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Of course, with my son I know the answer to a similar question.  Emmie has been in love with Kookie for as long as I can remember.  So now the question is…

When did my son become old enough to wake up to the merits of his sister’s best friend?

Of course, I know the answer to that question.  

Very recently.

When I arrive at my van, I find them both sitting in the center section.  Once again, strategically ignoring each other.  So the physical contact of earlier was just a momentary glitch in their operation apparently.  As his mother, I’m a little satisfied with this turn of events.  They have all the time in the world.  Let them proceed slowly.

Several minutes later, we enter Walgreens.  The little pharmacy has big sales on toys throughout the week of Thanksgiving.  Kookie and I both snag a cart and head for the toy aisle.  The twins, of course, arrive before the three of us.  They’re still young enough to appreciate the toy selection here.  They’re not shy about letting me know it either.

“Mommy, can you buy me this?”

“Mommy, can I buy this?”

Everett is wearing off on at least one of them.  He’s begun to earn more allowance in the last year and spend it on things he desires.  The tiny twins – who really aren’t that tiny anymore!  Alas! –  have followed suit.  All three carry their wallets around with pride now.  Matching wallets in three different colors.  That they got as rewards from the local sports amusement park.

“Well…Christmas is around the corner.  Why don’t you pull out a couple of things you like and put them in the top of my cart here?  And I’ll take some notes,” I offer.

Of course, I’m busy enough that I’ll do more than just take notes.  I’ll buy those desires now with the other fifty-six toys I’m purchasing on this trip and hope no one notices them in the big pile on the counter.  Perhaps Kookie will help me distract the twins while I check out. 

I pull out my phone and snap a picture of the toys my boys pick out for themselves, just so they don’t get mixed up with the others.

Soon enough, the five of us start to select toys for the tiny tots.  A moment later, Emmie smiles at me as she brings a couple to me.

“Are these okay?” 

I glance down at the fingernail polish kit and the box of colorful ponies with rainbow hair.  I grin at Emmie.  “These are perfect.  Anything that appeals to you will make some little girl happy.”

She beams at me.  “I love that you do this every year.”

“You do?” I ask, taken aback.

She nods.  “I’ve always helped my mom to get things together for the church’s toy drive.  I think it’s really cool that you take the time to make stocking bags for all those kids too.”

“Ah, well, stockings are one of my absolute favorite Christmas traditions.  Although, as you know, we do them a little differently in our family.”

She smiles at me as she recalls how I’ve always included her and her brother in our stocking game.  

“You don’t open them on Christmas Eve.  Not even on Christmas Day.”

“Nope,” Kookie sticks his head over her shoulder and speaks into her ear.  I see her shiver as he responds, “We wait until New Year’s Eve.”

I grin.  “Yep.  That’s the way my mom always did it.”  

For just a moment, my smile fades as my heart releases a pang for the loving woman I miss so much.  I don’t have her here with me anymore.  But I have all the lovely memories she gave me as a child.  Gifts I hope I’m passing on to my own children.

“Mommy likes to drag the fun out an extra week,” Alastair informs Emmie.

“So she tortures us for seven whole days!” Abs exclaims, rolling his eyes.

“Hey!” I burst out, laughing, and reach out to ruffle his hair.  The tiny twins have grown their bangs out long.  They’re sticking to their eyelashes now.  “Don’t you like it that I drag out the fun?  That way you still have something to look forward to.  Even after Christmas.”

“Yeah, I guess,” Abs responds petulantly.  “But I want a toy now!”

“Did you bring any of your money with you?” I ask.

“Noooo,” he whines.

“Well, I’m coming back here tomorrow to shop a different sale.  If you like any of the toys along that shelf,” I point to indicate the one of which I’m speaking, “you could come with me and buy it then.”

His eyes light up, and he runs over to examine the shelf.  Alastair follows suit.  

“That reminds me,” I mention as I look up at my eldest son.  “Kookie, what do you want for Christmas?  Everyone else has given me a few hints.”  I smile as my mind conjures up the long list that Everett carefully wrote out in his best penmanship and handed to me a week ago.  “But you haven’t mentioned anything.”

Jungkook shrugs.  “Mmm.  I don’t know.”

I can see that Emmie is listening to this little conversation with a great deal of interest.  Is she planning to buy him something?

“You wanted that one guy’s CD, right?” she murmurs.

Surprised, Kookie glances at her.  “Yeah.  How did you know that?”

I, of course, am completely unenlightened by this conversation, not knowing who “that one guy” is.

Emmie smiles faintly.  “I don’t know,” she responds mysteriously, but clearly the answer is obvious.  She takes very good notes on everything my adorable son says.  And does.

“You’re not going to buy it for yourself before Christmas, are you?” she asks him sheepishly.

Kookie is staring intently into her eyes now, trying to read her expression.  “No.  I won’t,” he breathes.

“Good,” she smiles before turning back to the toy selection.

So she doesn’t see how Kookie’s eyes follow her for a moment.  Then he glances at me and grins.  I know what he’s thinking.  He’s recalling that cute charm bracelet he bought her.  He’s thankful he found her a present this morning.  So am I.  My only question is…

Will I get to see her open it?  

Or will he choose to give it to her in secret?