9

The new doll was beautiful. She had an outfit I would dream about wearing for the rest of my life. She had blonde hair with blue sparkles and bangs, blue eyes like the snow at night, and pink lipstick. I liked her blue pants and blue shirt with the white puffs at the end. Her boots were white with blue accents and she had a white beanie with a puff at the top. My favorite part of her outfit was a blue and white cropped vest. I played with her a lot but Gaga insisted on keeping the box and every accessory. She wanted me to put her back in the box when I was done. When I would think of winter, I would think of walking around under a light in the snow with that outfit.

Now, as I sit in the bedroom of my current partner's apartment, I start to wonder where the snow is. It's Christmas, and yet it's raining. It was warm outside this morning and I didn't even wear a dress. Instead, I went to work at a fast food restaurant. Omelet Shop was open, and we went afterwards. Our waitress was working herself crazy, so we tipped her well and was on our way.

I had Christmas with the family yesterday and got my father a blanket that made him look like a burrito if he wrapped himself in it. He said he wanted one just days before. Dad had sent me a Merry Christmas. It was my car. The old 2005 Toyota Corolla that had needed a little TLC. The photo he sent me had reduced me to tears that Christmas Eve while I was at work. There, instead of a busted up car that wouldn't run, was a shiny, newly painted blue car with new lights and a couple bows on it. He and my grandfather had worked hard for the last few weeks repairing, painting, and cleaning the car. The little dinosaur still hung from the mirror, waiting for me to hop in and drive it.