In the city of Bremen, Germany lived a twelve year old girl named Anya. Anya lived in a large house with her one brother and three sisters. Her Vater (Father) and Mutter (Mother) worked hard every day, raising money to feed the large family. Her father was a woodworker who created many varieties of artwork: carousels, incense burners, German nutcrackers, and his famous and most-talented, ornaments. Her mother not only took care of the house and her family but also baked goods for the local bakery. Her specialty was Bauernbrot, a German sourdough bread, but she also made various types of cookies, cakes, and breads. Anya and her siblings were always excited when their mutter made them a batch of cookies along with the ones she was going to sell. Anya was proud of her mutter and of her constant positive attitude. Anyas oldest sister, Adelaide, also worked. She was nineteen years old, almost a grown woman. Adelaide worked at the small Bioladen, or grocery store, in town. Mutter and vater allowed her to keep all the money in a small hiding place in the house. They thought it would be nice if she had some small savings tucked away once she began life on her own, with her own husband and children. Arnold, Anyas oldest brother, worked with their next-door neighbor on their large farm. Since he was eighteen, he was full of vitality and energy and could spend it well working with the cows, sheep, and goats. Not only did they pay him but they also gave him some milk each day to bring home. The goat's milk was the best! Her two other siblings, Rochelle and Ilse were both younger than her. Rochelle was ten and Ilse, eight. The three of them walked to school every day, their lunchboxes swinging from their hands. They loved to walk and Anya did not mind as long as her two sisters listened to her. She was responsible for them on their way to and from school and she took her job seriously. After school was over, the three of them would bound home, eager to finish their chores and homework so they could play. Anyas greatest dream was to own a dog. She loved animals, especially dogs. Her mutter and vater always told her that maybe in a few years they would buy a German shepherd for the house and she could be its owner but she knew that might mean never. They had told her that when she was ten, promising to buy her one at twelve years. She guessed that they thought she would forget her request in two years but she did not. She planned on asking again soon so that the puppy could arrive in time for Christmas. Christmas was only a few weeks away and she thought the little puppy would be the perfect gift. She quickly fell asleep that night, dreaming of what kinds of names she would give him and what kinds of tricks she would teach him.

A week went by and Anya gathered up her courage to ask her vater once again. He turned, surprised that she had still remember, and responded as he always did before, "In a few years, Anya, in a few years." Dejectedly she walked away, her head bowed. Oh well, she thought, I will ask again in two years. The next two weeks passed by in a blur, the family busy with all the Christmas preparations. The house is always decorated every Christmas using her vater's handiworks. Each child owned a pyramid, a gift their vater gave each of them at age five. This meant that there was one pyramid in their brother's room and three in the girls room. The living room also had a pyramid. This one, however, was the biggest. It stood three feet tall and was such a beautiful representation of the wild. There were five tiers. Deer roamed on the top and bottom tiers. The middle sections were filled with joyful people: carolers, lumberjacks, women, and children. Anya thought her vater had created that best carousel even when he presented the family with this one. The family also strung out Christmas lights on the trees outside and the one indoors. They hung up ornaments that their vater had made and left the German smokers out that sat on the side tables yearly. The incense burners filled the atmosphere with a fragrant aroma along with her mutters delicious baking. One more day for Christmas! Tonight Anya would anxiously sleep, wondering what her parents were going to give her. She had made drawings for everyone in the family since she loved to draw and she knew her sisters and brother would probably do the same. They exchanged simple gifts.

Christmas morning came and Anya awoke eagerly, quickly donning her clothes on to go to the family room. Her siblings followed her down the hallway to the family room. As she turned the corner, she was surprised at what she saw. In her vater's lap sat a small puppy, brown and black in color. She screamed a cry of joy and rushed to her father's side. She never thought they would buy one for her but she supposed they changed their minds. The little puppy was adorable and sniffed around, trying to familiarize himself with everyone's scent. Her vater handed her the pup and she squealed when he licked her face. She immediately turned to her parents and thanked them for this new gift. Her vater gave her a quick lecture on how the pup would have to be disciplined when he was young so he would not be out of control when he grew up. He mentioned that she would have a lot of work to do with its daily needs: food, water, bathroom necessities, and that he wanted to see her do her duties. She reassured him and turned back to her Christmas gift, cuddling him close. The rest of the day was spent laughing and playing with the energetic pup. He ran around from person to person until he finally had had enough. By then it was evening and everyone was ready for bed. The pup stayed in his cage in the kitchen and the children walked off sleepily to bed. It had been a long day. Anya closed her eyes, dreaming of the games she was going to play with her new friend the next day.

Morning came and Anya woke up excitedly. As she made her way downstairs, she noticed there was no cage and no puppy. Suddenly it hit her - she had dreamed of receiving a puppy. There were still three weeks until Christmas just like last night before she had gone to sleep. There were no Christmas decorations or goodies on the table. With her head down, Anya walked back to her room and sat on her bed, tears filling her eyes. What a cruel dream to have, she thought. She glanced at her dresser and picked up the tiny ornament on it. Her father had carved this for her two years before, the first time she had requested a puppy. The ornament consisted of Santa Clause holding a newborn puppy, almost as if he were presenting him to someone special. As she got up to ready herself for school, she prayed that someday she would be that special someone.