The year was 1986. I had just turned eight years old and dad took me to see Santa Claus. I still believed in him. I sat on his lap, and told him three things that I really wanted. I was so excited that year, I wanted a Barbie doll, a new dress, and one of those extra large hershey kisses that were being shown all over the television set. I love chocolate, and wanted one all to myself for Christmas. As the days went on I got more and more excited. Oh, how I loved listening to my dad read "The night before Christmas", while we all sat around a warm fire, drinking hot coco and listening to Elvis burst out "Silver Bells" on the old radio. I couldn't wait for Christmas day, when I would open my presents. Santa knew I was a good girl, and he was going to bring me exactly what I wanted. I said my prayers each night, like a good girl, and waited to hear the patter of reindeer hooves on our roof. Christmas eve came, and my dad told me I had better get to bed because Santa doesn't come to kids's homes while they are awake. But I had watched too many Christmas movies where the child stays up and sees Santa placing the gifts around the tree. So I snuck down the stairs and hid behined the thick bannister, watching through the holes.

And than suddenly, there he was. Santa, you ask? No. My dad. I couldn't see exactly what he put around the tree, except for the hershey kiss I had asked for, which wasn't wrapped. I went upstairs crying, and prayed that in the morning, the hershey kiss wouldn't be there. If it was there, it meant my dad was indeed the man who put the gifts underneath the tree. That hershey kiss became the symbol of no Santa Claus, and I prayed my dad had left those things there for Santa, and that Santa would leave other things.

In the morning, I saw that not only was the kiss there, but the gift wrap was under the tree that was the same my dad had put there. I felt sick. I couldn't even eat that darned hershey kiss. It had become the most terrible gift ever.

Learn more about this author, Catsy Jones.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.

---

Add your voice

Know something about The worst Christmas gift you ever got?
We want to hear your view. Write now!