Read Online Naomi’s Christmas by Marta Perry - Free Book Online Page A

“I’d rather have a cookie.”
    “Cookies are for dessert. You can have some carrots and celery now.”
    Sadie looked for a moment as if she’d protest, but when Joshua left his game behind
     to grab a handful of carrots, she changed her mind and snatched a few.
    “Denke,” Joshua said, mindful of his manners. “Are you going to have supper with us,
     Naomi?”
    “I’m afraid not. I have to drive into town to the bakery, and if I stay any longer,
     it will be dark by the time I get there.”
    “I wish you could stay and put us to bed,” Sadie said. “Daadi isn’t so gut at that
     as Grossmammi. She likes to snuggle and tell stories.”
    “Maybe you should tell Daadi that’s what you like,” she suggested. “Sometimes daadis
     don’t think of things like that.” She put an arm around Sadie and hugged her, then
     tickled her until she giggled.
    What she’d said was true enough—men didn’t seem to take naturally to hugs and snuggles
     as women did with young ones. But she would think Nathan would make an extra effort
     in that way, just because Ada was no longer here.
    “I don’t see why it has to get dark so early,” Sadie said, with a quicksilver change
     of subject. “I wish it stayed light so we could play outside after supper.” She climbed
     on a chair so that she could see out the window, making a face at the gathering dusk.
    “It’s the change of seasons,” Joshua said. “Everyone knows that, silly.”
    “I’m not silly,” Sadie retorted. “We could have fall and winter and still have it
     be light out, couldn’t we?”
    “I’m afraid not.” Naomi suppressed a smile at the child’s reasoning. “You see, God
     made the earth to turn so that each part of it would get springtime and harvest time
     and even winter, when the plants sleep and get ready to come back again in the spring.
     Every one of God’s creatures needs a rest time, rabbits and raspberries and even little
     girls.”
    Joshua nodded. “That’s why Daadi and Grossdaadi and Isaiah cut all the corn and the
     hay, so that we would have enough to feed the animals all winter long.” He spoke with
     the lofty assurance of the older brother. “Maybe next year I can help, Grossdaadi
     says.”
    Naomi bit back a comment about how her brothers had helped when they were his age.
     Nathan obviously didn’t want his son involved with the farm work, and that was his
     decision.
    “You know what I like about winter?” Sadie seemed to think she’d been out of the spotlight
     long enough.
    “Sled riding? Building a snowman?” Naomi guessed.
    “No, silly.” Sadie hopped down from the chair and launched herself against Naomi’s
     knees.
    Naomi caught her, spinning her around and making her laugh. “What then? Icicles?”
    “Christmas,” Sadie crowed. “I love Christmas. I want to make a present for Daadi,
     and one for Grossdaadi, and for Grossmammi—” She paused for breath.
    “I wish we could make presents,” Joshua said. “I remember when Mammi helped me make
     a bowl out of clay for Daadi.”
    The sorrow in his voice cut Naomi to the heart. “We can work on presents,” she said.
     “I will help you, and if we haven’t finished when your Grossmammi comes back, I’m
     sure she will help you.” It was probably just as well to remind them and herself that
     she was here temporarily.
    Sadie threw her arms around Naomi in another massive hug, and even Joshua smiled.
     Naomi’s heart warmed. They were dear to her already, these children of Ada’s. How
     could she help but love them, just as she’d loved their mother?
    The clop of hooves sounded from outside, and Naomi glanced at the window. “Your daadi
     is bringing my buggy. It’s time for me to go, but I will see you first thing tomorrow,
     ja?”
    “Will we start on the presents tomorrow?” Sadie said, not to be diverted from the
     subject of Christmas now that it had come up.
    “I will give some thought to what you could make, and we’ll talk