Reality Check

[Delta40]

Wanna be that yellow ducky
in a bubble bath
a-floatin
a-floatin
splashy splash splash

I'm a piece of soap scum
bobbing up and down

[MystyrMystyry]

I remember one Christmas many years gone, something odd happened. I'd seen a brief flash of a new toy on the telly box. It was a Saturday morning kids show, and some lucky had won a battery powered submarine - boy, did that spark my imagination! I kept what I'd seen to myself because it got into my secret fantasy place, when lessons were slow, when the playground games got dull. Every year the local church had a special Christmas for the poor ones where each of us received a toy. So about six months later, somehow - I can't explain - I just knew that my special toy was what I was going to get.

I was tingly in anticipation, but restrained my nerves - we had to go up on the stage and collect in front of everyone, and I had a sort of stage fright I'd only experienced that once. But at the last second there was a doubt: I was called up last, and I'd looked around at the previous recipients' gifts. They seemed to have been batch bought: a number of cricket bats, footballs and soccer balls, dolls and dollhouses, etc, but all repeats - no singularly unique toys. And as the pile diminished I saw more clearly the small dimensions of my prize - could it be? it must be! It has to be!

But once in my hand, it was too small, too light, even the wrong shape. Deep disappointment was about to ensue, when Santa whispered confidentially: 'I bet you don't know what that is...'

I peered at him, past the the beard, past the pink complexion, deep into his eyes, trying to work out who this was. My uncle? Grampa? No, it was someone I'd never seen before.

Suddenly, though I was completely doubtful, I responded: 'I bet I do.'

He shook his head, as to say I'll never guess.

So I told him. 'It's a battery powered submarine, and it's exactly what I wanted.' Though now I felt like a total idiot, because having said it, it just couldn't possibly be.


But there was a pause. I'm not sure, a twitch of his head, a glint in his eyes, a shuffle in his being. Something strange had just happened, and at that point I knew what I was holding



A bloody battery powered submarine!

[Delta40]

I'm glad it triggered that memory MM...

I remember a christmas party as a child. My name being mistaken for a boy, I got a tonka truck and even though I made out it was just what I wanted, I was devastated so they returned it and waited till all the presents were handed out to see what was left and gave me, an 8 year old a ladies manicure set. I never did work out what all those odd shaped tools were for and to this day, I have short nails....lol

[kittypaws]

I remember one Christmas many years gone, something odd happened. I'd seen a brief flash of a new toy on the telly box. It was a Saturday morning kids show, and some lucky had won a battery powered submarine - boy, did that spark my imagination! I kept what I'd seen to myself because it got into my secret fantasy place, when lessons were slow, when the playground games got dull. Every year the local church had a special Christmas for the poor ones where each of us received a toy. So about six months later, somehow - I can't explain - I just knew that my special toy was what I was going to get.

I was tingly in anticipation, but restrained my nerves - we had to go up on the stage and collect in front of everyone, and I had a sort of stage fright I'd only experienced that once. But at the last second there was a doubt: I was called up last, and I'd looked around at the previous recipients' gifts. They seemed to have been batch bought: a number of cricket bats, footballs and soccer balls, dolls and dollhouses, etc, but all repeats - no singularly unique toys. And as the pile diminished I saw more clearly the small dimensions of my prize - could it be? it must be! It has to be!

But once in my hand, it was too small, too light, even the wrong shape. Deep disappointment was about to ensue, when Santa whispered confidentially: 'I bet you don't know what that is...'

I peered at him, past the the beard, past the pink complexion, deep into his eyes, trying to work out who this was. My uncle? Grampa? No, it was someone I'd never seen before.

Suddenly, though I was completely doubtful, I responded: 'I bet I do.'

He shook his head, as to say I'll never guess.

So I told him. 'It's a battery powered submarine, and it's exactly what I wanted.' Though now I felt like a total idiot, because having said it, it just couldn't possibly be.


But there was a pause. I'm not sure, a twitch of his head, a glint in his eyes, a shuffle in his being. Something strange had just happened, and at that point I knew what I was holding



A bloody battery powered submarine!

What a great story!!! And do you still have it? Can we play with it in the tub?

Wonderful tale MM!!

Made me smile and giggle!!

kittypaws