Daddy:
Why
are you looking so sad, Sally? It’s the first day of the New Year; you should
be celebrating.
Sally:
Like
you and Mommy did last night?
Daddy:
Well, no; obviously, not like that. That got a little bit out of hand. I had no
idea your mommy was such a superb salsa dancer. Poor thing, she is probably
feeling the worse for wear this morning. Why don’t we take her some coffee in
bed?
Sally:
She’s
already had her coffee. She went for a run an hour ago, and now she’s out shoveling
the sidewalk.
Daddy:
Well, you know Mommy; she’s a little bit of an overachiever. Do you know what
that means?
Sally:
It means she gets stuff done; she doesn’t let things pile up, and she—
Daddy:
Okay, okay, I get it. Now, tell me what’s making my little angel unhappy.
Sally:
Because
we won’t see him for another year.
Daddy:
Who? Oh, do you mean that gnome thing that Mommy moves around every night?
Sally:
He’s
an elf, and his name is Edgar, and Mommy doesn’t move him; he moves himself.
Daddy:
Did
I say Mommy? No, of course Mommy doesn’t move him—
Sally:
Right! Because he can fly. And now he’s gone back to the North Pole.
Daddy: Exactly; he’s sitting on a shelf up there planning next Christmas with Santa Claus. Is that why you’re so sad? Because you won’t see Santa for a whole year?
Sally:
No, not Santa. He’s very tired and needs to rest.
Daddy:
Well, of course he does; think of all the places he had to visit in one night. So who
is it that’s making you unhappy?
Sally:
Frank.
Daddy:
Frank?
Sally:
Yes, Mommy’s friend Frank. Sometimes Harry comes with him, but usually it’s
just Frank.
Daddy: Wait
a minute! Mommy has two friends, a Frank and a Harry? How often does Mommy see
these friends?
Sally:
Every
day. After you’ve gone to work. But I’m not supposed to tell you.
Daddy:
Chicken, don’t cry. You know you can tell Daddy anything. So, what do these characters
do when they get here?
Sally:
I’m
not sure. Mommy always makes me go up to my room when they arrive. I think she
takes them into the garage.
Daddy:
And how long do they stay? Oh, wait a minute, into the garage, you say? There’s
no space in the garage. It’s full of empty boxes and—
Sally:
That’s
just it. Mommy says we probably won’t see them for a long time.
Daddy:
When
these guys arrive, are they carrying packages by any chance?
Sally:
Yes, sometimes really big ones. The bike that Santa brought me could easily fit
in one of those boxes.
Daddy:
Okay,
pumpkin, I have a feeling I know who this Frank and his buddy might be.
Sally:
Do we really have to wait a whole year before we see them again?
Daddy:
Come
here, Sally. Let me explain something to you. I have a very strong feeling you
are going to see a lot more of those guys, and you won’t have to wait too long, either. You’ve got Valentine’s Day, then Easter, then whatever comes after Easter . . .
Sally:
Really?
Oh good, that makes me feel so much better. It’s amazing.
Daddy:
More
like Amazon. But you’re close enough. Happy New Year, sweetheart.
