bb gun,THE TOY THAT BECAME A TOOL It was December 1968 and the family was getting prepared for Christmas with four brothers and sisters I knew not to expect a lot of the stuff I wanted. I knew that most of my presents and the other kids were going to be clothes because that’s what we needed. Bob my oldest brother wanted a BB gun next in line was Wayne who wanted a bow and arrow set. I wanted a tablet some colored pencils a ball point pen and some stationary. My sister Sherry who was after me wanted a chatty Cathy doll and an easy bake oven. Micky who was next was too little to know what she wanted. Well Christmas at our house was always fun even if it wasn’t extravagant. The week before Christmas we’d all pile into the car to go pick out the perfect tree. The whole month of December was magic at our house. We were all nicer to one another the house smelled enchanting with all the sweet things mom had been baking and everyone was whispering and making promises not to tell the secrets that were being told to them. Finally Christmas arrived the house was filled with excited kids. Mom and dad explained to us that they tried to get us the one thing we wanted most but that it hadn’t been easy because as kids we changed our minds so much. We all got some pretty clothes. But we each had our special gift to open. Bob special gift was paints and brushes. With an easel. Wayne’s was a magic kit. Mine was a bear named Ted. Sherry was a doll with hair you could make grow by pushing a button. Micky the baby got some tub toys and a pretty little sailor suit. We were all very happy with what mom and dad had gotten us. I remember feeling a little disappointed at not getting some tablets and pencils. It lasted only a moment though because I still had the gift exchange that us four older ones did every year. That year I had picked bobby’s name and I had gotten him a big bag of marbles bobby had gotten Wayne’s and got him a dart gun. Wayne got sherry and bought her a makeup kit. Sherry got mine and when I opened it I remember thinking it was the best present ever. It was a silver ball point pen and to me it looked elegant. Well that was twenty years ago. Today bob is a beautiful artist and does murals for some very large stores. Wayne is the life of a party and the first to cheer you up when you’re down. Sherry studying to be a cosmetologist. Micky the baby has been in the United States navy for the last five years. And me I am still using the pen I got hoping that one day it too will no longer be a toy to write with but a writer’s tool. Teresa Redmond ISBN 1424113881