12.21 Sasee_Ebook

The Season of Love, Joy, and Wisdom
by Rose Ann Sinay
It was the year of the Cabbage Patch Kids, and I was making
my bi-weekly visit to the Zayre’s toy department to peruse
the aisles, hoping for a surprise shipment of the hottest doll
of the year. The toy was all my three-year-old daughter could
talk about. Some of her little friends carried their babies with
them everywhere they went, and Kailey wanted one of her
own to love.
Although I wanted more than anything to make it happen,
these special “kids” were nowhere to be found. There were
sightings of the doll and frantic buying, only for the toy to
disappear, again, leaving some moms triumphant and many
others dismayed that their child may not have the most
important toy on their list. Although I was doing my due
diligence to find the doll, I couldn’t relate to the craziness
reported on the news about parents stepping over one
another to snatch this plaything. What was the world coming
to?
Suddenly, the stock room doors flew open. A large cart
appeared piled high with boxes–Cabbage Patch Kids.
Women scrambled like crabs holding two or three boxes in
their pincers and under their arms. A high-pitched buzz and
a horde of bodies descended upon the toy section. My anxiety
spiked as I tried to find some space. As the boxes were being
attacked, I watched a carton being pushed across a shelf and
wedged between the lower shelf and the wall. I lunged for the
package, landing hard on the tiled floor. No pain, no gain, I
muttered to myself moving forward. I huddled the object like
a large football and retreated from the growing mob. I didn’t
care which Cabbage Patch Kid I had–blue-eyed, green-eyed,
red hair, blonde hair, no hair. It didn’t matter; I had scored!
My knees were wobbly as I made my way to the register, and
I thought I might have bruised a rib. The previous week, I
had snagged a He-Man figure (Masters of the Universe) and
a few of his freakishly muscled cohorts for my son, but there
had been no frenzy, just a calm, successful shopping trip.
The toys were already wrapped and hidden in a plastic bin
in my closet. Although I was pleased and relieved to have
them, there hadn’t been that desperation that I had just
experienced.
Battered and bruised, I thought an ice cream sundae and
a cup of coffee would be the perfect way to celebrate my
coup and lick my wounds. I made my purchase and headed
directly to Friendly’s next door. With my package in tow, I
found a booth, ordered my treat, and proceeded to take the
box from the bag. The doll had red hair in two thick pigtails
and freckles across her nose. She was perfect.
I couldn’t wait to see the looks on my kid’s faces on Christmas
morning. I took a long draw on my coffee followed by a
spoonful of fudge. Life was good.
“Mommy,” a young voice screeched, “a Cabbage Patch doll!”
“Excuse me,” her mother said, “Where did you find the doll?
Were there any left?” She looked as desperate as I had felt
before my death-defying lunge.
“Next door,” I said. “The boxes were disappearing as quickly
as the stock boys put them out, but, if you’re quick, you might
get one.”
Before I knew it, the woman and her child were out the door
rushing across the parking lot.
The chocolate in my mouth was suddenly too thick and
sickeningly sweet. Had I really charged like a linebacker to get
this red-headed piece of plastic and cloth? Embarrassment
set in. I had gotten caught up in a material mania and my
priorities had been scrambled. This was not the reason for
the season.
I went home, wrapped the package, and put it in the bin
along with He-Man. There was no longer any pleasure in the
fact that I had gotten the doll.
***
Christmas morning, my son and daughter were up early. We
heard them scramble down the stairs and squeal with glee at
the sight of the presents lined up under the tree. My husband
and I grabbed a glass of eggnog and snuggled on the couch,
watching our children open each gift. Their delight was
contagious, and we laughed at their excitement.
16 :: Sasee.com :: December 2021