Part One
It was Saturday morning. You could see that Billy and Mariah were excited. They had their hats and coats on an hour before we had to leave.
The two lucky dolls were going to visit Santa for the first time!
Both dolls wore their seat belts in the car. They watched the sky move by, with a glimpse of a traffic light or telephone line from time to time, because that was all they could see. They were on their way to the shopping mall where we knew Santa would be stopping in to meet children in person (while they are awake) and find out what they wanted for Christmas.
It was exciting when Santa arrived. All the children cheered Santa Claus as he came through the door, ringing his reindeer bells.
We had to wait for an hour for our number to come up, but Mariah and Billy were able to share one seat, to save room for others.
From time to time, a small child would come and pick up Mariah or Billy and walk around with them, or take their hats off and try to put them on again. The two dolls knew to pretend to be ordinary dolls. They didn't move or talk, but they enjoyed meeting real children and making real children happy.
Finally it was their turn to sit with Santa. They were still. They didn't move. They didn't talk. They pretended to be ordinary dolls, but Santa knew. Santa knew!
Santa speaks doll language, so they could tell him what they wanted for Christmas. Santa knew what they were saying to him, but he pretended that they were just ordinary dolls.
"I would like to have a sled," said Billy to Santa.
"I will do my best," said Santa to Billy. He did it without moving his lips.
"I would like to have a doll that looks like me," said Mariah to Santa.
"I'll see what I can do," Santa replied without talking out loud.
When they finished talking with Santa, the lady who gets paid for taking photos took this.
Billy and Mariah were so excited after their visit with Santa, they chattered happily all the way home.
When the two dolls came into the house, Charlotte and Jolena were waiting for them. The girls were very excited to find out how the visit with Santa went.
Billy and Mariah told the other dolls about sitting in the chair, waiting. They told them about being picked up by small children and carried around. They told them about how Santa held them like ordinary dolls and talked to them in their heads, the way dolls do.
"It was wonderful!" exclaimed Billy.
"Santa was wonderful!" exclaimed Mariah.
"Everyone was wonderful!" Billy added.
"I heard some things I didn't quite understand, though," Billy said. "Can you tell me what 'naughty' means?"
"That's an interesting question," Charlotte said. "Dolls don't do naughty except by pretend. We just do nice. We have to be a good example for children."
"We are good at nice," agreed Jolena.
"Santa told us we were on the 'nice' list," Billy said. "He said we had been good dolls and were not naughty."
Jolena knew about this, because she had learned how to be a good doll. "Naughty is the opposite of being good," she explained. "Naughty is doing something that is unkind or that hurts someone else. We should always treat other dolls the way we want to be treated."
"Naughty can also be doing something that hurts ourselves," Charlotte said, "like staying up past bedtime without permission, or eating a big piece of cake right before dinner, or saying we brushed our teeth when we hadn't."
The two lucky dolls were going to visit Santa for the first time!
Both dolls wore their seat belts in the car. They watched the sky move by, with a glimpse of a traffic light or telephone line from time to time, because that was all they could see. They were on their way to the shopping mall where we knew Santa would be stopping in to meet children in person (while they are awake) and find out what they wanted for Christmas.
It was exciting when Santa arrived. All the children cheered Santa Claus as he came through the door, ringing his reindeer bells.
We had to wait for an hour for our number to come up, but Mariah and Billy were able to share one seat, to save room for others.
From time to time, a small child would come and pick up Mariah or Billy and walk around with them, or take their hats off and try to put them on again. The two dolls knew to pretend to be ordinary dolls. They didn't move or talk, but they enjoyed meeting real children and making real children happy.
Finally it was their turn to sit with Santa. They were still. They didn't move. They didn't talk. They pretended to be ordinary dolls, but Santa knew. Santa knew!
Santa speaks doll language, so they could tell him what they wanted for Christmas. Santa knew what they were saying to him, but he pretended that they were just ordinary dolls.
"I would like to have a sled," said Billy to Santa.
"I will do my best," said Santa to Billy. He did it without moving his lips.
"I would like to have a doll that looks like me," said Mariah to Santa.
"I'll see what I can do," Santa replied without talking out loud.
When they finished talking with Santa, the lady who gets paid for taking photos took this.
Billy and Mariah were so excited after their visit with Santa, they chattered happily all the way home.
When the two dolls came into the house, Charlotte and Jolena were waiting for them. The girls were very excited to find out how the visit with Santa went.
Billy and Mariah told the other dolls about sitting in the chair, waiting. They told them about being picked up by small children and carried around. They told them about how Santa held them like ordinary dolls and talked to them in their heads, the way dolls do.
"It was wonderful!" exclaimed Billy.
"Santa was wonderful!" exclaimed Mariah.
"Everyone was wonderful!" Billy added.
"I heard some things I didn't quite understand, though," Billy said. "Can you tell me what 'naughty' means?"
"That's an interesting question," Charlotte said. "Dolls don't do naughty except by pretend. We just do nice. We have to be a good example for children."
"We are good at nice," agreed Jolena.
"Santa told us we were on the 'nice' list," Billy said. "He said we had been good dolls and were not naughty."
Jolena knew about this, because she had learned how to be a good doll. "Naughty is the opposite of being good," she explained. "Naughty is doing something that is unkind or that hurts someone else. We should always treat other dolls the way we want to be treated."
"Naughty can also be doing something that hurts ourselves," Charlotte said, "like staying up past bedtime without permission, or eating a big piece of cake right before dinner, or saying we brushed our teeth when we hadn't."
"I don't want to be naughty," Mariah said. "It must be hard to be a real child sometimes. They must sometimes want to be naughty."
The other dolls agreed. It must be difficult sometimes to be a real child.
Part Two
The days passed, and finally it was Christmas Eve. All the dolls went to bed early. They brushed their teeth, then climbed into bed so Mandy could read "The Night Before Christmas" to them. Mandy put on her glasses and began, "'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse."
"When does Santa come?" Billy asked, interrupting the story.
"Santa won't come yet. We are awake, and at least one mouse is stirring," Jolena said. There, on the top of Mandy's book, sat a little mouse.
The mouse was welcome to listen, too, but soon Mandy stopped reading, because the dolls were excited and wanted to talk about Santa."Why does Santa bring us presents at Christmas?" Billy asked.
This was an important question. He wanted to know, and he wasn't the only one.
"It isn't just Santa," said Mandy, as Billy climbed out from under the covers, so he could sit where he could see her better. "Santa has lots of helpers, too. We are all Santa's helpers when we give each other Christmas presents."
"Then why does Santa bring presents and why do we give each other presents?" Billy persisted.
"I think it's because Christmas is when Christians remember the gift given to them by God." Veronika said. "It's the day we remember the birth of Baby Jesus. You know the story; it's in all the carols we sang."
"Why is the birth of the baby so important?" Mariah asked. "To everyone, I mean. New babies are always important to their families, I think," she added.
"Well," said Veronika, "Whether we are Christian or not, the Baby Jesus grew up to teach people and dolls to love each other, to look after the poor in the world, and to welcome people and dolls who are new. That's good for everyone to know."
Mandy nodded and put her glasses on the top of her head, as she often did when she wasn't reading. "Santa is reminding us of that special gift every time he gives us a present. Dolls don't need reminding, but children do," she said. "When children see us get presents from Santa it reminds them to be kind to others."
"I'm glad we get to remind children," Billy said.
The other dolls all agreed. It was fun to get presents from Santa and from each other. It was fun to know they were helping children remember to be kind.
Mandy put her glasses back on, and the dolls heard the rest of the story. "Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!" Mandy said finally and closed the book.
It was getting late. Mouse had gone to bed. He was tired, and he knew how the story ended. The dolls put on their sleep masks, which they wear to sleep because their eyes don't close. Then they snuggled down under the covers and went to sleep.
Billy knew he was going to dream about having a new sled, and he was hoping we would get snow soon.
He could imagine himself, standing on the front porch with his new sled, waiting for the snow to fall, so he could go sledding.
The dolls lay very still in bed. They didn't need the light on, because dolls are not afraid of the dark, but we left it on so you could see them sleep. It doesn't matter if the light is on, because they only sleep with their sleep masks on. They slept with three heads on one pillow...
...and three heads on the other pillow.
They are good at lying still; they are dolls. They dreamed about what Santa might bring them, but they also dreamed of a world where people and dolls are kind to and love each other.
Merry Christmas to all, from Veronika, Mandy, Charlotte, Jolena, Mariah, Billy and Mouse!
The other dolls agreed. It must be difficult sometimes to be a real child.
Part Two
The days passed, and finally it was Christmas Eve. All the dolls went to bed early. They brushed their teeth, then climbed into bed so Mandy could read "The Night Before Christmas" to them. Mandy put on her glasses and began, "'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse."
"When does Santa come?" Billy asked, interrupting the story.
"Santa won't come yet. We are awake, and at least one mouse is stirring," Jolena said. There, on the top of Mandy's book, sat a little mouse.
The mouse was welcome to listen, too, but soon Mandy stopped reading, because the dolls were excited and wanted to talk about Santa."Why does Santa bring us presents at Christmas?" Billy asked.
This was an important question. He wanted to know, and he wasn't the only one.
"It isn't just Santa," said Mandy, as Billy climbed out from under the covers, so he could sit where he could see her better. "Santa has lots of helpers, too. We are all Santa's helpers when we give each other Christmas presents."
"Then why does Santa bring presents and why do we give each other presents?" Billy persisted.
"I think it's because Christmas is when Christians remember the gift given to them by God." Veronika said. "It's the day we remember the birth of Baby Jesus. You know the story; it's in all the carols we sang."
"Why is the birth of the baby so important?" Mariah asked. "To everyone, I mean. New babies are always important to their families, I think," she added.
"Well," said Veronika, "Whether we are Christian or not, the Baby Jesus grew up to teach people and dolls to love each other, to look after the poor in the world, and to welcome people and dolls who are new. That's good for everyone to know."
Mandy nodded and put her glasses on the top of her head, as she often did when she wasn't reading. "Santa is reminding us of that special gift every time he gives us a present. Dolls don't need reminding, but children do," she said. "When children see us get presents from Santa it reminds them to be kind to others."
"I'm glad we get to remind children," Billy said.
The other dolls all agreed. It was fun to get presents from Santa and from each other. It was fun to know they were helping children remember to be kind.
Mandy put her glasses back on, and the dolls heard the rest of the story. "Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!" Mandy said finally and closed the book.
It was getting late. Mouse had gone to bed. He was tired, and he knew how the story ended. The dolls put on their sleep masks, which they wear to sleep because their eyes don't close. Then they snuggled down under the covers and went to sleep.
Billy knew he was going to dream about having a new sled, and he was hoping we would get snow soon.
He could imagine himself, standing on the front porch with his new sled, waiting for the snow to fall, so he could go sledding.
The dolls lay very still in bed. They didn't need the light on, because dolls are not afraid of the dark, but we left it on so you could see them sleep. It doesn't matter if the light is on, because they only sleep with their sleep masks on. They slept with three heads on one pillow...
...and three heads on the other pillow.
They are good at lying still; they are dolls. They dreamed about what Santa might bring them, but they also dreamed of a world where people and dolls are kind to and love each other.
Merry Christmas to all, from Veronika, Mandy, Charlotte, Jolena, Mariah, Billy and Mouse!
Cast--
Jolena: Götz Happy Kidz Lena in Aspen
Veronika: Götz Classic Kidz Vroni
Veronika: Götz Classic Kidz Vroni
Mandy: Götz Happy Kidz Katie 2015
Charlotte: Götz Happy Kidz Anna in Paris
Mariah: Götz Happy Kidz Mariah, "Chosen" from My Doll Best Friend
Billy: Götz Happy Kidz Lily of London
Mouse: A cat toy
You can keep track of Santa's progress until bedtime at Norad Tracks Santa. Thanks to the Old Mill District (sponsor), Shine Events and Karen Cammack Photography, as well as to Santa for coming from the North Pole to visit children when he is so busy. Official Santa photo by Karen Cammack Photography.
Sled from Rowdytown.
Charlotte: Götz Happy Kidz Anna in Paris
Mariah: Götz Happy Kidz Mariah, "Chosen" from My Doll Best Friend
Billy: Götz Happy Kidz Lily of London
Mouse: A cat toy
You can keep track of Santa's progress until bedtime at Norad Tracks Santa. Thanks to the Old Mill District (sponsor), Shine Events and Karen Cammack Photography, as well as to Santa for coming from the North Pole to visit children when he is so busy. Official Santa photo by Karen Cammack Photography.
Sled from Rowdytown.
To Parents: This may be read as two stories, if you want to save Part Two for Christmas Eve.
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Note: No dolls were harmed during production of this blog. All dolls shown are Götz Happy Kidz, Classic Kidz or Little Kidz. If you like these stories and are willing, please make a donation of any amount to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital or any organization that supports pediatric cancer research and treatment. We are not affiliated with St. Jude in any way other than these donations.
"The Doll's Storybook" is not affiliated with Gotz Dolls USA Inc. or Götz Puppenmanufaktur International GmbH.
Watch for the next story each Friday afternoon at 1:00 PM Pacific Time.
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Copyright © 2018, 2023 by Peggy Stuart
"The Doll's Storybook" is not affiliated with Gotz Dolls USA Inc. or Götz Puppenmanufaktur International GmbH.
Watch for the next story each Friday afternoon at 1:00 PM Pacific Time.
Mariah: Stories from The Doll's Storybook, Emil: Stories from The Doll's Storybook, Classic Tales Retold: Stories from The Doll's Storybook and Our Favorite Verses: Poems from The Doll's Storybook are available from BookBaby and other booksellers worldwide, such as Amazon and Barnes & Noble.
Royalties (net proceeds) go to support pediatric cancer research and treatment. If you don't get free shipping elsewhere, buy from Book Baby. Half of the price goes to charity (specific information available upon request). Autographed copies of all three books are available from the author. (Multiple books to the same address have a discount on shipping.) To inquire, email thedollsstorybook@icloud.com.
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Copyright © 2018, 2023 by Peggy Stuart
Wonderful and Merry Christmas from the O'Hanlon clan to the Stuart clan, and a Happy New Year!
ReplyDeleteJust wonderful! What a great story and photos and how exciting they got to sit on Santa's knee and tell him what they wanted for Christmas. Super.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful Story und Merry Christmas from the Rakoczy Girls and Family to everyone who visits here to read.
ReplyDelete