No Peeking(Marla) Jesse lay awake, listening for any sound that would prove that anyone else in the house was up. After a few moments, he quietly got out of bed and walked carefully in the dark to the door of the bedroom. He opened it and peered out. The hallway was empty.

He crept silently down the hall and to the living room. He turned on a lamp. Now he could see the beautiful tree and the pile of gifts. Excited, he knelt down. He lifted one gift. “Bethany” was written on the tag. Well, that wasn’t interesting to him. Jesse reached for the next one, the one that he’d hoped to see. On the tag he saw his own name. He smiled and began to start the tedious process of lifting the tape without tearing the paper. It took skill, but he’d had practice. He wanted only a peek. He was in full concentration when he heard, “What on earth are you doing?” spoken in a loud whisper.

He jumped and nearly dropped the gift. He looked up to see his mother standing by the sofa.

“I, umm, I was just fixing the tape on this package.”

“No, I don’t think so. You know better than this. You’re a grown, married man for goodness’ sake. Put that back right now.” She wasn’t succeeding in sounding angry. He could tell that she was trying not to laugh.

“Come on, Mom. Just a peek.”

“Absolutely not. If my grandkids don’t get to open their presents early, neither do you. So, either get them up now, which I don’t recommend, because it’s five a.m., or put that gift back this instant.”

He stood. “Oh, all right then.”

She walked up to him and gave him a hug. “Never could help yourself, could you? We both know that this is far from the first time I’ve caught you. What if I hadn’t been able to come here this year?”

He shrugged helplessly and they both laughed.

“Well,” she said, “You know that once I’m up, I’m up. How about a cup of hot chocolate with your mom?”

“Sounds good, Mom. But I’ll make it.”

She settled herself on the sofa and he went to the kitchen. He filled the kettle with water and placed it on the stove. He took two mugs out of the cupboard. Would she want marshmallows? He decided to check. He walked back into the room and there he saw his mother kneeling by the tree, carefully opening the gift that he’d bought for her.

“Mom!” he gasped in surprise. Then he said, "You're a grown, married woman. If your grandkids - "

"Oh, just stop," she interrupted with a laugh, trying to stay quiet as she carefully set the gift back under the tree.

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