第42章 Christmas Morning（第1页）

第42章ChristmasM

AlightdrizzlewasfallingasmysisterJillandIranoutoftheMethertogethomeandplaywiththepresentsthatSaforusandourbabysister，Sharon。AcrossthestreetfromthechurchanAmerigasstatireyhoundbusstopped。Itwasas，butInoticedafamilystandihelockeddoor，huddleduhenarriokeepdry。IwonderedbrieflywhytheyweretherebutthenfotaboutthemasIracedtokeepupwithJill。

&home，therewasbarelytimetoenjoyourpreseogoras’houseforourannualChristmasdinner。Aswedrovedownthehighwaythroughtown，Ihefamilywasstillthere，standiheclosedgasstation。

Myfatherwasdrivingveryslowlydownthehighway。Theclottotheturnras’house，theslowerthet。Suddenly，myfatherU-turhemiddleoftheroadandsaid，“Idit!”

“What?”askedmymother。

“It’sthosepeoplebackthereatthePanAm，standihey’vegot。It’sChristmas。Idit。”

&herpullediation，Isawthattherewerefiveofthem:theparentsandthree—twogirlsandasmallboy。

Myfatherrolleddo。“MerryChristmas，”hesaid。

“Howdy，”themanreplied。Hewasverytallandhadtostoopslightlytopeerintothecar。

Jill，Sharon，ahe，aaredbackatus。

“Youwaitingonthebus?”myfatherasked。

Themansaidthattheywere。Theyweregoingtham，wherehehadabrotherasofajob。

&busisn’tgoingtoealongforseveralhours，aiandinghere。Winborn’sjustailesuptheroad。They’vegotashedwithacoverthere，andsomebenches，”myfathersaid。“os;ty’allgetinthedI’llrunyouupthere。”

&houghtaboutitforamoment，andtheohisfamily。Theytothecar。Theyhadheclothesthey>

&tledin，myfatherlookedbackoverhisshoulderaheifSantahadfouhreeglumfacesmutelygavehimhisanswer。

“Well，Ididn’tthinkso，”myfathersaid，winkingatmymother，“beIsawSantathism，hetoldmethathewashavingtroublefindingy’all，andheaskedmeifhecouldleaveyourtoysatmyhouse。We’lljustgogetthembeforeItakeyoutothebusstop。”

Allatohree’sfaceslitup，aoboundinthebackseat，laughingandg。

&outofthecaratourhouse，thethreeranthroughthefrontdohttothetoysthatwerespreadoutunderourChristmastree。OhegirlsspiedJill’sdollaelyhuggedittoherbreast。IrememberthatthelittleboygrabbedSharon’sball。AhergirlpiethihishappenedalothememoryofitremaiwastheChristmaswhenmysistersahejoyofmakingothershappy。

Mymotherhemiddlechildwaswearingashort-sleeveddress，soshegavethegirlJill’soo>

Myfatheriojoinusatras’forChristmasdiheparentsrefused。Everiedtotalkthemintoing，theywerefirmintheirde。

BathethewaytoWinborn，myfatheraskedthemanifhehadmoneyforbusfare。

Hisbrotherhadsehemansaid。

Myfatherreatohispodpulledouttwodollars，whichwasallhehadleftuntilhispayday。Hepressedthemoheman’shariedtogiveitback，butmyfatheri’llbelatewheham，andthesewillbehuhe。I’vebeenbrokebefore，andIknowwhatit’slikewhenyou’tfeedyourfamily。”

&hereatthebusstopinWinborn。Aswedroveaway，IwatchedoutthewindowaslongasIcould，lookingbackatthelittlegirlhugginghernewdoll。