FAMILY TRADITION

It was Christmas night and everyone was getting ready to sit down for dinner.

“Okay, everybody. Before I put dinner on the table lets pop our Christmas crackers!”

My husband Steven picked his up off his plate and our son Alex took his, too.

“Didn’t we already do this at breakfast?” Alex asked.

“We did! But I had extras so…” I shrugged my shoulders. “I figured, why not?”

The three of us broke open our crackers.

“Oh wow!” Steven pulled out a pair of silver metal cuff links. “These are really nice.” He sounded surprised.

“I got a whistle!” I held mine up before putting it to my lips and blowing. A high pitched squeak came out. “It even works!” I cried.

I noticed that Alex was holding a silver binder clip in the palm of his hand. “I got office supplies.” He said before he sighed.

Steven and I looked at each other and started to laugh. “Didn’t you get something weird in your Christmas cracker this morning?”

Alex nodded his head as he handed me the binder clip. “I got some twisted metal pieces that were stuck together.” He shook his head. “I’m guessing it was suppose to be some sort of puzzle.”

I placed the clip next to my napkin then I pointed over at our sideboard. “I got that cute silver thimble.” I looked back at Steven. “I was planning on putting it in with my sewing supplies.” I shrugged my shoulders again. “I’ve never used one but it’ll look cute.” I glanced over at Steven. “I forgot, what did you get this morning?”

“A metal bottle opener that’s shaped like a fish.” He pointed to the kitchen. “I put in the drawer with all the other openers.”

I pulled out my gold paper crown from inside the cracker. As I placed it on my head I could see that both my guys had taken there’s out but weren’t putting them on. I chose to ignore that as I made a final adjusted to my crown.

“So who wants to read their joke first?” I asked.

“I guess I’ll go first.” Alex reached in his cracker and pulled out the small piece of paper. “Where do gingerbread men sleep?” He laughed and began shaking his head.

I thought for a moment and then shrugged my shoulders. “Okay, you got me. Where do they sleep?”

Alex was still shaking his head. “On cookie sheets.” He tossed the slip of paper onto the table next to his crown. “I even got the lame jokes this year.”

I tucked my whistle under the edge of my plate and picked up Alex’s binder clip. “You know this would make a nice chip clip.” I held it up for Alex to see. “Do you mind if I use this today?”

Alex laughed. “Sure. Chip clip it is!”

I got up and headed to the kitchen where I opened the cabinet and took out a new bag of chips. Attaching the clip to the bag I held it out for both my guys to see. “It’s all ready for when the bag gets opened!” I said as I tossed the chips back in the cabinet and went to the stove to open the oven door. “Now who’s ready for some chicken parm?” I called over my shoulder.