Jamie learns to handle disappointment when she can’t get the Ultra Pro Skateboard she desperately wants.
Jamie Chen pressed her nose against the store window, her breath fogging the glass. There it was—the Ultra Pro Skateboard, its sleek deck gleaming under the holiday lights. The limited-edition design seemed to sparkle just for her, its golden wheels catching the winter sunlight.
“It’s perfect,” Jamie whispered, imagining herself gliding through the local skate park, joining the weekend skateboarding club where all the cool kids practiced their tricks.
“Come on, sweetheart,” Mom called from a few steps away. “We need to get groceries before the store closes.”
Jamie lingered for one more moment, memorizing every detail of the skateboard. She’d already added it to her holiday wishlist – right at the top, with three stars and multiple exclamation points.
But something felt different at home these days. Jamie had overheard Mom and Dad talking in hushed voices late at night. Words like “job transition” and “tight budget” floated through her bedroom door. She tried not to worry about it, but the concerned look her parents exchanged made her stomach feel twisted.
One evening, Mom and Dad called for a family meeting after dinner. Jamie’s younger sister Katie was already in bed, but Jamie got to stay up – a sign this was serious grown-up talk.
“Jamie,” Dad began, his voice gentle. “We want to talk to you about the holidays this year.”
Mom reached over and took Jamie’s hand. “Things are going to be a little different. I’m starting a new job, and it will take some time before everything settles.”
Jamie’s heart sank. She knew what was coming.
“The Ultra Pro Skateboard,” Mom continued, “it’s not going to be possible this year. We know how much you wanted it-“
Jamie pulled her hand away and jumped up from the couch. “But it’s the only thing I really wanted! Everyone at the park has new boards. Mine looks like it’s from the stone age!”
She ran to her room, slamming the door harder than she meant to. Throwing herself onto her bed, Jamie buried her face in her pillow. It wasn’t fair. Nothing was fair anymore.
The next day at school, Jamie could barely focus. During lunch, her best friend Maya noticed something was wrong.
“Want to talk about it?” Maya asked, sitting next to Jamie on their favorite bench.
Jamie kicked at a pebble. “We’re not doing big presents this year. No Ultra Pro.”
Maya was quiet for a moment. “You know what? Last year, I wanted this awesome art tablet. Like, really wanted it. But my parents couldn’t get it either.”
“What did you do?”
“I was super mad at first,” Maya admitted. “But then my aunt showed me how to do really cool things with regular paper and pencils. Now I kind of love traditional drawing more.”
That afternoon, Grandpa picked Jamie up from school. Instead of heading home, they stopped at the garage, where he liked to fix things.
“Let’s take a look at your current board,” Grandpa said, pulling out his tools. “Sometimes the best things just need a little love.”
For the next hour, Grandpa taught Jamie how to clean her bearings and adjust her trucks. He showed her how different wheels could change how the board rode.
“You know,” Grandpa said, “when I was your age, we made our skateboards from old roller skates and wooden planks. Wasn’t pretty, but man, did we have fun!”
Over the next few weeks, something magical started happening. Dad helped Jamie sand down her old board and repaint it with swirling galaxies and shooting stars. Mom found some gently used pro wheels at a local shop. Grandpa added the finishing touch—custom grip tape with a dragon design he’d carefully cut himself.
Jamie discovered a community skateboarding group where kids shared equipment and taught each other tricks. Her old board – now transformed – became known as the “Dragon Rider” at the park. Other kids actually asked to take pictures of it.
When the holiday morning arrived, Jamie was surprised she wasn’t thinking about the Ultra Pro. Her family had planned a special skating show at the local park, where Jamie would perform the new tricks she’d been practicing.
Standing at the top of the ramp, Jamie looked down at her board – at the stars her dad had painted, the wheels her mom had found, and Grandpa’s dragon watching over it all. This board had something no Ultra Pro could ever have – it had love built into every part.
Jamie smiled as she pushed off and felt the wind in her hair. Sometimes, the best wishes come true in ways you never expect.
The End
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