Most Memorable Christmas

Dear Santa,1

I think I've been really good this year so for christmas I want a pink barbie car that I can drive around that way I can drive around my driveway instead of riding my bike because my bike is boring! Please Please Please bring me a barbie car! Thanks!2

Love, Aria3

I handed my letter to mom to send to the North Pole. She folded it up and put in in an envelope. We were just about to go to the mall to see Santa. In the car mom asked me what I wanted for Christmas. I launched into my plea for the Barbie car. It was all the rage in the early to mid nineties. It was the electric car that kids could drive. It had a radio and two seats in the front while it had a open trunk area in the back like a jeep. I wanted it so bad. The commercials made it seem irresistible. 4

“Is that what you asked for from Santa?” She asked.5

“Yeah...” I answered sheepishly. 6

“Well what else do you want for Christmas?” She probed.7

“I dunno...” I answered slowly.8

She kept asking me about various toys that I had seen commercials for, but all I wanted was the Barbie car. She sighed and parked the car. We walked into the mall and went immediately to Santa's kiosk. I got in line behind the twenty or so other kids waiting to tell Santa what they want. Finally I was helped onto Santa's knee by a tall elf. 9

I smiled up at Santa. He asked me what I wanted for Christmas and I explained about the car. When I was finished we got our picture taken and they handed it to me. After that mom and I walked around the mall for awhile. 10

Christmas morning I woke up at six, but mom had told me I wasn't allowed to get her up until at least eight. Mom was a light sleeper so I knew there was no way I could sneak down to the living room early. I fidgeted around my room for awhile, playing with toys in my room. After what seemed like the whole day, it was eight and I ran into mom and dad's room. I woke them up and jumped around impatiently. Mom told me to go wake my sister up so I ran and did that. She rolled her eyes at me. She was only two years older than me but she acted like she was way more mature. 11

She and I sat at the top of the stairs and looked down. We couldn't see the living room but we could hear mom and dad moving things around. Finally Dad appeared at the bottom of the stairs and motioned us down. We ran into the living room and I was disappointed that there was no Barbie car. I couldn't give up. I turned and ran out of the room to yank the garage door open. I just knew Santa had brought me what I wanted. The garage was bereft of the car too. I shut the door slowly, despair setting in. On my way back to the living room my eyes lit on the front door. I walked to the door to open it, thinking that maybe he had left it on the front porch, but there was nothing there. I didn't get the Barbie car.12

I walked back in the living room, half hoping it had just appeared. There were no boxes big enough for a car I could drive. Santa, who had never failed me before, hadn't brought me what I asked for. I looked at my mom and started crying. This was the worst Christmas ever.