The drawback to keeping to herself at Nadine and Dora’s, Ellen finds, is that free time gives her room to think, and she does not want her father coming and settling into her head. She likes to view the slides through her microscope and pretend she is on the brink of discovery, then draw what she sees.

When Nadine asks Ellen what she would like for Christmas, Ellen asks for paper for painting. She hopes Nadine will also pick out some surprises “because she is starting to feel sorry for me or maybe deep down she likes me” (105).

Ellen decides to draw her aunt and cousin a picture as a gift. She wants to choose a subject they will like and does not think they would go for the picture she calls “brooding ocean,” which Ellen likes because she thinks the ocean looks strong and beautiful and sad, all at the same time. Ellen draws them a picture of cats and signs it. She asks Dora how they celebrate the holiday and refrains from informing Dora there is no Santa Claus.

Ellen offers her present on Christmas Eve, hoping they will hang it on the wall right away and enjoy looking at it.