Joyce Shappee

Welcome to My Toy Box

Children

A Christmas Light Bulb Story

by

It’s that time of year again. I can tell because the garage door is up, and it’s pretty chilly in here. The box I am stored in has been taken off the shelf and is now on the floor. It’s testing day for the others and myself. I have to say I get a little anxious and a bit unstrung over this. I was pretty exhausted at the end of the show last year. Although I made it through, I wasn’t sure I would have enough brightness to finish the job. After being rolled up for the past several months, I think I am recharged and ready, as they say, for “another season.” We will see as the testing begins.

I don’t think a few of the others are going to make it this year. We come back out each year, and I am struck by how many of us don’t light up again. That always means there will be change. Change for sure heightens my anxiety and makes me nervous. I get scared that the new holiday decorating trends will take my place and make me obsolete. I’ve seen what happens to the older generation. Some of it, before its time, gets put in the garbage and taken away. Some of it gets banished to a box labeled “extras,” which then gets put back on the highest shelf, usually never to be seen again. But, enough of my negative energy. This year, I want to be on the receiving end of the positive.

Okay, it looks like it’s getting closer to my testing time. The box is nearly empty, and only a few of us are left. I can tell I am not totally in my element. I think my filaments are fine; I just need a little tweaking. It happens to several of us after being cooped up for so long. You would think that someone would take the time to check on me sometime during the year, but no. It’s not until the last minute that I am needed when I am required to shine immediately. Ah, I see the others getting a little twist and turn before the string is plugged into the socket. I know there is hope for me now.

I want to stay in the same position I was in last year because having to change my blinking pattern can be very unnerving. Also, establishing my timing with a newer generation can be challenging too. Can you imagine going from the beat of the Beatles or the Everley Brothers to the raps of Snoop Dog or M and M? Just thinking about it makes me want to expire.

Oh, okay, so here we go. It’s plug-in time. My string is in place: “1, 2, 3, ta-da! HOORAY! I’m a brilliant red glow!

Starlight, star bright…Merry Christmas to all, and to all, a good night!”

Jerome, the Gentle Giant

by

Once upon a time, there was a gentle giant named Jerome who lived in the village of Win-Kin in the state of New York. Jerome was a very, very large giant. Giants are usually huge, but in all of his life Jerome has never seen a giant bigger than himself. He was so oversized that his family had to keep moving into different houses to accommodate him as he was growing up. All in all, the family, giants themselves, had to move nine times just because of Jerome’s bigness.

Jerome didn’t mind too much about his size. In fact, he kind of liked it. After all, it made him stand out. Everyone in Win-Kin looked up to him. As an adult, he was twelve feet tall and weighed so much that each time he stepped on a scale, he immediately broke it. Now that he had stopped growing, he wanted to find a job and become a real member of the community.

Although he was a gentle giant and the villagers enjoyed his friendship, a problem kept the others from getting too close to him. The problem was that occasionally, by accident, Jerome would harm someone. When Jerome came into Win-Kin, he or they would not pay attention, and before he knew it, Jerome would step on one of the villagers. Jerome hated this. It was very upsetting to him and of course to the villagers.

Each time it happened, he would shamefully go away hiding in the nearby woods. Because the trees were taller and and some were bigger than him, the woods were the only place he could find shelter and peace of mind during those times. Usually, after about a week of hiding, the village crier would come to the outskirts of the woods and chant: “Jerome, Jerome, it’s time for you to come home.” When he heard these kind words, Jerome knew that the person he had harmed was healed, and that all was forgiven. Only then would he return to the village of Win-Kin.

One day, after he had stepped on someone again and he was exiled into the woods, he began to think. What if my job is to make a safe walkway around the town for only the villagers to walk on? Then, I would know where to step and where not to step. Making a path for the villagers would keep me from hurting them and then I wouldn’t have to leave Win-Kin ever again. Oh, he thought, this is a great idea! Now, I must figure out how to get it done.

So, Jerome set out to make his idea come true. First, he had to figure out what material to use for the pathway. The material had to be big and heavy enough for the others to walk on but small enough so he would recognize the path and not step on it.

Jerome had a gnome friend named Sal who lived under the bridges in New York City. Jerome didn’t know much about New York City, but he did know that it was one of the biggest cities in the United States. He figured that since it was a big city, it might have large items in it that could be used to build the pathway. So, Jerome called his friend Sal and told him about his plan, to see if he could help him.

Sal said he was happy to help. In fact, he said: “I know just the material you need to make your pathway. All through New York City’s streets there are utility hole covers. Utility hole covers are large round metal steeping stones used in the City’s pathways.” He said he and some friends would be honored to supply Jerome with as many as he needed to make his path.

Jerome made drawings and measured his village. He talked with Sal about the size of the utility hole covers and then figured out he needed seventy-one whole covers and three-eighths of one cover. Jerome wasn’t sure if the utility hole covers came in three-eighths size and was thinking the irregular size of three-eighths might be a problem.

So, Jerome called Sal and much to Jerome’s surprise, he found out there was a much BIGGER problem. Someone had already taken some utility hole covers from the streets of New York City. The authorities in NYC were furious and upset about it. Sal said people had been put in jail because of it. Sadly, Sal told Jerome he could not help him. He said, Jerome would have to find another solution to his problem. Poor Jerome didn’t know what to do or where to turn.

Jerome stayed home for many weeks all the while thinking about ideas to make a safe walkway for the villagers of Win-Kin. One day, a few of the villagers came to visit him. They said they were proud of Jerome. Although he was a giant and very tall, they enjoyed his company. They wanted Jerome to be included in the village of Win-Kin. They had heard of Jerome’s pathway idea and they seemed excited when they asked him to follow them back to the village. Carefully, stepping behind the villagers and allowing them to lead, Jerome followed. As they got closer to town, off in the distance he noticed what looked like a designated pathway. It was painted bright, bright, orange, and it went from one end of the village to the other. All the villagers were walking on it. Jerome couldn’t believe his eyes. He was so happy he turned to the others and joyfully cried out: “Hail to the villagers of Win-Kin for solving the problem! Jerome, Jerome can now stay home!”