It was three days before Christmas Eve. The Bear family were having breakfast that Ice Bear and Zelda had made. The breakfast included: French toast, scrambled eggs, sausages, bacon, grits, coffee, and orange juice. Grizz was in a hurry to eat breakfast. Filling the coffee in his thermos, Grizz kissed his wife and ran out the door. "Grizz, you forgot your lunch!" cried Shelley. But it was too late. Grizz drove off to work. "I'll take Grizz his lunch," said Panda. "I have some errands to do today so I'll stop by at his office and give it to him." "Oh, thank you, Panda!" said Shelley giving the lunch bag to Panda. "You're welcome." "I'm off to do some errands," said Panda. "Does anyone need or want anything from the store?" "I need red 💅 polish," Janessa said. "I need Christmas stockings," Shelley said. "Oven mitts would be nice," Zelda said. Ice Bear needs 🍣 knives," said Ice Bear. "Christmas Cookies," said April. "Christmas cards," Bradley said. "Candy canes," said Crystal. "Puzzles," Dipper said. "Crayons," said Eliza. "Mini Christmas tree," said GJ. "Ornaments," said Ryan. "Mistletoe," said Ivory. "Poinsettias," said Zac. "Snow globes," said Zoe. "Christmas lights," said Liam. "Christmas CDs," said Yasmin.  "Marbles," said Farley. "Cupcakes," said Ginger. "🎅 hats," said Ivy. "Christmas figurines," said Paisley. "Christmas train," said Andrew. "Christmas DVDs," said Noah. "Christmas cookie cutters," said Daisy. "Christmas wreath," said Adam. "Christmas cookbook," said Jason. "Markers," said Mason. "Stickers," said Winter. "Unicorn poster," said Summer. "Christmas books," Kyle said. "Dinosaurs," said Lyle. "Christmas decorations," said Ivan. "Gingerbread houses," said Chloe. "Ugly Christmas sweaters," said Emily. "Christmas candles," said Basil. "Christmas candies," said Ellie. "Christmas Angels," said Autumn. "Jingle bells," said Rory. "And what do you want, Holly?" Panda asked. Grabbing her jacket and Panda's car keys Holly said, "I want to go with you, Daddy." And with that, she and her Dad got in the car, 🚗 put their seatbelts on and drove to the Dollar General. As he was driving to the store Panda said, "Okay, Holly let's check if we have everything." "Okay, Daddy!" said Holly. "Shopping list?" "Check!" "Wallet?" "Check!" "Uncle Grizz's lunch?" "And check!" "But we're forgetting something, Daddy," said Holly. "What's that, Holly?" Panda asked. "The radio!" replied Holly. "Mommy always listens to the radio when she drives to the store." Panda turned on the radio. "What kind of music would you like to hear?" asked Panda. "Christmas music!" replied Holly. The station that Panda had selected was playing a Christmas song. "Aw this is Mommy's favorite song, Daddy!" cried Holly. "You know I sang that song to your mom at a Christmas party before you cubs were born." Holly smiled and said, "Let's send Mommy a video of us singing the song, Daddy." "That's a great idea, sweetheart!" said Panda. Panda pulled over to the curb and placed his fully charged phone in the phone holder. As Panda pressed the record button, he and Holly were singing this Christmas song on video.

(Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas sung by The Carpenters Panda and Holly)

K. Carpenter:🎵Christmas future is far away. Christmas past is past. Christmas present is here today bringing the joy that will last.🎵🎵

Panda:🎵Have yourself a merry little Christmas let your heart be light. From now on our troubles will be out of sight.

Holly:🎵Have yourself a merry little Christmas make the yuletide gay. From now on our troubles will be miles away.

Both: 🎵 Here we are as in olden days happy golden days of yore. Faithful friends who are dear to us gather near to us once more.

Panda: 🎵 Through the years we all will be together if the fates allow.

Holly: 🎵 Hang a shining star upon the highest bough.

Panda: 🎵And have yourself a merry little Christmas.

Holly: 🎵 Have yourself a merry little Christmas.

Panda & Holly: 🎵 And have yourself a merry little Christmas now.🎵🎵

When the song was over, Panda sent the video message to his wife, Janessa. "That was fun, Daddy!" said Holly. "It sure was, Holly." Panda said turning the car engine. One hour later of driving and stopping for gas, Panda and Holly arrived at the Dollar General. Panda grabbed the shopping cart while Holly helped out by opening the door for her Dad. "Thank you, sweetie!" Panda said. "You're welcome, Daddy!" said Holly. And they went inside the store. The Dollar General had everything. Christmas decorations, electronics, Kitchenwares, videos, clothes, housewares, stationery, and "Toys!" cried Holly as she ran to the toy aisle. She was about to play with a baby doll when Panda said, "Holly, I know you want to stay here and play with the toys, but I need your help with the shopping list." "Okay, Daddy!" said Holly putting the doll back on the shelf. As Holly was leaving, the doll on the shelf shed a tear. "What's first on the list?" "Mommy wants some red nail polish." said Panda. "Let's look in the nail care aisle, Daddy." said Holly. So Panda and Holly went to the nail care aisle and saw many different shades of red nail polish. Holly got a Christmas red nail polish and put it in the cart. "What's next, Daddy?" asked Holly. "Your Aunt Shelley wants Christmas stockings but she didn't say how many she wanted." said Panda. "Let's get her thirty-nine Christmas stockings." Holly suggested. "Okay, but why thirty-nine, Holly?" Panda asked. "Well, there's thirty-seven of us in the household, plus Grandpa and Grandma are coming so that makes forty and it's Aunt Shelley's favorite number." said Holly. "That makes sense." said Panda. "No that makes forty, Daddy." said Holly. "Come on let's go find the Christmas stockings!" As soon as Holly and Panda got the stockings, they put them in their cart. "Hey, Holly I got the 🎅 hats!" "Great, Daddy we'll be needing forty hats though." said Holly. "You're the boss, sweetie just like your mom." said Panda putting the forty stockings in his cart. He went to another aisle and got some oven mitts and 🍣 knives. "Daddy, I got crayons, Christmas cookies, Christmas cards, candy canes, cupcakes, Christmas cookbook, and Christmas books." said Holly putting the items in the cart. "Wow Holly, you managed to get the things that start with C," said Panda. "Cool." "The word "cool" also starts with C right, Daddy?" Holly asked. Panda nodded his head and said, "Let's see what else do we need to get on the list." "We need marbles, puzzles, mini Christmas tree, mistletoe, ornaments, snow globes, Christmas lights, Christmas CDs,  Christmas figurines, Christmas train, Christmas cookie cutters, Christmas DVDs, forty ugly Christmas sweaters, Christmas wreath, Christmas decorations, gingerbread houses, Christmas candles, Christmas candies, markers, stickers, unicorn poster, Christmas angels, jingle bells,  and dinosaurs." said Holly. "Oh my goodness, Holly." said Panda. "Where would we find these things?" "In the toy aisle!" replied Holly. Panda smiled and  said, "I'll go get the other stuff and you get the toys." "Okay, Daddy!" said Holly. Five minutes later, Panda and Holly came back with the items plus, the baby doll that Holly was playing with earlier. "Funny, I don't see a baby doll on the list, Holly." said Panda noticing the doll in the cart. "Molly wants to come home with me can I keep her?" asked Holly. "You named her Molly?" "No that's her name." said Holly picking up the doll. "She was so lonely on the shelf with no friends so I told her that she could live with me." Panda smiled at his five-year-old daughter and said, "Holly, you did a great job of helping me with the shopping so yeah you can keep her." "Oh, thank you, Daddy!" said Holly giving Panda a hug. "I'll be right back with her wardrobe." "Okay, sweet- wait her what?" Panda asked. Two minutes later, Holly came back with Molly's wardrobe filled with clothes and shoes. "Come on, Daddy!" cried Holly grabbing Molly and the wardrobe. "Let's go to the check out line!" "You're the boss, Holly." said Panda. "Just like your mom." At the checkout counter, a cashier named Haley greeted Panda and Holly as she was ringing up the items. "Hello, my name is Haley and welcome to Dollar General!" "Nice to meet you, Haley." said Panda. "I'm Panda and this is my daughter Holly." "Wow someone's all prepared for Christmas," said the cashier. "Guilty as charged!" said Holly. Haley smiled as she finished ringing up the items and putting them in bags. "That'll be 250.00 dollars, Sir." "Okay." said Panda. But when he looked inside his coat pocket, the wallet was gone. "My wallet!" cried Panda. "I must've left it in the car!" "Don't worry, Daddy." said Holly taking an American Express™ card out from her pocket. "I got this." "Where did you get that card?" asked Panda. "Before we left the house, Mommy gave me her card and said to use it just in case Daddy forgets his wallet and starts panicking." said Holly. "Very clever." said the cashier taking the card from Holly and swiping it to the card swipe. "Do you know Mommy's PIN number, Holly?" asked Panda. "Yep!" said Holly typing the PIN number. Grabbing the bags Panda said, "Holly, you're a lifesaver!" "Really what flavor?" asked Holly. Haley and Panda laughed. "Here's your credit card and two candy canes for you and your Daddy." said Haley. "Merry Christmas!" "Thank you, Haley." said Holly taking the candy canes and her credit card from Haley. "Merry Christmas!" As Panda and Holly left the store, they loaded their bags of goodies in the trunk. With seatbelts fastened, Panda and Holly were on their way to Grizz's office. "Next stop, Uncle Grizz's office!" cried Holly hugging her doll. "Daddy, Molly says that your wallet is under the driver's seat." Without asking questions, Panda pulled over the car and checked under his seat. There were lots of things under the driver's seat. Bubblegum wrappers road maps, sunglasses, and "My wallet!" cried Panda. "Thank you, Holly." "Don't thank me, Daddy!" said Holly. "Thank Molly." "Thanks, Molly." As Panda was driving to Grizz's office Molly said, "You're welcome, Panda!" Forty-five minutes later, Panda and Holly arrived at Grizz's building and loans office.

Well, readers, what do you think of the story? I can't wait to write what happens next in chapter three. And what do you think of Holly's dolly Molly? Happy Holidays, everyone!