It's me, Sara! Sara Allison Peterman. I'm seven and three-quarters years old, and I'm in the second grade at Willow Wood Elementary School.
I will be your guide for the Victor's Village Christmas Eve Tour. I was wearing a long, black skirt and a white blouse, like the tour ladies at the museum. But, as you can see, I'm now dressed in my Snow White nightgown. Mommy made me get ready for bed just before you got here, because Santa Claus is coming tonight!
I just remembered something! My parents would not want a stranger wandering through our house on Christmas Eve. So, I guess I'll be telling you about Victor's Village instead of showing you.
Sorry!
So, here's the story of Victor's Village, And, if we have time, I will tell you about tonight's party.
My grandfather, Victor Peterman, built his magic village a very, very long time ago. My daddy told me that my grandpa built it with his bare hands. I think he must have worn his work gloves for part of it.
Don't you?
Then, when it was finished, God sprinkled Victor's Village with a gazillion snowflakes.
Grandpa Victor went to heaven last year, so the village belongs to my grandmother now. Her name is Blanche Peterman. I don't know her middle name. She lives with us.
When Grandma Blanche joins my grandpa in heaven, Victor's Village will be passed on to Daddy.
Then, a long, long time after that, it will become mine, because I'm the oldest Peterman kid.
And, I promise (cross my heart) I will take good care of the village when I am the mayor! And, I also promise not to change the name to Sara's Village, or to anything else. Cross my heart, again.
Did you know that my grandpa built a church in Victor's Village? Well, he did...
My daddy told me that my grandpa built Victor's Village Community Church (and the beautiful Nativity Scene in the front yard) with love and grace. Well, I know he built them all by himself, so I wanted to ask, "Grace who?" but I didn't.
I ask way too many questions. That's what my Grandma Blanche says.
Making snow angels is one of my most fun things to do in Victor's Village!
Oh, wait a minute! I just thought of a very, very important thing I can't forget to tell you about. The train! "Choo choooo! Chugga, chugga, chugga..."
Grandpa knew that people would need to get to and from his snowy village, so he built railroad tracks and a train with a locomotive, two train cars, and a caboose.
Then, he hired Engineer Dan to drive the train to and from (as well as around) Victor's Village. Engineer Dan brings Skippy Peanut Butter, Wonder Bread, Jell-O Instant Chocolate Pudding, and Gummy Worms to Peterman's Grocery Store every single day.
And, he delivers beds, chairs, and other stuff to Victor's Fine Furniture at least two times a month. Engineer Dan makes sure kids have their own twin beds, so they don't have to sleep in top bunks above their bratty kid sisters (like I have to). And, he makes sure Mommies have china hutches, and Daddies have leather recliners. Yes, the railroad train is very, very important to the people of Victor's Village.
I almost forgot something! The train brings grape popsicles, and warm cinnamon rolls with gooey icing, too.
Mommy says I make things up, and that my nose is growing. Daddy says that I'm just a daydreamer, like him. And, his nose never changes. My dreams are more fun than anything else happening around here, except the celebrations tonight and tomorrow morning, of course!
Now, back to the snow angels, before Mommy calls me away for our snack and story.
Mommy lets me go, all by myself, to make snow angels in the village park after the street lights come on. No kidding! Not Kara, Judith, Emma, or even Paul Jr., none of the other Peterman kids get to do this. Just me! Cool, huh?
So, there I am, in Victor's Village Park after dark. (That rhymed!) I flop backwards on the snowy ground and stretch out. I start moving my arms and legs really fast, making wing-prints in the snow. I'm flapping really, really hard and whew! I'm getting tired.
So, I stop to rest my wings and. . .
WOW! I look up at the night sky and see the Star of Bethlehem. It's shining so bright, I wish I was wearing my sunglasses.
And then, I hear voices off to my left. WOW! . . . again! It's the Three Wise Men cutting through Victor's Village Park on their camels.
They are headed straight for the manger in the church's front yard. They are carrying gold, Frank, and cents, and mirrors -- gifts for the Baby Jesus.
I do wonder, Frank who? But, I'm not about to ask anyone, because of what Grandma Blanche said.
"Sara, are you ready for bed?"
"Yes, Mommy!"
I'm already in my nightgown. All I have left to do is brush my teeth, after we have our treat.
Oh, wow! The Christmas Eve treat! I almost forgot to tell you about the cookies and the hot chocolate.
After supper, on the night before Christmas, Mommy always bakes dozens and dozens of really yummy Christmas tree cookies.
She makes them with a cookie cutter shaped just like a Christmas tree. And then, she shakes lots of bright green sprinkles all over the cookies before she puts them into the oven at 350 degrees, for twelve minutes.
While the cookies are baking, my Grandma Blanche makes a huge pot of hot chocolate to "warm our little tummies."
And, as a "special treat", she floats baby marshmallows on the top of each mug of hot chocolate.
"Yummmm. . ."
"Sara, the cookies are almost ready!"
That was Mommy, calling from the kitchen. I am so excited about tonight and tomorrow, mostly because it's Jesus' birthday.
Have you ever wondered why Jesus never gets any presents on Christmas, except that very first year? After all, it is His birthday. And, another thing -- why do we get presents on Christmas, when it's not our birthdays? Have you ever wondered about all that? I sure have!
But, I don't ever say anything, because I want all the things on my Christmas list. Wouldn't want to mess that up! No way!
Yesterday, Mommy said, "Don't get your hopes up about that bicycle. Daddy just lost his job."
Well, I can't figure out what that has to do with my bicycle, but if it's not beside the tree in the morning, there's always next year, I guess.
Do you know one really good thing that will happen tonight, no matter what? We will each get to have two cookies, and hot chocolate in our snowmen mugs.
Another good thing . . . Every Christmas Eve, Mommy puts a plate of her yummy Christmas tree cookies (and a glass of icy cold milk) next to the fireplace, as a treat for Santa.
And then, very, very early on Christmas morning, we always find a letter from him, next to the empty plate and glass.
I hope all you Peterman kids like the presents I brought you this year.
Love,
Santa Claus xxxooo
P.S.: Special thanks to your mommy for the milk and delicious cookies.
"Sara, Paulie, Kara, Judith, Emma! Come on into the living room. It's time."
That was Daddy. "Yippee!" This is my favorite part coming up. Just wait 'til you see! Oh, that's right, you won't.
Sorry!
In about one minute . . .
We will all hurry to the living room to wait for the cookies and hot chocolate. "Yummy, yum, yum!"
After another few minutes. . .
My mommy will bring in the fancy glass plate piled high with the Christmas tree cookies. Grandma will follow with eight snowmen mugs of hot chocolate on a silver tray. Or, maybe it will be the other way around. It always depends on Grandma Blanche's arthur-it-is.
Then, after the treats come, all of us kids will be so excited, we will be giggling and whispering. We will drop sprinkles, cookie crumbs, and hot chocolate splotches all over the rug, on accident, while we wait.
"Settle down now, kids," Mommy will say.
Then, she and Grandma will plop down in the arm chairs next to the couch, and wait for us to quit acting up.
Once we are all quieted down, Daddy will close the blinds, pull the drapes shut, and turn off all the lights. It will be pitch-dark! "Scarrrry!"
A lot of kids might be afraid, but the Peterman kids have Mommy, Daddy and Grandma Blanche to keep them safe.
We will get as quiet as church mice when Daddy clears his throat. That's always his signal that he's ready to start the story.
Daddy will tell us how Mary and Joseph could find no shelter, and had to spend the night in a stinky old stable.
He will go on and on and on. . .
And, I will want to say, "Hurry! Hurry!" because I already know how the story ends. But, I won't.
Then, he will get to the best part, about the birth of Baby Jesus.
And, when he finally says "The End", I will want to say "Yippee!" but I won't.
Then, Daddy will plug in the lights of Victor's Village.
What usually happens is: He feels around in the dark for the outlet behind the Christmas tree. And, we all try not to giggle, even though some of the ornaments are jiggling and tinkling. And, a few of them are falling from the tree onto the Christmas presents. Ker-thunk!
Then suddenly, just when we think it will never happen. . .
WOW! Our mouths fall open, and we start "ooooowing" and "ahhhhing" at the sight of Grandpa Victor's magic village, twinkling like a gazillion stars. "Ooooow! Ahhhhh!"
At least, that is how it usually happens . . .
"Sara, come on! We're waiting for you in the living room."
That was Mommy, again. I have to go. I hope you enjoyed your tour. I mean story. Maybe next year my mommy will let you join us. That way, you can see for yourself. And, maybe you can even have a Christmas cookie or two, and some hot chocolate in a snowmen mug. Wouldn't that be fun?
"Sara! Come on!"
Gotta go! Bye! Merry Christmas!
"Coming, Mommy!"
THE END
Hi! Come on in! 
Share your own writing!
You need to