Bunny Hop Hop

The sign reads: Handmade, A locally made product. The price reflects these two factors. A beautifully painted ornament hangs on a branch just beyond the sign. The ornament depicts a holiday scene outside of a house that happens to look like her childhood home. The family is playing in the blankets of snow. A sunset is just starting, shown by the presence of sky blue still being present with slight tints of pink, purple, and orange behind the silhouettes.Wendy could almost picture it already on her parents tree amongst the other ornaments. Each ornament adorning her parents tree was a gift, or purchased from a trip, or representing some special moment. The Christmas tree was more than just a decoration. It was a patchwork of their lives together. The tree was a photo album, of sorts, of years passed. The problem was purchasing the ornament without being seen and without being suspected of shoplifting. Of course the ornament was a one of a kind, which added a bit of anxiety around putting it back. It's not that the others were bad, but they felt lacking next to this one. She heard footsteps approaching behind her. Wendy shoved the ornament under the tree, hoping it was hidden and out of sight.

"Oh wow, those are beautiful. People are so talented. I could never have the patience to do that."

"They are beautiful."

" Oh wait look, there is one more. It must have fallen. This one is so beautiful."

"You don't say", Wendy said half disappointed.

"I have to buy this one. It is perfect."

"Mom, let me buy it. I was going to buy one as a gift."

"Are you sure?"

"Who do you think hid it under the tree?", Wendy retorted half heartedly.

Wendy could see her mom calculating what the meaning of what she was saying meant.

"Ooops, Oh I'm sorry Wendy. Great minds", she said smiling. "I love it the same on Christmas"

"Not the point", she said after her mom as her mom walked away.

She picked it up and went to the cash register to purchase.

Later that evening she was helping pull out decorations. The musty dusty smell filled her nostrils. There is something strangely nostalgic about that smell mixed with a little perfume of a vanilla floral frankensense variety and cooking food. She felt a rush of positive endorphins. Wendy stumbled upon a box. It said Wendy's past projects. Inside was a squeezed oddly shaped, if she was being honest, an ugly ball of glazed clay. She backed her way out of the closet with the unidentifiable object.

"Mom, Mom, Whats this? It was in a box with my name on it."

"Oh, that", She seemed pleased to have been reminded of this moment. "That is the first item you created out of Clay. In a mommy and me class."

"This.", Wendy stared at the object trying to find any indication at what the item was supposed to be. "How old was I?"

"Stop judging, I love this item. You were young. You did it all by yourself.", she said proudly.

"Yeah, I can tell that much. It looked like I squeezed it and then mushed it."

"Stop, it's a bunny. Bunny hop hop, you called it.", very sweet.

"This is a bunny? Wow, okay. It is the Deadpool dog of ornaments huh?"

"I love it, you put it back. That is a keeper."

Wendy thought about putting it back, but instead she took it. She had one beautiful ornament as a gift. She now had another that was hideous, but beautiful in sentiment. It was perfect. She would add a string and give it to her mother for Christmas.

On Christmas morning, after all the gifts were divided up, Wendy waited with anticipation for her mother to get to her gift. Finally her mother picked up the package and opened it. A shreik and then the extreme elation shown in her facial expression. Not only had Wendy managed to add a string, but also a small sign that read, "bunny hop hop, made by hand, Mommy and Me Class '88".

"I love it, what a gift. It's beautiful."

"I knew you would think so."

"It is, truly."

When they all thought the last gift had been opened and gifts were coming to an end, Wendy placed another gift under the tree. Hidden slightly as it had been in the shop.

Wendy's mom approached, "Did you save that ornament for yourself. It was beautiful. The hand painted one."

"No, you are right you didn't open it yet", she said smiling.

She watched as her mom looked towards the tree. Catching on fast is a mom's power. Wendy saw her mom go to the spot as if it were the tree from the shop.

"Imagine that, one more, and it's for me."

She opened it quickly.

"Beautiful, but you messed up."

"This isn't the ornament?", Wendy asked confused.

"It's the ornament, but I already got a more beautiful ornament. This one is nice, but it can't compare. I had saved a spot in front for it. "See", she said while pointing to the tree.

Wendy saw an empty brach in front. She watched as her mom hung the beautiful hand painted ornament on the back, facing out the window. Then she took Bunny Hop Hop and placed it on the branch in front.

"Perfect, the tree is now perfect.", Her mother said with a precious plauditory expression. The lights looked like stars in her eyes. As if all the Christmas magic was alive in her.

"Yes it is. Maybe one year I will make you another hand made one.", Wendy said as she hugged her mom.

"One is probably more than enough", her mother said approvingly.

Wendy started laughing along side her mom knowing it was less a commentary about her abilities and more about this tiny ugly misshapen ball of clay that had become a favorite to both of them.