BlueMoon’s Weblog

My Little Red Hat
© Elma E. Main, 1985

I was just a small girl of four.
Mother took me with her to the hat store;
It was on the east side of the street
With felt and velvet plumed hats so neat.

Mother sat down in front of the mirror.
She tried on hat after hat — poor dear.
Nothing suited her just right;
Something was either too large or too tight.

Now I had some time to roam,
Looking for one I might take home;
I stood up on my tiptoes,
Reached for a blue one and froze.

There, right beside it was a prize,
A red velvet one in just my size!
It had streamers and a turned-up brim
That made me feel quite prim.

I stepped over to see myself;
How could I put it back on the shelf?
So, I waited until Mother chose one;
She paid the clerk and then was done.

Mother gently lifted the hat from my head,
We left the store and not much was said.
On the ride home, a tire went flat —
My thoughts were still on the pretty red hat.

Not long after that, Christmas came.
We hung up our stockings for gifts with our name.
Unwrapped Christmas morning, the red hat I found.
I could not have been happier if I had been crowned!

We went to my grandparents’ a few miles away —
We always went there on Christmas day.
I was so proud when I walked in
Holding my hat because of the wind.

They all made a fuss over me,
Almost missing the ornaments on the tree.
Grandma had made us donuts to eat;
Her candy and goodies could not be beat.

The family enjoyed the day,
Then it was time for all to go our way.
As I went to the car, the wind tipped my hat.
I reached to hold on to it quick as a bat.

A storm was moving in on the day;
There was no more time for us to play.
We must get home soon or put the side curtains on —
When I got home my hat was gone!

The day had been long and tiring for me,
So I fell asleep on the way home, you see.
With me not holding onto my hat,
It just blew away and that is that.

I felt badly and wanted to go look now,
But Dad said, “No, I must tend to the cow.”
Mother said, “The roads are turning to slush;
For now, you must forget it and hush.”

I had my turn as “Queen For a Day,”
Even wearing my red hat out to play.
Christmas has brought many gifts since that,
But I still remember my little red hat.