Susannah's Christmas

I try to read to Susie the spooky Catholic tale of "Old Befana"--a Sicilian crone who learns of the Three Kings, bakes warm bread for "the Christ child," and then promptly, tragically dies.

This is not Tomie dePaola's best effort, and Susie becomes impatient in Act One. She begins shouting DAH-DAH-DAH over my voice, then she launches herself out of my lap; she wanders off as my narration grows increasingly desperate.

Susie does have more patience for "Peanuts," maybe because she thinks it's odd that her father sits alone and watches this clunky cartoon during working hours. If I have the Peanuts special on, Susie will look at the screen, and look at me, and, I swear, she'll smirk. She'll also study the unfolding story for at least two consecutive minutes, and this seems like it might be a world record? Something to report to the Baby Hall of Fame?

Mostly, though, Susie's preferred hobbies remain non-denominational. If she has a choice, she'll work on: (1) pulling a knife from the dishwasher, (2) inserting her own full body into the dishwasher, (3) trying to re-program the dishwasher.

Susie's efforts are always thwarted, but she remains persistent; like Churchill, she has her eyes on the prize and her hand on the plow. She will not--will not--will not--give in.

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