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。