#92: Mallory's Christmas Wish
Okay, Mallory’s outfit on this cover is actually cute (and back in style now??). Good for you, Mal!
Mallory has decided that she wants her family to have an “old-fashioned” Christmas based on tradition and family time rather than focusing on presents. (I get it; buying gifts for seven siblings and two parents plus your pals in the BSC is definitely enough to turn you off to the capitalist elements of the holiday.) The Pikes agree, but then Vanessa submits their idea to a local TV contest and the Pikes win. The prize? To have their “old-fashioned” Christmas taped and produced for television. It comes with a $10,000 check — so I guess so-much for anti-capitalism, yeah?
Meanwhile, the BSC is volunteering with a fundraising effort at Stoneybrook Manor, the nursing home where Mallory’s Uncle Joe (who has Alzheimers) lives. Everyone is excited about it, but the TV crew throws a wrench into things when they come to film Mallory there. They also complicate the Pikes’ trip to the North Pole (at the mall) and to cut down their own Christmas tree. Suddenly Mal’s Christmas spirit goes from a 10 to a 2. The Pikes get increasingly annoyed by the presence of the TV cameras, until they eventually have a family meeting and vote to kick out the Channel 3 gang. (This means they have to give back the $10,000. Whoops.) Once the cameras are gone, the Pikes enjoy their traditional family Christmas, and Uncle Joe even agrees to join them. ~Cue the sappy Christmas music.~
