Saint Nicholas Day

On the night of December Fifth, Trudy anxiously awaited the arrival of Sinterklaas and Zwarte Piet. The most wise of all Elvenfolk, Zwarte Piet traveled with Sinterklaas around the world, helping to deliver surprises to each boy and girl.
Early in the afternoon, Jani and his father went to the Van Heeswijk house. Meanwhile, Trudy and her mother prepared cinnamon crackle.
Trudy and her mother mixed corn syrup, sugar, water, and cinnamon oil in a saucepan and brought it to a boil. Trudy added red food coloring just before mother poured the molten liquid onto a cookie sheet
After it hardened, Trudy grabbed a wooden mallet and pounded the crackle into bite-sized pieces. She gathered it into mugs, wrapping it in red cellophane and pink ribbons.
For the holiday feast, Mrs. Van der Veld made Ossentong Hutspot. The Hutspot was literally a “hodge-podge” of meat and vegetables. She placed it in a baking dish before putting into the oven.
As the Ossentong roasted, Trudy and her mother watched television. Reporters from Amsterdam broadcast the arrival of Sinterklaas and Zwarte Piet in their grand boat. The two gift-givers rode in the St. Nicholas Day Parade atop their white stallions. The stately Sinterklaas, in flowing red robes and Bishop’s hat, carried a golden walking cane in one hand and his “Book of Pleasant Children” In the other.
“The Golden Book is so big,” noted Trudy.
“That’s because Sinterklaas finds most children are a pure joy.”
“Including me?”
“Especially you.”
Mrs. Van der Veld pulled her finest china and silverware from the cupboard and Trudy set the table. Jani and his father returned home just in time for dinner. Everyone gathered around the table as Mr. Van der Veld cut the Ossentong and filled everyone’s plate. The meal was quite a feast all by itself, but dinners at the Feast of Sint Nicolaas was no small matter.
“Trudy, I need your help,” said mother.
They made a trip to the kitchen, returning with platters of Dutch treats. Everyone dug in, taking a bit from each platter. Mrs. Van der Veld also made a secret trip to Mr. Anderssen’s in the morning before the rest of the family rose from bed.
She brought out a serving dish filled with Dutch treats. There were fritters made with apple and banana and pineapple. There were sugar-frosted doughnuts and spiced cookies, too.
The children munched on the desserts as they prepared for the arrival of Sinterklaas and Zwarte Piet. They brought out their wooden clogs, placing them by the fireplace for Zwarte Piet. They filled them with carrots and hay for Sinterklaas’ horse. They also placed two cups of chocolate milk and two apple fritters on the mantle, ready to fill the stomachs of Sinterklaas and Zwarte Piet.
Mr. and Mrs. Van der Veld went upstairs. When they returned, they each carried an armload of gifts.
“Pakjesavond!” exlclaimed Trudy. With a jump, she ran to her mother and carried the gifts the rest of the way to the living room. Pakjesavond, literally meaning “Packages Evening”, was the time for family members to exchange gifts. These gifts were no ordinary gifts from Sinterklaas, but “surprises” made, created, or purchased for one person only.
Mr. Van der Veld handed a papermache bear to Trudy. She gave him a puzzled look before thanking him for the gift. They gathered in the living room, taking turns opening their gifts. Being the oldest child, Jani went first.
He opened the card attached to the outside of the box. Inside, there was a little poem:
Skate-a-long, skate-a-long, skate-skate-away.
May this gift fill every night and every day.

Before he even opened his gift, he knew what his parents had given him. He had been laying out the hints throughout the month of November. He wanted a pair of new hockey skates. Although he knew the present inside the box, he was still happy. Now he could play hockey in the frozen canals and ponds with his friends.
“Thank you both very much,” he said
Now it was Trudy’s turn.
“Thank you for the paper bear,” she said.
“That’s not your gift,” said mother.
“It’s not?” she asked.
“Use his walking stick,” said Mr. Van der Veld.
Trudy investigated the bear for a moment. His walking stick wasn’t a walking stick at all. In fact, it was a tiny hammer. She pried the hammer from the bear’s paws, holding it loosely in her own hands.
“You want me to break the bear?”
Mr. Van der Veld nodded.
“I can’t do that! He’s so pretty.”
“If you don’t want to do it, I’ll do it,” said Jani.
“No, no, no. I’ll do it.”
She carefully tapped the bear, starting at his waist. The bear popped open slightly, revealing fluffy cotton padding beneath. As Trudy hammered more pieces off the paper bear, she revealed something beneath. Suddenly, she quit being careful, hammering the paper mache bear until he was all gone. Amidst the scraps of broken paper shell, there sat a stuffed bear. Trudy cleaned away the debris and gave a bear hug to her stuffed toy.
“So far, so good,” said Mr. Van der Veld with a smile.
“It’s my turn,” said his wife.
Mrs. Van der Veld began with the envelope on the outside of the package.
Clip-Clop-Clip-Clop, My love is in the Garden.
Clip-Clop-Clip-Clop, With Sugarbread and tea.
Clip-Clop-Clip-Clop, My love is doing crosswords.
Clip-Clop-Clip-Clop, Oh Marina! How I love thee!

The box itself was covered in gold foil and purple ribbon. Carefully, she tugged on the ribbon and undid the wrapping, so as to not damage her gift. Inside the box, there were two more boxes, each one wrapped carefully. She turned towards Mr. Van der Veld.
“Which one should I open first?”
“Try the bigger one,” he answered.
Carefully she unwrapped the larger box. Inside, there was the letter M, made from peanut butter fudge.
“My favorite!” she exclaimed. Mr. Van der Veld smiled.
“Go ahead, open the other box.”
As Marina Van der Veld opened the second box, a single piece of paper was folded and tucked inside. She read it to herself, then ran upstairs to the Tulip House.
“Where did our mother go?” asked Jani.
Mr. Van der Veld pointed to the note Jani’s mother left on her chair. He picked it up and read it aloud.
Clip-clop-clip-clop. Hidden in garden rows.
Clip-clop-clip-clop, My love, there she goes.
Clip-clop-clip-clop, a single tulip looms.
Clip-clop-clip-clop, there the present blooms.

A shriek came from upstairs the moment Jani finished reciting the poem. Jani and Trudy scurried upstairs to check on their mother. She stood at the far corner of the Tulip House, tending to a plastic flower planted inside a flower pot. A purple ribbon hung from the top of the tulip. A pair of diamond earrings dangled below the flower.
“Gilbert Van der Veld, I could just hug you.”
“I was hoping you might,” he said with a wink.
Mrs. Van der Veld rushed over to her husband and threw her arms about him. She planted a kiss on his lips and hugged him tightly.
“You like it?” he asked.
“Like it? I absolutely love it!” she said.
“I think I get to open a gift,” said Mr. Van der Veld.
“Oh yes! I almost forgot!” said Mrs. Van der Veld. They walked downstairs arim-in-arm, Mrs. Van der Veld curled next to her husband. He picked up his gift and shook it gently.
“Who is from?” father asked.
“From the kids and me.”
“Of course!” said Mr. Van der Veld.
He opened the box, only to find a cloth-covered hammer inside.
“This is nice,” he said, “a special sleeping bag for my hammer.”
“No, it’s something to keep your hammer quiet when you’re pounding on wood all night long!” said Trudy.
Mr. Van der Veld rolled his eyes.
“Gil, this is your real gift,” said Marina as she handed him another box. As usual, he shook his box to figure out its contents. The box rattled loudly. Mr. Van der Veld rose a curious eyebrow, wondering what could possibly make all that noise.
As he opened the box, several long pieces of metal dropped out into his hand. They were of all sizes and shapes. Mr. Van der Veld recognized them immediately as wood lathing tools, made to fit into a wood lathe.
“But I don’t have a wood lathe,” he replied.
“You do now,” said Mrs. Van der Veld.
Mr. Van der Veld went to his workshop and opened the door. There wasn’t a wood lathe to be found.
“I couldn’t ship it here in secret, so it’s still at the store, waiting to be picked up.”
“A wood lathe will be quite handy,” said Mr. Van der Veld, “now I can make fancy chair legs and railings.”
After the evening of package exchange, there was still more celebrating left. Sinterklaas would soon fly over the houses of Utretcht, delivering presents. Trudy and Jani changed into their nightclothes as Mrs. Van der Veld brewed a kettle of hot chocolate.
They drank by the fireside, then Mrs. Van der Veld brought out a heavy blanket for each of her children. As was the custom, they slept in the living room, hoping to catch a glimpse of Sinterklaas and clever Zwarte Piet.
Mr. and Mrs. Van der Veld retired to their own bedroom, waiting for the morning to come.
* * *
Morning came like a flash. Trudy stirred from her sleep first, waking her brother. Zwarte Piet and Sinterklaas had been hard at work. The chocolate milk and apple fritters were consumed. The carrots and hay in the children’s clogs were gone, replaced with hard candies and small toys.
Gifts from Sinterklaas surrounded the fireplace. As Jani separated the gifts into two piles (one for Trudy and one for himself), Trudy sprinted upstairs and jumped into her parent’s bed.
“It’s here! It’s here!” she shouted.
Mr. Van der Veld rubbed the sleep from his eyes and looked at his watch. Trudy had even beaten the sun out of bed this morning. Regardless, the presents were waiting to be opened.
Mother and Father put on their slippers and joined the children in the living room. Each child opened a gift, thanked Sinterklaas and then moved on to another gift until all gifts were opened.
The children received school clothes and other toys, too. Trudy received clothes for her teddy bear and a teacup set, so she and her bear could have tea parties. Jani received a hockey stick to go with his ice skates. He called Rolf and told him the news. Rolf and his brother received new hockey equipment, too.
“Mother, can I go to the ice rink with Rolf and his brother?”
“Aren’t you going to enjoy breakfast with us?”
“I want to try out my new skates!” he said.
“Allright, but be home by noon,” agreed his mother.
Jani hurried to the ice rink. Many of his friends from school were there, including Rolf and Mattias. They played hockey all morning long, bragging about their gifts and surprises. All the boys were in their newest sweaters and jackets, too.
Jani came home at noon, exhausted. He left his socks and shoes by the fire. He hung his skates to dry. Marina and Trudy sat by the fireplace, eating potato soup.
“There are leftovers in the refrigerator,” said mother.
“What did you have for breakfast?” asked Jani.
“Apple and cinnamon pancakes.”
“That sounds perfect,” said Jani. He stacked the cold pancakes on his plate and topped them with jam. As they warmed by the fire, the Van der Velds enjoyed their holiday gifts and surprises. Trudy changed her new bear into and out of clothes, then she drank real tea from her plastic cups.
All in all, the Van der Veld family must have been especially good in the past year. Sinterklaas had been very good to the Van der Velds, too. Jani ate his pancakes, enjoying every last bite.