One advantage of marrying into a large family is that you get a lot of stories to tell. This one involves a four-yer old, and I'm going to use a nickname for him based on his middle name. After all his first name is quite unique, and someday he'll grow up and might not want to be identified by his recent exploits. So I'll call him Billy.
We've been seeing a fair amount of Billy this past year. Right now his parents are moving to a new apartment, but still managed to get a tree up to celebrate Christmas and Santa. The first time we even met Billy was just after we moved north last spring, when he was having his own 4th birthday party. It was full of relatives from both his parents' sides of the family, but even better was he got to invite his best friend along so he'd have a playmate through the party. When it came to present opening time, bedlam ensued, wrapping paper removed as soon as possible and scattered even more widely than previously thought possible, with the result that presents were very rapidly revealed.
This was little kids being cute, right?
Skip forward to a couple months ago. A big birthday party was held for Billy's cousins, sisters whose birthdays are a week apart on the calendar, though by a couple years in fact. The family held a joint party for the girls, and Billy and his family were present. It was a challenge to keep Billy from "helping" unwrap all the girl's presents, and for several minutes his parents kept him confined in a cardboard box, back next to where they were sitting watching some much more sedate action than the previous big party. The box was big enough big enough for him to comfortably watch the proceedings from, small enough to keep him out of the way, and to reach him in with frequent reminders and some gentle tugs on his clothing. These weren't his presents, after all. Billy is one of those kids who likes boxes to play in, so he was only disappointed that he had to give the empty box back after the fun was over. Well, maybe a little bit let down that this time the goodies weren't for him. One of the birthday girls likes boxes as much as Billy does, maybe even more, and this box was for her.
Skip ahead once more to Christmas Eve. Billy is put to bed, where he is to get a good night's sleep while waiting for Santa to bring everybody's presents overnight. It works for a little while, but then Billy decided to be a helper for Santa, just not by sleeping so Santa can sneak in and leave presents. He has a different idea in mind. When the family wakes up in the morning, they find Billy has unwrapped every single present under the tree. Every! Single! One! Billy happily greets them from the middle of the piles.
We have not been told the family's exact reactions. It may be best that they remain private.
But if any of you out there were looking for a thank you note from somebody in Billy's family, please note that your present was most likely received. And opened, very promptly and efficiently. Now they may never know exactly who sent it or who it was really meant for. A brief note may be in order with a quick little mention of what was sent to whom. I'm sure they're not intending to be rude if you haven't heard quite yet. Santa just got a little too much help last night.
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