The Secret Keeper

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Our house was full of secrets.  The garage was locked up tight. 
A sign on the door said, "Keep out.  Santa's workshop, South 
Annex."  Penny helped me read it. 
"Why can't I go in there?" I asked. 
"Christmas secrets, Joshua," Daddy called from behind the door.

 
 
 
 

Mother was sewing in the bedroom.  I could hear her sewing 
machine through the door, but it was locked, too.  "I have to tell 
her something," I said. 
"You can't," said Abby.  "Christmas secrets".

 
 
 
 
 

Penny and Abby were whispering.  "What are we going to give 
Mother and Daddy for Christmas?" asked Abby. 
"Shhh!" said Penny, pointing her thumb at me. 
"I want to give them a present, too," I said.  "I won't tell." 
"Oh, ha!", said Abby. 
"You might not mean to, Joshie," said Penny. "But you might forget."

 
 
 

Grandma came to stay for the holidays.  She sleeps in my room. 
She put a bag in the closet. 
"What's in there?" I asked. 
"Christmas secrets," Grandma said. 
"I hate Christmas," I said.  "There are too many secrets."

 
 
 

"What you need," said Grandma, "are some secrets of your own." 
She closed the door and we talked about MY Christmas secrets.

 
 
 
 

I got Mother's button box.  Grandma found some thread and 
pieces of felt.  We worked in my room all day.

 
 
 
 
 

"What were you two doing all afternoon?" Mother asked at dinner. 
"Oh, I was just telling Joshua stories about the old times," Grandma 
said.  She winked at me. 
"And I told her some stories about the new times," I said.

 
 
 

We worked the next day, too.

 
 
 
 
 
 

Grandma showed me how to sew flowers with colored thread.

 
 
 
 
 
 

She borrowed the wrapping paper and ribbons so no one even 
guessed it was for MY presents.

 
 
 
 

While Grandma was helping Mother with dinner, I made one 
more secret surprise.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 

I wrapped it all by myself and hid all my presents underneath the 
Christmas tree when nobody was looking.

 
 
 
 
 

Penny and Abby were giggling.  "Oooo, Josh!  It's Christmas 
Eve!"  Penny said.  "Just you wait.  Tomorrow there will be 
surprises for you!" 
"Yeah," said Abby.  "Tomorrow you get to find out all the secrets."

 
 
 
 
 
 

"You'll have surprises, too," I said.  Grandma squeezed my hand. 
I was bursting with my secrets. 
"I know!" squealed Abby.  "Oh, I can't wait!  I can't wait!"

 
 
 
 
 

On Christmas morning we all opened our packages.  I was 
surprised with a cuddly bunny Mother made for me, the blue 
mittens and hat with snowmen all around from Grandma, and the 
tunnel and train station that Daddy made to go with the brand 
new train from Santa Claus.

 
 
 
 
 

Penny and Abby gave me a bag of marbles for my very own. 
But I wasn't the only one who had happy surprises.

 
 
 
 
 

"Oh, wow!  A present from Josh!" Penny exclaimed.  "It's a hair 
band.  Oooo, it's pretty!  Did you make this, Josh?" 
"Look at the button necklace he made for me," Abby said, 
putting it around her neck.

 
 
 
 
 
 

"So this is what you've been up to," Mother said, holding up her 
handkerchief.  "Did you really sew these flowers in the corners? 
They are wonderful!" 
"So is my picture, Josh," said Daddy.  "I'll hang it in my office."

 
 
 
 
 

Grandma liked her special box, too. "I know just what to keep 
in this," she said. "All those nice letters from my grandchildren." 
"I guess you can keep a secret." said Abby.

 
 
 
 
 

"You kept yours so well that we didn't even know you had any." 
Penny laughed.  "Maybe next year we'll tell you ours." 
"Maybe," said Abby.

 
 
 
 

Maybe next year I'll have my own again, " I said. 
"I like Christmas secrets."

 
 
 
 
 
 
 



 
 
 

The End