jg.skippingchristmas-第27章

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　Bev　Scheel　entered　from　the　dining　room　and　said　hello　and　Merry　Christmas。　She　was　wearing　a　red　holiday　sweater　and　looked　the　same；　as　far　as　Luther　could　tell。　Rumor　was　that　her　doctor　had　given　her　six　months。
　〃A　pretty　nasty　fall；〃　Walt　said　with　a　smile。
　〃Could've　been　worse；〃　Luther　said；　grinning；　trying　to　enjoy　himself　as　the　butt　of　the　joke。　We　won't　dwell　on　that　subject；　he　declared　to　himself。
　He　cleared　his　throat　and　said；　〃Look；　Blair's　here　for　ten　days；　so　we　won't　be　taking　the　cruise。　Nora　and　I　would　like　for　you　guys　to　have　it。〃　He　lifted　the　envelope　slightly；　sort　of　waved　it　at　them。
　Their　reaction　was　delayed　as　glances　were　exchanged；　thoughts　were　attempted。　They　were　stunned；　and　for　quite　a　spell　couldn't　speak。　So　Luther　plowed　ahead。　〃The　flight　leaves　at　noon　tomorrow。　You'll　need　to　get　there　early　to　get　the　names　changed　and　such；　a　slight　hassle；　but　it'll　be　worth　it。　I've　already　called　my　travel　agency　this　afternoon。　Ten　days　in　the　Caribbean；　beaches；　islands；　the　works。　It'll　be　a　dream　vacation。〃
　Walt　shook　his　head　no；　but　just　slightly。　Bev's　eyes　were　moist。　Neither　could　speak　until　Walt　managed　to　say；　with　little　conviction；　〃We　can't　take　it；　Luther。　It's　not　right。〃
　〃Don't　be　silly。　I　didn't　purchase　the　travel　insurance；　so　if　you　don't　go　then　the　entire　package　is　wasted。〃
　Bev　looked　at　Walt；　who　was　already　looking　at　her；　and　when　their　eyes　locked　Luther　caught　it。　It　was　crazy；　but　why　not？　
　〃I'm　not　sure　my　doctor　will　allow　it；〃　she　said　feebly。
　〃I've　got　that　Lexxon　deal　on　the　front　burner；〃　Walt　mumbled　to　himself　as　he　scratched　his　head。
　〃And　we　promised　the　Shorts　we'd　be　there　New　Year's　Eve；〃　Bev　added；　sort　of　musing。
　〃Benny　said　he　might　drop　in。〃　Benny　was　their　oldest　son；　who　hadn't　been　home　in　years。
　〃And　what　about　the　cat？〃　Bev　asked。
　Luther　let　them　shuffle　and　strain；　and　when　they　ran　out　of　their　flimsy　excuses　he　said；　〃It's　a　gift　from　us　to　you；　a　sincere；　heart…felt；　no…strings…attached　Christmas　offering　to　two　people　who　are；　at　this　very　moment；　having　a　difficult　time　finding　an　excuse。　Just　go　for　it；　okay？〃
　〃I'm　not　sure　I　have　the　right　clothes；〃　Bev　said　predictably。　
　To　which　Walt　replied；　〃Don't　be　ridiculous。〃
　With　their　resistance　crumbling；　Luther　moved　in　for　the　kill。　He　shoved　the　envelope　at　Walt。　〃It's　all　here…airline　tickets；　cruise　passes；　brochures；　everything；　including　the　phone　number　of　the　travel　agency。〃
　〃What's　the　cost；　Luther？　If　we　go；　then　well　reimburse　you。〃
　〃It's　a　simple　gift；　Walt。　No　cost；　no　payback。　Don't　make　it　plicated。〃
　Walt　understood；　but　his　pride　got　in　his　way。　〃We'll　just　have　to　discuss　it　when　we　get　back。〃
　There；　they　were　already　gone　and　back。　〃We　can　talk　about　everything　then。〃
　〃What　about　the　cat？〃　Bev　asked。
　Walt　pinched　his　chin　in　serious　thought　and　said；　〃Yes；　that's　a　real　problem。　Too　late　to　call　the　kennel。〃
　With　uncanny　timing；　a　large　black　furry　cat　sneaked　into　the　foyer；　rubbed　itself　on　Walt's　right　leg；　then　gave　a　long　look　up　at　Luther。
　〃We　can't　just　leave　him；〃　Bev　was　saying。
　〃No；　we　can't；〃　Walt　said。
　Luther　hated　cats。
　〃We　could　ask　Jude　Becker；〃　Bev　said。　
　〃No　problem。　I'll　take　care　of　him；〃　Luther　said；　swallowing　hard；　knowing　perfectly　well　that　Nora　would　get　the　chore。
　〃Are　you　sure？〃　Walt　asked；　a　little　too　quickly。　
　〃No　problem。〃
　The　cat　took　another　look　at　Luther　and　slunk　away。　The　feeling　was　mutual。
　The　good…byes　took　much　longer　than　the　hellos；　and　when　Luther　hugged　Bev　he　thought　she　would　break。　Under　the　bulky　sweater　was　a　frail　and　ailing　woman。　The　tears　were　halfway　down　her　cheeks。　〃I'll　call　Nora；〃　she　whispered。　〃Thanks。〃
　Old　tough…as…nails　Walt　had　moist　eyes　too。　On　the　front　steps；　during　their　last　handshake；　he　said；　〃This　means　so　much；　Luther。　Thank　you。〃
　When　the　Scheels　were　once　again　locked　away　inside；　Luther　started　home。　Unburdened　by　the　thick　envelope　now；　shed　of　its　pricey　tickets　and　thick　brochures；　freed　of　all　the　self…indulgence　contained　therein；　his　steps　were　a　little　quicker。　And；　filled　with　the　satisfaction　of　making　the　perfect　gift；　Luther　walked　straight　and　proud　with　hardly　a　limp。
　At　the　street　he　stopped　and　looked　over　his　shoulder。　The　Scheels'　home；　dark　as　a　cave　just　moments　earlier；　was　now　alive　with　lights　being　flipped　on　both　upstairs　and　down。　They'll　pack　all　night；　Luther　thought　to　himself。
　A　door　opened　across　the　street；　and　the　Galdy　family　made　a　noisy　exit　from　the　Kranks'　living　room。　Laughter　and　music　escaped　with　them　and　echoed　above　Hemlock。　The　party　showed　little　signs　of　breaking　up。
　Standing　there　at　the　edge　of　the　street；　light　snow　gathering　on　his　wool　cap　and　collar；　gazing　at　his　freshly　decorated　house　with　almost　the　entire　neighborhood　packed　into　it；　Luther　paused　to　count　his　blessings。　Blair　was　home；　and　she'd　brought　with　her　a　very　nice；　handsome；　polite　young　man；　who　was　quite　obviously　crazy　about　her。　And　who；　at　that　moment；　was　very　much　in　charge　of　the　party　along　with　Marty　Whatshisname。
　Luther　himself　was　lucky　to　be　standing；　as　opposed　to　lying　peacefully　on　a　slab　at　Franklin's　Funeral　Home；　or　pinned　to　a　bed　in　ICU　at　Mercy　Hospital；　tubes　running　everywhere。　Thoughts　of　snowballing　down　his　roof；　headfirst；　still　horrified　him。　Very　lucky　indeed。
　Blessed　with　friends　and　neighbors　who　would　sacrifice　their　plans　for　Christmas　Eve　to　rescue　him。
　He　looked　up　to　his　chimney　where　the　Brixleys'　Frosty　was　watching　him。　Round　smiling　face；　top　hat；　corncob　pipe。　Through　the　flurries　Luther　thought　he　caught　a　wink　from　the　snowman。
　Starving；　as　usual；　Luther　suddenly　craved　smoked　trout。　He　began　trekking　through　the　snow。　〃I'll　eat　a　fruitcake　too；〃　he　vowed　to　himself。
　Skipping　Christmas。　What　a　ridiculous　idea。
　Maybe　next　year。



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