In the living room Chuck was building a Ferris wheel with his new tinker toys, I was dressing my new doll, Rosabelle, and my old doll, Virginia, in the dresses and nightgowns Mrs. Santa Claus made for them. It was so lovely for her to realize I still loved Virginia even though she looked worn and her hair was a bit matted. Mrs. Claus must be a great lady. If only Mother would stop crying.

In the meantime, Daddy and Mother got the goose in the oven, with one of them handling the goose, the other shooing away the feathers.

When Mother went in the bathroom to repair her face, Daddy tiptoed in the living room to phone Aunt Mary, asking if they could please come early and help.

Aunt Mary and Uncle Ed soon arrived with our just-the-right-age favorite cousins and we began having a great time together.

In the kitchen the vacuum cleaner, an electric fan, an attempt to weight down the stubborn feathers with water and other means were used. After what seemed like many hours, a minor miracle occurred. The down began to disperse.

Somehow, vegetables were prepared, gravy made and even candied yams and cheese-stuffed celery. It was no surprise that dinner was later than originally planned. Uncle Ed, an expert, consented to carve the goose and the meal proceeded in the good old English fashion.

We had a lovely evening and everyone said it was a superb meal. The pudding, the gravy, everything. And very few floating feathers remained.

But we never again had goose for Christmas, or any other time. Goose down is for pillows.

My note: I am 80 years old. This happened when I was 7 and my brother almost 5. I still have a platter from that set of dishes. On the back is written: The Limoges China Company, Seebring, Ohio.

About the author...

Ferol Platt grew up in Bountiful. She and her husband, Paul, have three children, 16 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren. The Platts have been married for 57 years and have lived in Salt Lake City most of their married life. Ferol Platt has been a homemaker and worked at Deseret Book. She loves music and literature.