jg.skippingchristmas-第23部分

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skin；　in　her　opinion。　The　cardigan　he'd　worn　only　once；　and　luckily　it　was　one　Blair　had　given　him　for　a　birthday。　The　turtleneck　had　never　been　worn；　and　neither　he　nor　Nora　could　remember　where　it　came　from。
　He　felt　like　a　Mafia　lieutenant。
　〃Just　give　it　up；〃　he　said　as　she　flung　bottles　and　seemed　ready　to　throw　one　at　him。
　〃I　will　not；〃　she　snapped。　〃Blair　will　not　know　about　the　cruise；　do　you　understand；　Luther？〃
　〃Then　don't　tell　her　about　the　cruise。　Tell　her　your　doctor　remended　tanning　for；　uh；　which　vitamin　is　it？〃
　〃D；　from　the　sunshine；　not　a　tanning　bed。　Another　stupid　idea；　Luther。〃
　〃Tell　her　we've　had　some　unseasonably　warm　weather；　been　outside　a　lot；　working　in　the　flower　beds。〃
　〃That's　your　lie；　and　it's　not　going　to　work。　She's　not　blind。　She'll　look　at　your　flower　beds　and　see　that　they　haven't　been　touched　in　months。〃
　〃Ouch。〃
　〃Any　more　bright　ideas？〃
　〃We're　getting　a　head　start　on　spring　break？　Bought　a　tanning　package。〃
　〃Very　funny。〃
　She　brushed　by　him　in　a　huff；　powder　trailing　behind　her　Luther　was　limping　down　the　hall；　with　his　new　plastic　cane；　toward　the　crowd　in　his　living　room；　when　he　heard　someone　yell；　〃Here　they　e。〃
　Due　to　a　malfunctioning　canvas　strap；　Ralph　Brixley　was　actually　holding　his　own　Frosty　in　place；　in　front　of　Luther　Krank's　chimney；　on　Luther's　roof；　in　the　snow　and　the　cold；　when　he　saw　the　green　flashing　light　from　the　end　of　the　street。　〃Here　they　e；〃　he　yelled　down　to　Krank's　patio；　where　his　assistant；　Judd　Bellington；　was　waiting　by　the　ladder　and　trying　to　repair　the　strap。
　From　Ralph's　point　of　view；　he　watched　with　some　measure　of　pride　（and　some　measure　of　frustration　because　it　was　cold　up　there　and　getting　colder）　as　his　neighborhood　circled　the　wagons　to　help　one　of　its　own；　even　if　it　was　Luther　Krank。
　A　large　choir；　under　the　shaky　direction　of　Mrs。　Ellen　Mulholland；　was　assembled　next　to　the　driveway　and　began　singing　〃Jingle　Bells。〃　Linda　Galdy　owned　a　set　of　handbells；　and　her　hurriedly　recruited　band　began　ringing　them　along　with　the　choir。　The　front　lawn　was　covered　with　neighborhood　children；　all　waiting　eagerly　for　Blair　and　her　mysterious　new　fiancé。
　When　the　police　cars　slowed　in　front　of　the　Kranks'；　a　cheer　went　up；　a　loud　hello　from　the　kids　on　Hemlock。
　〃My　goodness；〃　Blair　said。　〃What　a　crowd。〃
　There　was　a　fire　truck　parked　in　front　of　the　Beckers'　and　a　large　lime…green　ambulance　in　front　of　the　Trogdons'；　and　on　cue　all　their　lights　began　flashing　to　wele　Blair。　When　the　police　cars　rolled　to　a　stop　in　the　driveway；　Vic　Frohmeyer　himself　yanked　open　the　front　door。　〃Merry　Christmas；　Blair！〃　he　boomed。
　She　and　Enrique　were　soon　on　the　front　lawn；　surrounded　by　dozens　of　neighbors　while　the　choir　howled　away。　Blair　introduced　Enrique；　who　seemed　just　a　bit　bewildered　by　the　reception。　They　made　their　way　onto　the　front　steps　and　into　the　living　room；　where　another　cheer　went　up。　At　Nora's　request；　four　firemen；　and　three　cops　stood　shoulder　to　shoulder　in　front　of　the　tree；　trying　to　block　as　much　of　it　as　possible　from　Blair's　view。
　Luther　and　Nora　waited　nervously　in　their　bedroom　for　a　private　reunion　with　their　daughter；　and　for　a　quiet　introduction　to　Enrique。
　〃What　if　we　don't　like　him？〃　Luther　mumbled；　sitting　on　the　edge　of　the　bed；　rubbing　his　ankles。　The　party　was　growing　rowdy　down　the　hall。
　〃Hush；　Luther。　We　raised　a　smart　girl。〃　Nora　was　applying　a　last…minute　layer　of　powder　to　her　cheeks。
　〃But　they　just　met。〃
　〃Love　at　first　sight。〃
　〃That's　impossible。
　〃Maybe　you're　right。　It　took　me　three　years　to　see　your　potential。〃
　The　door　opened　and　Blair　rushed　in。　Nora　and　Luther　both　glanced　at　her　first；　then　quickly　looked　beyond　to　see　how　dark　Enrique　was。
　He　wasn't　dark　at　all！　At　least　two　shades　lighter　than　Luther　himself！
　They　hugged　and　squeezed　their　daughter　as　if　she'd　been　gone　for　years；　then；　with　great　relief；　met　their　future　son…in…law。
　〃You　guys　look　great；〃　Blair　said；　sizing　them　up。　Nora　was　wearing　a　bulky　Christmas　sweater；　the　first　time　in　memory　that　she　wanted　to　look　heavier。　Luther　was　the　aging　gigolo。
　〃Been　watching　our　weight；〃　he　said；　still　pumping　Enrique's　hand。
　〃You've　been　in　the　sun；〃　Blair　said　to　Luther。
　〃Well；　yes；　we've　had　some　unseasonably　warm　weather；　actually。　Got　a　bit　burned　in　the　flower　beds　last　weekend。〃
　〃Let's　get　to　the　party；〃　Nora　said。
　〃Can't　keep　folks　waiting；〃　Luther　added；　leading　the　way。
　〃Isn't　he　handsome？〃　Blair　whispered　to　her　mother。　Enrique　was　just　a　step　ahead。
　〃Very　handsome；〃　Nora　said　proudly。
　〃Why　is　Daddy　limping？〃
　〃Hurt　his　foot。　He's　fine。〃
　The　living　room　was　packed　with　people；　a　different　sort　of　crowd；　Blair　noticed；　not　that　it　mattered。　Most　of　the　regulars　were　not　there。　Most　of　the　neighbors　were。　And　she　couldn't　figure　out　why　the　police　and　firemen　had　been　invited。
　There　were　some　gifts　for　Enrique；　which　he　opened　in　the　center　of　the　room。　Ned　Becker　passed　along　a　red　golf　shirt　from　a　local　country　club。　John　Galdy　had　just　been　given　a　picture　book　of　local　country　inns。　His　wife　rewrapped　it；　and　they　unloaded　it　on　Enrique；　who　was　moved　almost　to　tears。　The　firemen　gave　him　two　fruitcakes；　though　he　confessed　they　didn't　have　such　delights　down　in　Peru。　The　Police　Benevolent　Association　gave　him　a　calendar。
　〃His　English　is　perfect；〃　Nora　whispered　to　Blair。
　〃Better　than　mine；〃　she　whispered　back。
　〃I　thought　you　said　he'd　never　been　to　the　U。S。〃
　〃He　was　educated　in　London。〃
　〃Oh。〃　And　Enrique　went　up　another　notch。　Handsome；　educated　abroad；　a　doctor。　〃Where　did　you　meet　him？〃
　〃In　Lima；　during　orientation。〃
　A　cheer　went　up　as　Enrique　opened　a　tall　box　and　removed　a　lava　lamp；　one　passed　along　by　the　Bellingtons。
　When　the　gifts　were　done；　Luther　announced；　〃Dinner；〃　and　the　crowd　moved　to　the　kitchen；　where　the　table　was　covered　with　the　Hemlock　donations；　though　the　food　had　been　arranged　and　rearranged　until　it　looked　original　and　festive。　Even　Nora's　smoked　trout　had　been　dressed　up　by　Jessica　Brixley；　perhaps　the　best　chef　on　the　street。
　The　carolers　were　frozen　and　tired　of　the　snow；　though　it　wasn't　heavy。　They　heard　the　news　about　dinner；　and　moved　inside；　along　with　Mrs。　Linda　Galdy's　handbell　ensemble。
　The　man　with　the　orange…and…gray　beard　Nora'd　met　by　the　peanut　butter　at　Kroger　appeared　from　nowhere　and　seemed　to　know　everyone；　though　no　one　seemed　to　know　him。　Nora　weled　him　and　watched　him　carefully；　and　finally　heard　him　introduce　himself　as　Marty　somebody。　Marty　loved　a　gathering　and　quickly　warmed　to　the　occasion。　He　cornered　Enrique　over　cake　and　ice　cream；　and　the　two　immediately　launched　into　an　extended　conversation；　in　Spanish　no　less。
　〃Who　is　that？〃　Luther　whispered　as　he　limped　by。
　〃Marty；〃　Nora　whispered　back；　as　if　she'd　known　him　for　years。
　When　everyone　had　eaten；　they　drifted　back　to　the　living　room；　where　a　fire　was　roaring。　The　children　sang　two　carols；　then　Marty　stepped　forward　with　a　guitar。　Enrique　stepped　forward　too　and　explained　that　he　and　his　new　friend　would　like　to　sing　a　couple　of　traditional　Peruvian　Christmas　songs。
　Marty　attacked　the　guitar　with　a　vengeance；　and　the　duet　began　in　a　nice　harmony。　The　words　were　unknown　to　the　audience；　but　the　message　was　clear。　Christmas　was　a　time　of　joy　and　peace　around　the　world。
　〃He　sings　too；〃　Nora　whispered　to　Blair；　who　just　radiated。
　Between　songs；　Marty　explained　that　he'd　once　worked　in　Peru；　and　that　singing　the　songs　made　him　miss　the　place。　Enrique　took　the　guitar；　strummed　a　few　chords；　then　softly　began　another　carol。
　Luther　leaned　on　the　mantel；　alternating　one　foot　at　a　time；　smiling　gamely；　though　he　wanted　to　lie　down　and　sleep　forever。　He　looked　at　the　faces　of　his　neighbors；　all　of　whom　were　entranced　with　the　music。　They　were　all　there；　except　for　the　Trogdons。
　And　except　for　Walt　and　Bev　Scheel。
　
　
　Twenty
　
　After　yet　another　foreign　carol；　and　during　a　boisterous　round　of　applause　for　the　Enrique　and　Marty　duet；　Luther　slipped　unnoticed　from　the　kitchen　and　eased　through　the　darkness　of　his　garage。　Dressed　in　snow　attire…overcoat；　wool　cap；　muffler；　boots；　gloves…he　shuffled　along；　aided　by　the　plastic　cane　he'd　vowed　not　to　use；　trying　not　to　wince　with　each　step；　though　both　ankles　were　swollen　and　raw。
　The　cane　was　in　his　right　hand；　a　large　envelope　in　his　left。　The　snow　was　still　light；　but　the　ground　was　covered。
　At　the　sidewalk；　he　turned　and　gazed　upon　the　gathering　in　his　living　room。　A　packed　house。　A　tree　that　improved　with　the　distance。　Above　them　a　borrowed　Frosty。
　Hemlock　was　quiet。　The　fire　truck　and　ambulance　and　police　cars　were　gone；　thankfully。　Luther　looked　east　and　west　and　saw　not　a　single　person　moving　about。　Most　of　them　were　in　his　house；　singing　along　now；　rescuing　him　from　an　episode　that　would　undoubtedly　be　remembered　as　one　of　his　more　curious。
　The　Scheel　house　was　well　lit　on　the　outside；　but　almost　pletely　dark　within。　Luther　crept　up　their　driveway；　his　boots　rubbing　his　wounds；　the　cane　making　the　entire　venture　possible。　On　their　porch　he　rang　the　doorbell　and　looked　again　at　his　house　directly　across　the　street。　Ralph　Brixl