My Most Memorable Christmas Gift, by author/illustrator Grace Lin.
(adapted from the upcoming book Year of the Dog.)

Chinese people don't usually give gifts; they give lucky red envelopes of money. Mom said it was much more practical that way. But I told her for Christmas, we were supposed to get presents.

"But it's the same as if I give you money," Mom would argue, "What's the difference? I buy it for you or you buy it for yourself."

I just shook my head.

"Okay," Mom said, "What do you want for Christmas?"

Now, this was more like Christmas! Hmm, what did I want?

I thought hard. At school we were reading about a pioneer girl. She had a doll with a bonnet and a cornflower blue calico apron. It had a rag body and a shiny clay head, with painted blue eyes and black hair. They had called it a china doll. I decided I wanted one of those, so I could pretend I was a pioneer girl.

"I want a china doll," I told Mom, "You know the kind of doll with the head made out of clay? I want one of those."

Mom nodded her head.

On Christmas morning, I was so excited to get up. I ripped open my present... and saw a Chinese doll. It wasn't anything at all like what the pioneer girl had. It was a Chinese woman with long black hair wearing a pink silk dress and carrying flowers. I was so disappointed.

"What's wrong?" Mom asked, "Isn't that what you wanted?"

"But I asked for a china doll," I said, "You know, with the clay head."

"But it is a Chinese doll," Mom said, "and her head is made out of porcelain. I even ordered it from China."

It took a little while to explain. Finally Mom said, "I'm sorry it wasn't what you wanted, but do you like the doll anyway?"

I looked at the doll. She had a nice face. It wasn't her fault she wasn't the same as the pioneer girl's.

"Oh well," I said, "I guess I can pretend I'm a pioneer girl in China."

Posted December 2005