`The “House Critters” Christmas Lunch

 

   The three DeBolts had just left to go to their other sons’ house for Christmas with their grand children. With the living room quite a mess and a group of five on their way for stockings, presents and lunch it all had to be picked up and lunch prepared. Food included crackers and cheese, Italian cold cuts, breads and rolls, along with shrimp and of course more Christmas cookies, which is why the critters had not been worried about getting breakfast. Ducky was always very interested in the shrimp, while the rest of the critters focused on everything else except the cold cuts.    

    Henrietta Bobbie Bunny, Ducky Duck, Rainy Reindeer, Blue Booby, and Big Bunny knew this group presented special challenges for them, as there were two little humans that came with Bobs’ nephew, wife, and father. The little ones had not been a problem the prior years, as only one of them was crawling around a bit, but now they talked about the older one walking and the other one crawling all over the place.   There were still lots of wrapped boxes and bags under the tree and some with critter names on them. They were worried as little humans tended to be grabby and many times it was the critters they wanted to grab.  Then Henrietta remember that during this time only stockings and gifts for and from the group that arrived would be opened, but that still left getting lunch.

    Blue had an idea, but did not share it with the others and went directly to Bob to ask if they could get a special plate for them put together in the kitchen, which was as far away from the little humans as the critters could get without going upstairs. Bob understood their concern and told Blue to have them all come to the kitchen when Barb offered everyone else drinks before lunch and he would have put together a plate for them with all their favorites.

   The arrival of this group was always interesting to the critters, as lots of hugs and kisses were exchanged among humans who only got together once a year. Then there were the little ones that started out shy and hugged mom or dad, but then took off all over the place. The elf was once again in charge and as this group was on a time line she kept everyone going through stockings and presents. The only break the elf would get was when it was time to open the stuff in her stocking.

   The critters spent the next hour talking about how they would get fed and keep away from the grabby children while the humans opened presents. The critters were getting very worried about eating when Barb asked everyone what they wanted to drink with lunch. Blue, who had not spilled the beans about his talk with Bob, calmly headed for the kitchen. The others followed and were very surprised to see five plates on the kitchen table, so each of them had their favorites laid out for them!