The Christmas Cabin: A short story

Lights Out and Cabbage Patch Kids

Early one wintery morning, the windows frosted over, the power out, Mama woke up to the laughter of the kids. Walking into the kitchen, she watched as Chris, red Christmas stockings on both feet, ran and skated across the old linoleum of the kitchen floor. Dylan, Ella, Bruce, and Drake laughed delightedly, anticipating their turn. Mama chuckled softly, shaking her head. "Make sure you hang those stockings back up on the mantle when you're all finished." With the power out, and the snow falling furiously outside, she called Dad at work to make sure he'd made it safely. After confirming that he had, she stoked the wood stove, whipping up a batch of oatmeal right on top of it.

Setting out cream, sugar and raisins, the kids reluctantly dove in. This was their least favorite meal. Dylan, Chris, and Bryce made gagging sounds as they swallowed, telling Ella she was really eating snot. Drake happily sat in his highchair, chomping on raisins. The power ended up staying out for three days, the most perfect winter week for the kids. It was like an adventure, with cooking on the wood stove and all camping out in the living room around its warmth.

As Christmas drew near, Mama would stay up late into the night. She sat, back hunched, over her sewing machine. She'd bought Cabbage Patch doll kits at the fabric store and was putting them together for the kids for Christmas. Four boy dolls and one girl doll. The kids knew she was making Christmas presents and they sorely wanted to find out what. After the older boys sneaked into the sewing room one too many times, Mama sighed tiredly, dragged the kids back into their rooms, and promptly tied them to their beds. She knew it wouldn't hold them long, and she was right. Chris got out first, untying the others in no time flat.