'Tis The Season: A Wattpad Christmas Countdown

Cookie Day

Day 19
{written by the hard-working QuestWing }

December, 1951

"Marilyn, why don't you invite Sharon over to make cookies?" Mrs. Miller suggested, pulling out an apron to help her daughter make candy cane cookies. It was Christmas time, and joy had settled throughout the house. The radio played cheerful Christmas carols and the Millers had decorated their tree with tinsel and baubles only a few days ago. Everyone on the streets and in school seemed happier, and smiles were contagious.

"Okay!" 10-year-old Marilyn agreed happily, buckling her shoes and pulling on a red coat. She opened the front door, met with freezing frosty air, a light snowfall beginning to set on the ground. She shivered, but welcomed the nipping wind on her rosy face.

"Be quick! I don't want you catching a cold!" her mother called after her.

Marilyn raced down the icy sidewalk, slipping and sliding as her soft strawberry curls danced behind her. She laughed, carefree, waving at her neighbor on the other side of the street. Marilyn approached the door of a house larger than hers, about five doors down. The tall chimney and the high doors and windows were daunting, but Marilyn felt right at home here. She raised a small fist to knock four times, shivering in her stockings and blue dress under her coat.

Soon the door was answered by Mrs. Rogers, a kind young woman with a welcoming smile. Marilyn had always been one of her favorite children, other than her own, and Marilyn felt as if she was her second mother. "Marilyn! What a pleasant surprise!" she exclaimed.

She grinned, bouncing on her toes. "Hello, Mrs. Rogers."

"Oh, you must be freezing! Come inside, I'll make you a warm glass of milk."

Marilyn shook her head, despite her numbing toes. "Actually, Mrs. Rogers, I came to ask if Sharon wanted to come over to make cookies with me?"

Mrs. Rogers beamed. "I think she would love that. Sharon! Marilyn's here for you!" she called up the grand staircase. Her voice echoed through the large house.

"It's Sherry!" an angry, muffled voice yelled back, and there were footsteps down the stairs. Sharon, or Sherry now, appeared in a nice velvet dress, her brown hair bouncing around her frowning face, which transformed into a smile when she saw Marilyn. "Mary!" she shouted, jumping down the rest of the stairs and excitedly hugging her friend. The two saw each other at school every day, but each time there was the same excited greeting.

"Marilyn has invited you to make cookies with her and Mrs. Miller. Doesn't that sound fun?" Mrs. Rogers explained, getting Sherry's fur coat.

"Yes!" she replied immediately, hurriedly shrugging into the expensive coat that her mother was holding out. "Let's go!" Sherry grabbed Marilyn's hand, and off they ran, back to the Millers' humble home.

"Hi Mrs. Miller!" Sherry greeted Marilyn's mom.

"Hello, Sharon. How are you?"

"I'm good. And my name is Sherry now. I like it better," Sherry said proudly, tilting up her chin.

"Well, all right Sherry. It is a very nice name. Would you like to make some cookies?" Mrs. Miller said, smiling and holding out two smaller aprons as the two girls hung their jackets on the coat rack.

"Yes, please!" Sherry replied, jumping up and down and taking a polka dotted apron, which looked silly in contrast to her fancy dress. As they began the baking, mixing flour and sugar and crushing peppermint sticks, Marilyn's older sister, Dorothy, walked down the stairs. She had on her best blue coat over her pink dress, and some of her dirty blonde hair was braided over her head.