With the Christmas Eve party just a day away, the three women – Ina, Shirley, and Ethel – were busy, busy, busy. Ina called her sister Bertha at least twice to confirm the menu and scheduled her baking. Shirley rolled the gingerbread cookie dough and supervised Sadie’s use of the cookie cutters while Ethel tended the fire in the old cookstove.
After lunch, Ethel noticed Jack and Sadie whispering with one another conspiratorially. “Just leave it to me,” Jack said to Sadie.
“Ina,
Sadie and I were thinking that we could cut the tree today and set it up. Yes,
it’s a day early, but why not? Then it would be done. One less thing you’d have
to worry about tomorrow.”
“Well, it would be a break with tradition,” Ina said in a serious tone, but she was only teasing. She agreed approved their plan, and Ethel helped Sadie into her snowsuit and boots. No, it hadn’t snowed, but it was cold.
Off they went – Jack and Sadie with Dick the Dog trailing along – while Ethel watched from the kitchen window until they disappeared, only a little apprehensive that the hike might be too much for Sadie, or that Sadie’s needs might be too much for Jack. All went well, though, and the trio was back at the house within an hour. It was a tough hike for the four-year-old, but she chatted happily all the way to Jack’s chosen tree and all the way back to the house.
As
Sadie looked on, Jack put the tree into a stand and set it on the library table
in front of the south window. Shirley and Sadie hung a few red balls and tinsel
saved from the trees of previous years. Then Sadie was allowed to put the new
candles into the candleholders, and Ina clipped them to the tree.
But that was as much as Ina allowed. Now they must wait until after Christmas Eve dinner to light the candles.
Just before dark, Shirley happened to look outside and saw her sister Myrtle coming through the gate. They hadn’t expected her until tomorrow, but her employer excused her a day early and she was able to take the night train into Lewiston.
And now, thought Ina, it really seemed like Christmas. KW
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