THE HOLIDAY STORY
By Fashion Doll Swap Group

As Barbie sits on her old love seat in her new Midwest home, she looks at the snow, sipping hot cocoa.  Oh how she thinks, "I have had tons of careers and traveled the world.  Oh how I never thought I would end up in the Midwest.  But at least I am close to my best friend Midge.  She has what I really want.  A husband.  Maybe this will be the year Ken gives me a ring!

Just then the phone rings.  It is Skipper calling from college and asking if she can bring some friends home for the holidays.  Barbie pauses and thinks, "What is the point of having a house and no one to share it with. " So she says, "Yep sure."

Barbie sits back down and her mind starts churning.  "Maybe I can plan a little party and invite Ken too.  Hmm, cook a huge meal.  They always say 'The way to a man's heart is through his stomach.'  Now what's his favorite dish?  I'm going to need some help."

Barbie immediately picks up the phone and calls on old friends for their favorite recipes. Midge gave Barbie her Pork Chop Fricassee recipe, a dish from southern Louisiana. Teresa says "Ken will absoultely love my Pistachio Pudding Salad". Barbecue Pork Loin was Allen's suggestion. While Francie suggested her Pineapple glazed Ham with sweet & sour sauce. Christie was very honored that a beauty queen like Barbie would be asking "her" for a recipe. She suggested Green Bean Casserole with water chestnuts.

With all these great recipes, Barbie ponders with hesitation. Thinking of all the preparations that lie ahead for such a glamorous meal, she gets flustered saying to herself, "Oh my! I am a horrible cook. Last time I tried a big meal, I almost burned the house down. How will I ever be able to impress Ken with a lovely meal?" She immediately calls her friends back and asks each one to bring their favorite dish and invites them to bring their families for an old fashioned family reunion Christmas dinner. But there is one problem, Ken doesn't answer his phone. Anybody know where Ken is?

After Ken not answering his cell Barbie decides to call his office.  His secretary tells her "He did not come in today." At this point she is worried.  So, she calls his house and again there is no answer. By this time she is getting very worried, as it is not like Ken to take a day off with out being sick. Just then the door bell rings. Barbie goes to the door and opens it and to her surprise finds Ken standing on her front porch covered with snow flakes and grinning like crazy.  She starts to ask Ken where he has been and to scold him for worring her when out of the corner of her eye she spots a wonderful sleigh with a beautiful black horse pulling it.

She can not believe what she is seeing. Ken throws a warm blanket around her, takes her hand and leads her to the sled. Barbie is full of questions asking Ken where he got the sled.  He bends his head down and gives her the most wonderful kiss of her life, at which time she is immediately quieted! Ken lifts her in the sled and off they go down the Old Mill Road, past the old Church and to the pond on the other side of town. There are skaters on the pond and a big bond fire for them to warm themselves. Ken takes a thermas off of the floor and poors Barbie a cup of steamy hot chocolate while they watch the skaters. Ken hesitates then says "I was going to wait to give you this but I think now is the right time." He reaches in his pocket, but then has a puzzled look on his face.  Barbie thinks, "What is he doing? Why the change of look on his face?"  Ken begins to look down at the floor.  He bends down and examines the floor.  He looks in his pocket again.  "This is strange." he says, "I know I had it here."  "Had what?" Barbie asks.  "Ken, what did you have."

Ken sits back in the seat and starts retracing his steps. "I went to the store. I purchased it.  I put it in my pocket before picking up the sleigh. What could have happened to it?" "What could have happened to what?" Barbie asks puzzled.  Just then Ken checks his other pocket and...  As Ken reaches for his pocket, Barbie exclaims,"Is that a carrot in your pocket or are you just glad to see me Ken?"  Ken pulls a carrot from his pocket and says,"Would you like to feed the horse?

Barbie heaves a great sigh of disappointment, but takes the carrot just the same and stands up. As she does, Ken notices a tiny shinny object stuck squarely to Barbie's rear end. Could it Be???? Yes, it was! He blinks his eyes repeatedly trying not to laugh. It must have fallen out of his pocket and she must have sat on it when they got in the sled. Oh dear, now whatever was he going to do? How would he remove it from Barbie's fanny without her noticing or being insulted? How on earth could things have gone so wrong so quickly?

Stay tunned...