Mallory loves Christmas, but not the commercialism.

"On the first day of Christmas..." our voices began.

Ding-dong!

"I'll get it!" three or four of my siblings shouted.

Mom shut the recorder. "I knew it. It's the Christmas Carol Police, coming to arrest us."

A man stood on the porch.

"Mrs. Pike?" he said.

"Yes," my mom answered.

"My name is Chad Henry. I'm a producer/director for Channel Three TV, and I wanted to congratulate you in person. You've been selected out of hundreds of contestants - "

Vanessa came running to the door. She looked about ready to lift off the ground. "The Old-fashioned Christmas Contest?" she blurted out.

"That's right," Mr. Henry said. "Are you Vanessa?"

Vanessa shrieked and began hopping around the living room.

Eight baffled pairs of eyes watched her, then turned back to Mr. Henry

"What is this all about?" Mom asked.

"Didn't you see the commercial?" Vanessa cried. "All you had to do was write a letter about the way your family was going to spend Christmas. And Mallory was saying how we had to have this old-style Christmas and all, so I entered us. I figured we'd be perfect."

"Your entry was sensational, Vanessa," Mr. Henry said. "I have to compliment you, Mrs. Pike. What a family. Eight Children - and yet such a strong sense of closeness and traditional American values. Warmth, generosity, wholesomeness..."

As Mr. Henry searched for another word, Mom said, "What exactly does this contest entail? Do we have to buy anything?"

Mr. Henry chuckled and reached into his jacket pocket. "on the contrary, Mrs. Pike,."

We all gathered around as Mr. Henry pulled out an envelope and removed a check from it.

I thought my jaw was going to hit the floor as I read it.

"Ten thousand dollars?" my mom said.

Mallory's Christmas Wish
Published by Scholastic Inc. 1996
ISBN: 0590228765