thehatboxbyvitamandolatooley

Aspiring Writers Christmas 2007 Edition

A Short Story for Christmas

My Granddaughter. Isn't she
beautiful? She would love to
hear this story.

They have grown a lot since
these pictures.

THE HAT BOX
By Vita Mandola Tooley

On a very cold and rainy winter day, a little girl named
Sophia stared out of her bedroom window. She was
wondering what she could do to keep herself busy on
such a gloomy day. Downstairs she found her
mommy in the kitchen and asked her to play, but her
mommy was very busy with daily chores. Sophia
became upset because she didn't have anyone to
play with. She decided that she and her dolls would
play in the basement. In the corner of the basement
she found a big dusty wooden box. She opened the
box, and inside she found a variety of old hats.

She was so excited, "now I can play dress up and
pretend I am mommy!" she thought.

She lined up her dolls along an old couch in the
basement and pulled out her first hat.

"This looks like a housekeeper's hat," she thought.

She slipped the hat on and began to play a game of
pretend. She pretended to make beds, pick up toys,
dust, sweep, vacuum, mop the floor, wash dishes,
and do laundry.

"Wow", she thought, this is a very tough job. I think I
will try on an easier hat!"

She then pulled out what looked like a chef's hat.
Sophia carefully thought of meals she could prepare
for her dolls. Taking a toy grocery cart from the
corner of the basement, she pretended to grocery
shop for the items she would need. After shopping,
she cooked breakfast, lunch, and dinner for her dolls.
She even ate at a little table with them. One of the
dolls ate too much and got a tummy ache.

"Time for a different hat," thought Sophia.

Next, she pulled a nurses hat out of the box. She took
her doll's temperature, rubbed her tummy, kissed her
forehead, and lay next to her. She sang songs to her
doll to help her feel better. When her doll was feeling
better, Sophia decided it was time for the next hat.

"Now it is time to have some fun!"

Sophia slipped on a jester's hat and began to sing,
dance, skip, and laugh with her dolls. Hours passed
as Sophia and her dolls played in the basement. She
was growing very tired, so, she decided to slip on a
night cap from the box. Just as she was taking a seat
on the couch next to her dolls, the basement door
opened. It was Sophia's mother calling her upstairs
for lunch. Over lunch, Sophia and her mother talked
about the many things they had accomplished inside
on that rainy morning.

"Sophia", her mother said. I am finished with my
chores for the day. It looks as though the rain has
stopped, and the clouds are passing. What do you
say we go to the park and play after we finish our
lunch?"

"If you don't mind mommy, Sophia replied, I would
rather stay in and take a nap!"

Sophia's mommy was very surprised to hear this, but
later tucked her into her bed for a little nap. She
kissed Sophia's forehead, gave her a smile, told her
she loved her, and closed the door.

Just then, Sophia turned to her doll and whispered,
"being a grown up is a lot of work!"

She kissed her doll's forehead, gave her a smile, told
her she loved her, and fell fast asleep.