I am at that awkward transition age where I don't want lame gifts like socks yet, but I am also too old for toys. My parents always insist on getting me something though, so I tried my best to figure out something in between those two things. I had already gotten clothes and a few books so I was pretty content with the things under my tree.
Christmas was nearing so we were shopping for our holiday dinner. We were strolling through Sam's Club while idly chatting about our day. If you've ever been to this suburban utopia that is Walmart's larger than life, slightly classier cousin, then you know everything in here comes in bulk. Not that I have anything against shopping, but strolling store aisles isn't my favorite thing to do. Something did catch my eye as we were walking. Between the blaring stereos next to the flat screen TVs and stocks of gigantic cans of tuna was a row of cardboard boxes. Giant cardboard boxes. Inside the box was the most amazing thing I've ever seen.
I stopped midway through the aisle before approaching the box. Enormous stuffed animals sat uncomfortably inside, and I looked at all of them because I knew this would be life-changing. There was a shark, an elephant, a tall giraffe and a puppy that was just too cute, but nothing won me over more than the big ole lion grinning at me. Slack-jawed and wide-eyed I stared at the giant plush feline. I love stuffed animals more than anything. The Christmas before last I requested a big stuffed animal which resulted in me getting my pink elephant the size of my whole torso. This one was on a whole other level.
"Is that what you want?" An angelic voice called from the heavens
It was actually my mother, but I was shocked by the fact that she was willing to purchase this huge pile of fluff for me. My father, on the other hand, was not so impressed. With a furrowed brown accompanied by a deep frown, he sucked his teeth. "You're not getting that damn thing," he murmured before turning to cruise the other aisles.
My mother watched him go and then she turned to me. "You can get it if you want it, baby."
My heart leaped. "SERIOUSLY?" I croaked, barely able to contain my excitement.
"Yes silly, but I am not picking that thing up," She laughed.
I turned around to face my new friend. I grabbed him by his fluffy waist that's wider than mine and tugged him out of the box. I nearly fell on my butt because I underestimated his weight. I tossed him into our cart that he took up most of the room in. Grinning from ear to ear I got my younger sister's attention. Her eyes lit up as she saw the great new animal I was getting. My father turned with an angry expression.
"Why the hell are you walking around with that thing still?΅ He grumbled angrily to my mother.
"I have it because my baby wants it for Christmas so we're getting it!" She replied forcefully, determined to get me my present.
The other people shopping exclaimed in shock when they saw my mom pushing our cart. or asked where in the world we found that. He couldn't fit in the trunk of our car with the groceries so we stuffed him in between my sister and me. I squeezed him one good time before handing him over to my mom to hide until Christmas.
When the day came I could barely hold myself together. At midnight Christmas day my mother pulled my Lion out from behind the couch. He is a little over five feet because he is a few inches taller than my mother and I. I sat on his fuzzy legs as I opened the rest of my gifts. I let him sit in the living room overnight to watch over the presents and so I could tidy up his new room a bit.
The next night I lay him in my twin bed and he takes up at least 80% of it but it doesn't matter. For the next year, he was my someone to cuddle when I'm upset or when it's thundering. He lets me lay my aching head on him after a long day at school or give me comfort when I'm sick. Occasionally I would try to dress him in some of my old clothes but nothing fits him. I introduced him to all my other stuffed animals and he fit right in. My father used to immediately push him off the couch whenever I set him there, but lately, they would watch the game together before my father gets tired of him.
I'll admit it took me a good six months to think of what to name him, and my mother wasn't very impressed but Leon T. Lion is the newest member of our family. No one likes him as much as my mother and I do. I still have him too! He has no stains or tears and I always brush his mane when it gets unruly because I am determined to keep him for as long as I can. He will always be the best Christmas present I've gotten as a kid.
