Journal, Day 196

Tis the season to be…something. In the benefactor’s case, a bit harried and busy. It seems her employment has been a veritable explosion of birth, a nonstop frenzy that has left her exhausted in the evenings, a perfect condition for children who desire asking favors, of which there have been many. Please, benefactor, take me here. Please, loan me this. Please, please, please.
 
The benefactor and children hosted an open house the evening prior to the eve of Christmas. Much preparation and culinary ingenuity was required to produce the grand menu we aspired to present. On the eve of the eve of the eve, the benefactor set us to work: chopping, mixing, and shredding various vegetables and dairy products to allow cooking the meal to run smoothly. It was difficult and arduous work, and required payment in cookies, which the benefactor reluctantly obliged. However, she had no choice but to meet our demands, or work solo.
 
Our open house was a lovely, all day affair where various friends came through to wish us happy holidays as we cooked tamales, enchiladas, and various sweets. The benefactor only became irritated with us twice today, which is a new low. This may have been assisted by the spiked cider she was partaking in throughout the late afternoon, which lent her a more relaxed nature. In the evening, we built a fire outside and sat with acquaintances, as the benefactor hosted her own people in the living room. When it got too cold, we returned inside, and the benefactor wondered if we had extinguished the fire. We planned to leave it burning and unattended, with a blind faith that nothing bad could possibly happen. She insisted we douse the fire with water and make sure it was dead, which was more work for us, but apparently necessary to guarantee we would not set the entire neighborhood on fire.
 
Of course, we asked the benefactor if we could use her boudoir to entertain, and she promptly refused allowance. We did so anyway, leaving various cups and platters scattered about the room, and the crumbles of cookies somehow fallen between the sheet and bedspread, about which the benefactor was heartily displeased.
 
On the eve of Christmas, the benefactor forced us to engage in unpaid work at one of our schools, assisting with parking cars for the annual art walk at a close by destination. It was an hour in freezing temperatures hovering around 50 degrees, and we did our best to complain nonstop and make it known how miserable the experience of having to do something for other people made us feel. After, all but one of us were ushered to the art walk by the benefactor, a yearly tradition. Again, we did our best to let her know how horrendous the experience of walking amidst lights, farolitos, and carolers was, driving her to tears until she returned us to the car, and home. Despite our insidious behavior, the benefactor prepared us food and warmed cocoa, although our poor canine, as she was pouring the liquid chocolate, was slightly doused when the pan splashed. It was a good lesson for the mutt to learn to not stand at the benefactor’s feet in the kitchen. After reflecting on our actions, almost all of us offered apology, which she kindly accepted.

---

Christmas morning came and the youngest female attempted waking the benefactor prior to the sun even tiptoeing across the horizon, then allowed her a scant amount of additional rest before waking her through relentless chatter. The younger male also, miraculously, woke by himself in the wee hours and came in to rouse the benefactor. Finally, she rose, and then, with glee, took joy in waking the exhausted, elder children, who were also required to participate in the tradition of tearing paper off gifts and eating griddle cakes.
 
After great anticipation as she made her morning tea, we took turns opening presents, oooing and aaahing over our bounty. When we finished, the benefactor prepared our breakfast, which most of us only half ate, too engrossed with our toys and tech. By afternoon, all we could manage were to lay like immovable, tossed sacks across the furniture. The benefactor was required to go to her employment, and when she returned, we remained in the same positions as when she left.
That night, we watched various media box entertainment, and simply enjoyed the company of each other, perhaps the best gift of all this season.