Christmas at Stony Creek Read Free Page B

carpet, along the hall.
    The tallest bough, they declared, would be their tree.
    Nan and Nibs were decorating it now. They hungornaments, oohing at their beauty. They tossed tinsel, giggling when it missed. They chattered back and forth while they worked, their tiny eyes sparkling with excitement.
    Finny stood in her playpen and laughed.
    Mama had saved a bit of flour and some raisins. While the little girls took their naps, she baked a Christmas cake and hid it in the cupboard. It was smaller than any cake they ever had before, but still, it was a cake.
    “What will we have for Christmas dinner?” Nan said, jumping up and down. “Will we have cakes and puddings and sweets?”
    “Will this be the best Christmas ever?” cried Nibs. “Will it, Mama? Will it?”
    “Hush, you sillies.” Mama laughed and swept them up in her arms. “It’s a surprise, you know that.”
    “But what if Papa isn’t here?” asked Nan, suddenly serious.
    “We can’t have Christmas without Papa,” said Nibs.
    Pip felt the sudden sting of tears. She draped her last bough over the mantel. She wiped her eyes.
    “I’ll go call Will for dinner,” she told her mother quickly. She let herself out of the house and ran down the path to Stony Creek.
    Will was coming toward her as fast as he could, dragging his leg behind him.
    “Great news, Pip!” he called. “The people are gone! They’re not there!”
    He was out of breath when he reached her side. “I was talking to Squirrel, you know Squirrel, he knows everything. He told me the people have gone away for Christmas. Isn’t that wonderful?”
    “But there won’t be any food if they’re not there,” said Pip.
    “Sure there will,” Will scoffed. “People leave it all over the place. They never clean it up. There will be plenty of food. And no Cat.” He said the words slowly, saving the best for last.
    “No Cat?”
    “Squirrel said the people sent him to a place where he’ll be taken care of while they’re gone. Big bully can’t even take care of himself.”
    “Oh, Will, that means it’s safe!” cried Pip.
    “As long as you don’t touch the trap,” Will warned. “But you’d better get up there soon, before the word gets out.”
    “I’ll go tonight.”
    “Promise me you won’t go near the trap.”
    “I promise.”
    “No matter what?”
    Pip looked back at him with shining eyes. “No matter what.”

chapter 9
Pip’s First Step
    T he bowl Pip was drying slipped and fell to the floor with a clatter.
    “What’s wrong with you tonight?” Mama asked. “That’s the second dish you’ve dropped.”
    “It’s Christmas Eve,” said Pip. She picked up the bowl and put it carefully on the shelf. “I’m excited, that’s all.”
    “Are you sure you’re feeling all right?”
    “I’m fine. Really.” Pip ducked her head to avoidher mother’s worried look. All she wanted was for the evening to be over and everyone to be in bed.

    When Finny began fussing in her high chair, Mama went to comfort her. The twins came and leaned against Pip.
    “When’s Papa coming home?” said Nan, tugging at the hem of Pip’s skirt. “We never have Christmas without Papa.”
    “Will we still get presents if he isn’t here?” asked Nibs.
    Pip picked them up and carried them, squirming, to the fireplace. “Why, what else do you think you’re getting for Christmas?” she said, sitting in Papa’s chair with one on either side. “Papa, tied up in a red bow!”
    The little girls giggled.
    “He isn’t a present,” said Nan. “He’s our papa.”
    “Yes, and we can’t dress him up and play with him,” added Nibs. “Besides, we’re getting dolls.”
    “Because that’s what we asked for,” finished Nan.
    “Come along, girls,” Mama said from the doorway. “If you don’t go to bed now, you’ll be too tired to play with those dolls, won’t you?”
    “I’m going to bed, too,” said Pip. “Good night.”
    She brushed her teeth and slid under her quilt, still in her