For a box, he was a pretty good size box.
Sure, he was only half the box he used to be because the men had to get the refrigerator out of him. Nevertheless, he felt prideful in having accomplished his life’s purpose so successfully. The new refrigerator arrived safe and sound because of him.
But then something magical happened.
It was Christmas time and the man who received the refrigerator saw something special about the box. “You’re more than a box,” he said. With that, he set about writing a story for his grandchildren called The Christmas Candy Cabin. And the box became the cabin.
The box was big enough to be a small cabin for the little kids. The man added a peaked roof using scrap cardboard and tape. He cut a door and created a little entry room with more scrap cardboard and tape. Then he covered the whole thing in Christmas wrap that was blue with white snowflakes. The box was virtually whole again, transformed anew into a whimsical little hut.
A few days later the grandkids all received Grampy’s story of The Christmas Candy Cabin. It was the tale of two kids lost in the woods in a snowstorm and a of a magical candy cabin that appeared and helped get them home.
A few days later all the grandkids and their parents came to their grandparent’s home for a Christmas party. Grampy had the candy cabin all ready to go as a surprise. A strand of colored lights illuminated the inside of the cabin. A speaker was hidden inside so the cabin could speak (from Grampy’s ipod). And the walls, of course, were all filled with the same candy as in the book.
So the party was fun and there was lots of merriment. Buster the dog, a child himself, settled in with the kids. A fire burned in the backyard fire pit. Good food and drinks were shared, Christmas songs were sung and presents exchanged.
The kids were all joyful with their gifts and a contented tone replaced the frenzy of great excitement. For a moment, at least.
“Oh, we still have to do the candy cabin,” Grammy suddenly announced to the kids. Little heads came up from toys, little eyes looked at Grampy, little minds revealed themselves by expressions on little faces.
“Grampy, did you make the candy cabin?!” Kamryn screamed, running up to him knowing that he did.
The surprise was a surprise. It was the last thing the kids imagined as a part of the party. They marched out the front door to see the garage door opening and a little cabin – right from the book – waiting for them. One red Christmas light beamed from the peak of its roof.
And the game was on. The cabin spoke to them. “Can you hear me” it said. “Yes,” they said. “I said, can you hear me?” the cabin asked again. “Yes!!!” they loudly screamed together.
To enter the cabin they each had to tell som ething good they had done during the year. How they had been nice, not naughty. So they lined up and one by one made their statements.
“I helped a friend when he fell on the playground,” said Brody. “C’mon in,” said the cabin.
“I always say ‘please and thank you’,” said Liam. “C’mon in,” said the cabin.
The game went on until all the candy was gone. The parents videoed and took pictures of their children through a trap door that allowed for seeing inside the cabin. Grammy and Grampy watched and smiled.
Near the end, one parent and Grampy peered through the trap door into the cabin. The lights were still on but the candy was all gone. Laying on the floor was little Liam, the youngest of all.
Enchanted by the born-again box, they heard him say, “I love you candy cabin.”
Then, it was time for goodbye. Hugs and kisses were exchanged and smiles and waves given as the kids drove away. The garage door was closed and a clean-up effort was made by Grammy and Grampy. Their house was in total chaos but their hearts were filled with joy.
Grampy took a load of trash to the garbage can outside. Opening the door from the kitchen to the garage, he saw the little red light from the peaked roof of the cabin still beaming brightly in the darkness. The lights inside the cabin were still on as well.
Grampy took out the trash and when he came back inside he turned off the lights to the candy cabin. Smiling and remembering the scene that had unfolded just shortly before, he touched the cabin and said, “I knew you were more than a box.”
May the power of Christmas continually transform us all.
Happy New Year to you!!
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