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Once upon a time, there was a young girl who lived in an orphanage, far into the country hills. The year was 1836, Christmas time. She thought Christmas was when it snowed and people exchanged gifts. She didn't know the true meaning of this holiday. She was four years old and her parents gave her away, because they couldn't afford her. Her name was Kassady. She was well known around the orphanage and treated very well by everyone including the five other children there.
Every day of the week, except Saturday and Sunday, one of the five girls would take turns cleaning the floors, bathrooms, and bedrooms. This week was Kassi's turn. She was so wrapped up in cleaning that she wouldn't have heard a near-by sound if she were listening for it. She was singing a song the girls and she always sang when they were cleaning.
All of a sudden, out of the corner of her eye, she saw something little running across the floor, and under the bed in the big bedroom. Kassi was kind of scared to see what it was, but since she was a brace, smart little girl, she went to go seek.
She went over to Cindy's bed, since that's the bed it ran under. She lifted up the covers, looked under the bed, and just stared. She had never seen one of thee, except in animal books. There, under the bed, was a little white mouse. Kassi held out her hand for the mouse and the mouse backed away. Kassi went to the kitchen and got a little piece of cheese. Luckily, the little mouse was still there, waiting for her return. Kassi broke a piece off and held her hand out. The mouse came immediately with out a care and grabbed the cheese. Slowly, she pulled her hand and put her new, little friend on her own bed and watched him carefully.
A few days had gone by, and she kept the mouse well hidden in a box under her bed so nobody would see him and open their mouth to an adult. Kassady later gave him a name. His name was Dusty, since he looked kind of dust covered. Every day she would give him cheese and sporadically she would give him peanut butter.
The next day, two fine looking people came in to the old house and were interested in adopting. Lisa, who was in charge, recommended Kassi because she had been there the longest. They met and Kassi was more that happy with them and they liked her too.
They made arrangements for after Christmas to buy her.
Christmas Day, for a present, she got a pink and purple dress. The other girls gave her some stuff as well. Kassi made everybody stuff, and for Dusty, she gave him the biggest piece of cheese he'd probably ever seen. She set him on her shoe and put a red little flower on his head.
She now realized that Christmas was more than snow and presents. She realized that Christmas is about love, sharing, family, and togetherness. Kassi and Dusty lived happily with their new family.
© 2002 Jana Johnson
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