The Meaning of Maggie by Megan Jean Sovern

this.”
    â€œIt’s okay.” I took the brush away. “Tiffany already told me she’s crazy.”
    She looked genuinely relieved. “I’m glad somebody did.”
    Dinner was weird, to say the least. We went to some fancy-schmancy restaurant that was completely empty because it was Christmas Eve and duh, families not taken over by crazy ate at home on Christmas Eve. Grandmother ordered everyone’s meal, even Mom’s, which made Mom’s freckles boil. My meal was a garden salad with NO DRESSING, which I thought was just an appetizer, but no, it was my whole meal. My WHOLE MEAL was a salad with NO DRESSING.
    As soon as we got home, I went straight to my “for emergencies only” stash in my room. But it was just as empty as it was before. I dug into the bottom of my drawer looking for something, anything! And just then, a Rolo rolled out from under a sock.
    It was a Christmas miracle!
    I woke up the next morning to Tiffany’s sideways face staring at me.
    â€œMerry Christmas,” she whispered.
    â€œMerry Christmas,” I whispered back.
    â€œI’m scared to go out there. It’s like having a stranger take over our Christmas.”
    â€œShe’s not a stranger.” I sat up. “She’s our grandmother.”
    â€œYou know what I mean.”
    I did. I knew exactly what she meant.
    She halfway smiled. “But it
is
kind of fun watching Mom lose it.”
    â€œYeah, it is,” I agreed.
    We promised each other we wouldn’t go out into the living room alone so I waited for Tiffany while she did whatever she does for an hour in the bathroom. When she finally emerged done up in red, green, and glitter, we slowly made our way into the living room.
    Dad was at the table drinking coffee with Grandmother while Mom and Layla were busy in the kitchen fixing a Christmas feast. The tree was ablaze with colored lights and brightly wrapped gifts for one and all. I suppressed my urge to dive into the presents immediately and found Mom instead.
    I squeezed her side. “Merry Christmas.”
    She smiled. “What took you so long? You have a million presents to open!”
    There weren’t a million presents but there were definitely more than I expected. Mom had made it sound like we were only getting socks and gruel for Christmas. But I got everything I needed and even a fewthings I didn’t, like a brass bookmark from Mom and a Neil Young record from Dad.
    Even Tiffany and Layla got me a present, which was a Mayfield family first. I unwrapped the tiny box, lifted the lid, and ta-da! Inside was the most perfect pair of fake diamond earrings. They were dainty and understated. Former First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy would have approved.
    â€œThey’re so pretty!” I held them up to see their sparkle. “But my ears aren’t pierced.”
    Layla pushed my hair behind my ears. “Mom said we could take you to get them pierced.”
    I shivered at the thought. “Maybe. I’ll think about it.”
    My turn. I reached under the tree for the two gifts I’d wrapped especially for my sisters. I could barely contain my excitement as I handed one to Tiffany and one to Layla. They tore open the paper and tried to hide their disappointment.
    â€œBooks,” Layla said flatly.
    Tiffany examined her book like she’d never seen one before.
    â€œLove poems to be exact,” I said. “Elizabeth Barrett Browning wrote them for her husband who was also a poet. I thought you would really like them. Since they’re about love. And stuff.”
    Their faces lit up and Layla gave me a squeeze. “This is great, Maggie.”
    â€œYeah, this doesn’t suck. Entirely,” Tiffany agreed.
    â€œI’m so glad you like them. They’re due back to the library next Monday. Don’t be late. Mom gets really mad when she has to pay overdue charges.”
    Layla and Tiffany laughed and Mom and Dad laughed and