His For Christmas (4 page)

A
roll
of
dark,
scratchy
wool
was
shoved
up
under
his
chin
and
very
nearly
launched
him
out
the
door.

Which,
in
retrospect,
might
not
have
been
so
bad
after
all.

It
would
’
ve
stopped
him
from
having
bought
what
seemed
like
an
entire
wardrobe
for
Timothy
and
himself
and
enough
food
to
feed
an
entire
army
of
hungry
beggars.

They staggered out of the emporium and Elliot was almost sure he heard Mrs. Graham cackle as the door swung shut behind them.

“
I
’
m
sorry,
Mr.
Whitley,
”
said
Timothy,
his
face
muffled
from
behind
a
package
of
spiced
fruits
that,
according
to
Mrs.
Graham,
would
be
a
treat
for
Christmas
dinner.
“
All
I
wanted
were
the
peppermint
sticks.
”

That
really
was
all
anyone
ever
wanted.
Just
one
or
two
things
to
see
them
through
the
next
couple
of
days.
It
wasn
’
t
anyone
’
s
fault
they
left
with
what
seemed
like
half
the
store
’
s
inventory
and
Elliot
tried
to
think
just
where
the
hell
he
was
going
to
put
the
fifteen
pounds
of
flour
Mrs.
Graham
had
so
cheerfully
thrown
over
his
shoulder.

Fifteen
pounds
of
flour!
What
the
hell
was
Mrs.
Chang
going
to
do
with
that?

Well,
in
any
case,
she
was
sure
to
be
happy.
Happily
perplexed,
that
is,
since
they
had
gone
down
to
the
Stonefield
farms
just
the
day
before
and
had
a
larder
full
to
exploding.

“
Don
’
t
give
it
any
mind,
Timothy,
”
he
replied,
face
and
mouth
obscure
d
by
a
package
of
salt
pork,
balanced
somewhat
precariously
on
a
sack
of
walnuts.
“
Stronger
and
older
men
than
you
and
I
have
walked
through
those
doors
and
emerged
with
more
than
we
have
at
the
moment.
”

“
I
don
’
t
think
so,
Mr.
Whitley.
”

Timothy
’
s
words
and
dry
tone
brought
a
smile
to
Elliot
’
s
lips.