Ellen and I became more accustomed to Pappa’s occasional visits as time passed. One morning, when I awoke, I stumbled into the living room to find him sleeping on a mattress on the floor. I was happy and surprised to see him. I cuddled beside him and asked why he was asleep in the living room. He said he wasn’t feeling well, couldn’t sleep, and didn’t want to disturb Mom. Unaware of their divorce, his explanation sounded believable. My dad’s parents often stopped by to see us. Ellen and I loved spending time with our grandparents. Although Opa Taco didn’t play with us, Mom enjoyed his company. Oma Tine was sweet and loving and smelled like Maja soap, the same Spanish bath soap Mom used. Oma Tine was always teary-eyed when it was time for them…show more content… As usual, Mom knows how to transform simple into extraordinary! Just after midnight, when Mom and Oma stirred us awake to announce that we missed the mystical visit from Sinterklaas, the usual pepperoni was strewn about the hallway, the carrot was partially eaten, the bowl of water was empty, and only crumbs were left of the day-old bread. To our surprise, instead of toys, we found a handwritten note from Sinterklaas in our shoe. Ellen and I were ecstatic beyond words! Whoever received a handwritten note from Sinterklaas? We asked Mom to read it out loud. The note instructed us to peek under a fruit bowl on the living room table. There, we discovered a new note with instructions to go to the sofa and look under a cushion, where another note directed us to a drawer in a dining room cabinet. Each time we found another note with further instructions, we handed it to Mom to read aloud while my sister and I cheered excitedly. The final note led us to a drawer in a kitchen cupboard. Together, we pulled the drawer open and, to our sheer delight, found a giant chocolate bar for each of us! Oh My Goodness, we couldn’t believe our good fortune! Sinterklaas is sheer
