, improved pet owner, talking.”

I have always been a good pet owner to Emily. But now that I was not so busy being a big sister to Andrew, I had time to do an extra-good job with Emily.

“It looks like your cage could use some cleaning today,” I said. “I know I cleaned it on Saturday, but I think you have dropped some crumbs since then.”

I cleaned Emily’s cage better than ever. While I cleaned, I sang some of the Christmas carols Andrew had been singing in the car. I decided it was time for Emily to start getting into the Christmas spirit.

“Sleigh bells ring! Are you listenin’? In the lane, snow is glistenin’!”

If I had been singing to Andrew, he would have sung along with me. Emily just huddled in a corner of her cage.

“I guess you do not like my singing,” I said.

I finished cleaning and got Emily some fresh water. She was curled up in a ball, sleeping.

“Wake up, Emily. We have things to do,” I said.

I rang the little bell on her wheel. Emily woke up. Then I got out the list that I had started with Andrew.

“What should we do first?” I asked. “Decorate the house? Get cards and stamps? Think of presents? Make wrapping paper?”

It all sounded like so much fun. If I had read the list to Andrew, I bet he would have said he wanted to do everything! But Emily was quiet. In fact, she was sleeping again.

I could see my rat was not going to help me get ready for Christmas. Now Andrew would not help me either. He was too busy. He would probably even be too busy to enjoy the special gift I was going to get him. (I had not decided what it would be yet.)

I put the Christmas list away and found my backpack. It was time to do my homework. I did not need Andrew or Emily for that.

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