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Christmas Gift It was at least, two months before Christmas when nine- year- old Almie Rose told her father and me that she wanted a new bicycle. As Christmas drew nearer, her desire for a bicycle seemed to fade, of so we thought. We purchased the latest rage, Baby- Sisters Club dolls, and a doll house. Then, much to our surprise, on December 23nd, she said that she really wanted a bike more than anything else. It was just too late, what with all the details of preparing Christmas dinner and buying last-minute gifts, to take the time to select the fight bike for our little girl. So, here we were Christmas Eve around 9:00 p. m. with Almie Rose and her six- year- old brother, Dylan, nestled snug in their beds. We could now think only of the bicycle, the guilt, and being parents who would disappoint their child. What if I make a little bicycle out of clay and write a note that she could trade the clay model in for a real bike? her dad asked. The theory being that since this is a high- ticket item and she is such a big girl, it would be much better for her to pick it out. So he spent the next four hours painstakingly working with clay to create a miniature bike. On Christmas morning, we were excited for Almie Rose to open the little heart- shaped package with the beautiful red and white clay bike and the note. Finally, she opened it and read the note aloud. Does this mean that I trade in this bike that Daddy made me for a real one? Beaming, I said, Yes. | 
