Kin by Lesley Crewe Page B

finish the hymn. What was Lila doing tonight? What would it be like for her on this first Christmas Eve without her mother?
    When the carol was over, David sat down and leaned in. “What’s wrong?”
    â€œI wonder if Lila misses us.”
    â€œStop talking about Lila.”
    Mom turned around and shushed them.
    Christmas Day was filled with fun. Annie and David ran downstairs early in the morning and found their stockings hung by the fireplace, filled with small toys, candy, and an orange. There were gifts under the tree they’d decorated: new skates and a hockey stick for David and a full china tea set for Annie. She was enchanted. Soft green edged the outside, white filled the centre, and a cluster of yellow and orange roses with greenery and berries decorated one side. There was a teapot, sugar bowl with lid, creamer, teacups, saucers, and side plates.
    â€œThey were made in Japan,” Mom smiled.
    That made it ten times better. Imagine coming all the way from Japan!
    After their Christmas dinner—goose with all the trimmings—all the aunts, uncles, cousins, and grandparents converged as a unit under one roof. This was Abigail and Kenzie’s year, so the entire clan arrived in mid-afternoon and stayed until early evening, the children exchanging gifts and playing outside, the adults sipping tea and laughing together. A big thrill was listening to King George’s Christmas message on the radio.
    When the sun had gone down and everyone went home, the Macdonalds sat in front of the fire and enjoyed a few minutes together as a family. Annie sat on the rug, carefully taking her china dishes out of the box and assembling a place setting. David was perched on a chair reading Robinson Crusoe , one of the books he got for Christmas . Dad was reading the newspaper and smoking his pipe. Annie loved his ashtray with the carved deer on it. Its big antlers held the pipe in place when he wasn’t using it. Annie used to pretend that the deer came alive and ran around the house when everyone was asleep. Whenever she heard a bump in the night she knew it was her deer.
    It startled them for a moment when the telephone rang, one long and three short rings. Mom got up from her knitting to answer it, then poked her head in the door.
    â€œAnnie, you’re wanted on the phone.”
    Annie jumped up. “Me?” It was never for her. She ran to the hall and got up on the chair so she could reach the speaker. She held the heavy receiver to her ear. “Hello?”
    â€œHi, Annie. It’s Lila.”
    Annie grinned. “Hi, Lila. Did you have a nice Christmas?”
    â€œYes, I got a puppy!”
    â€œA puppy! You’re so lucky!” Annie glanced at her mother who looked very pleased. “What kind?”
    â€œAunt Eunie says he’s a black lab.”
    â€œWhat are you going to call him?”
    â€œFreddy.”
    â€œI can’t wait to see him.”
    â€œBoots has been hitting him on the nose all day, but Freddy doesn’t care. I have to run to catch him. What did you get?”
    â€œA china tea set. I can’t wait for you to visit so we can make tea.”
    â€œThat will be so much fun. Maybe we can put real tea in the cups, and we can make tiny sandwiches for the plates.”
    â€œGood idea.”
    â€œI really miss you, Annie. You’re my best friend.”
    â€œYou’re my best friend too. Did you get my letter?”
    â€œYes, did you get mine? I drew something for you.”
    â€œNot yet, but I’ll look out for it.”
    â€œAunt Eunie says I should go. Merry Christmas, Annie!”
    â€œMerry Christmas, Lila! Hug Freddy for me!”
    Annie hung up the receiver. “That was Lila.”
    â€œSo I gathered,” Mom smiled.
    â€œIt sounds like she had a nice Christmas.”
    â€œThat’s the best gift I’ve had all day.
    There weren’t quite as many visits between the girls as first planned. Life kept