jg.skippingchristmas-第3部分

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her　desk；　under　his　dreamy　eyes。
　〃You　work　in　the　building？〃　she　asked；　easing　near　the　issue　of　money。　
　〃Wiley　&　Beck；　sixth　floor；〃　Luther　said　without　removing　his　eyes　from　the　floating　palaces；　the　endless　beaches。
　〃Bail　bondsmen？〃　she　said。
　Luther　flinched　just　a　bit。　〃No。　Tax　accountants。〃
　〃Sorry；〃　she　said；　kicking　herself。　The　pale　skin；　the　dark　eye　circles；　the　standard　blue　oxford…cloth　button…down　with　bad　imitation　prep　school　tie。　She　should　have　known　better。　Oh　well。　She　reached　for　even　glossier　brochures。　〃Don't　believe　we　get　too　many　from　your　firm。〃
　〃We　don't　do　vacations　very　well。　Lots　of　work。　I　like　this　one　right　here。〃
　〃Great　choice。〃
　They　settled　on　the　Island　Princess；　a　spanking…new　mammoth　vessel　with　rooms　for　three　thousand；　four　pools；　three　casinos；　nonstop　food；　eight　stops　in　the　Caribbean；　and　the　list　went　on　and　on。　Luther　left　with　a　stack　of　brochures　and　scurried　back　to　his　office　six　floors　up。
　The　ambush　was　carefully　planned。　First；　he　worked　late；　which　was　certainly　not　unusual；　but　at　any　rate　helped　set　the　stage　for　the　evening。　He　got　lucky　with　the　weather　because　it　was　still　dreary。　Hard　to　get　in　the　spirit　of　the　season　when　the　skies　were　damp　and　gray。　And　much　easier　to　dream　about　ten　luxurious　days　in　the　sun。
　If　Nora　wasn't　worrying　about　Blair；　then　he'd　certainly　get　her　started。　He'd　simply　mention　some　dreadful　piece　of　news　about　a　new　virus　or　perhaps　a　Colombian　village　massacre；　and　that　would　set　her　off。　Keep　her　mind　off　the　joys　of　Christmas。　Won't　be　the　same　without　Blair；　will　it？
　Why　don't　we　take　a　break　this　year？　Go　hide。　Go　escape。　Indulge　ourselves。
　Sure　enough；　Nora　was　off　in　the　jungle。　She　hugged　him　and　smiled　and　tried　to　hide　the　fact　that　she'd　been　crying。　Her　day　had　gone　reasonably　well。　She'd　survived　the　ladies'　luncheon　and　spent　two　hours　at　the　children's　clinic；　part　of　her　grinding　volunteer　schedule。
　While　she　heated　up　the　pasta；　he　sneaked　a　reggae　CD　into　the　stereo；　but　didn't　push　Play。　Timing　was　crucial。
　They　chatted　about　Blair；　and　not　long　into　the　dinner　Nora　kicked　the　door　open。　〃It'll　be　so　different　this　Christmas；　won't　it；　Luther？〃
　〃Yes　it　will；〃　he　said　sadly；　swallowing　hard。　〃Nothing'll　be　the　same。〃
　〃For　the　first　time　in　twenty…three　years；　she　won't　be　here。〃
　〃It　might　even　be　depressing。　Lots　of　depression　at　Christmas；　you　know。〃　Luther　quickly　swallowed　and　his　fork　grew　still。
　〃I'd　love　to　just　forget　about　it；〃　she　said；　her　words　ebbing　at　the　end。
　Luther　flinched　and　cocked　his　good　ear　in　her　direction。
　〃What　is　it？〃　she　asked。
　〃Well！〃　he　said　dramatically；　shoving　his　plate　forward。　〃Now　that　you　mention　it。　There's　something　I　want　to　discuss　with　you。〃
　〃Finish　your　pasta。〃
　〃I'm　finished；〃　he　announced；　jumping　to　his　feet。　His　briefcase　was　just　a　few　steps　away；　and　he　attacked　it。
　〃Luther；　what　are　you　doing？〃
　〃Hang　on。〃
　He　stood　across　the　table　from　her；　papers　in　both　hands。　〃Here's　my　idea；〃　he　said　proudly。　〃And　it's　brilliant。〃　
　〃Why　am　I　nervous？〃
　He　unfolded　a　spreadsheet；　and　began　pointing。　〃Here；　my　dear；　is　what　we　did　last　Christmas。　Six　thousand；　one　hundred　dollars　we　spent　on　Christmas。　Six　thousand；　one　hundred　dollars。〃
　〃I　heard　you　the　first　time。〃
　〃And　precious　little　to　show　for　it。　The　vast　majority　of　it　down　the　drain。　Wasted。　And　that；　of　course；　does　not　include　my　time；　your　time；　the　traffic；　stress；　worry；　bickering；　ill…will；　sleep　loss…all　the　wonderful　things　that　we　pour　into　the　holiday　season。〃
　〃Where　is　this　going？〃
　〃Thanks　for　asking。〃　Luther　dropped　the　spreadsheets　and；　quick　as　a　magician；　presented　the　Island　Princess　to　his　wife。　Brochures　covered　the　table。　〃Where　is　this　going；　my　dear？　It's　going　to　the　Caribbean。　Ten　days　of　total　luxury　on　the　Island　Princess；　the　fanciest　cruise　ship　in　the　world。　The　Bahamas；　Jamaica；　Grand　Cayman；　oops。；　wait　a　minute；　〃
　Luther　dashed　into　the　den；　hit　the　Play　button；　waited　for　the　first　notes；　adjusted　the　volume；　then　dashed　back　to　the　kitchen　where　Nora　was　inspecting　a　brochure。
　〃What's　that？〃　she　asked。
　〃Reggae；　the　stuff　they　listen　to　down　there。　Anyway；　where　was　I？〃
　〃You　were　island　hopping。〃
　〃Right；　we'll　snorkel　on　Grand　Cayman；　windsurf　in　Jamaica；　lie　on　the　beaches。　Ten　days；　Nora；　ten　fabulous　days〃
　〃I'll　have　to　lose　some　weight。〃
　〃We'll　both　go　on　a　diet。　Whatta　you　say？〃
　〃What's　the　catch？〃
　〃The　catch　is　simple。　We　don't　do　Christmas。　We　save　the　money；　spend　it　on　ourselves　for　once。　Not　a　dime　on　food　we　won't　eat　or　clothes　we　won't　wear　or　gifts　no　one　needs。　Not　one　red　cent。　It's　a　boycott；　Nora；　a　plete　boycott　of　Christmas。〃
　〃Sounds　awful。〃
　〃No；　it's　wonderful。　And　it's　just　for　one　year。　Let's　take　a　break。　Blair's　not　here。　She'll　be　back　next　year　and　we　can　jump　back　into　the　Christmas　chaos；　if　that's　what　you　want。　e　on；　Nora；　please。　We　skip　Christmas；　save　the　money；　and　go　splash　in　the　Caribbean　for　ten　days。〃
　〃How　much　will　it　cost？〃
　〃Three　thousand　bucks。〃
　〃So　we　save　money？〃
　〃Absolutely。〃
　〃When　do　we　leave？〃
　〃High　noon；　Christmas　Day。〃
　They　stared　at　each　other　for　a　long　time。
　
　The　deal　was　closed　in　bed；　with　the　television　on　but　muted；　with　magazines　scattered　over　the　sheets；　all　unread；　with　the　brochures　not　Far　away　on　the　night　table。　Luther　was　scanning　a　financial　newspaper　but　seeing　little。　Nora　had　a　paperback　but　the　pages　weren't　turning。
　The　deal　breaker　had　been　their　charitable　giving。　She　simply　refused　to　forgo　it；　or　skip　it；　as　Luther　insisted　on　saying。　She　had　reluctantly　agreed　to　buy　no　gifts。　She　also　wept　at　the　thought　of　no　tree；　though　Luther　had　mercilessly　driven　home　the　point　that　they　yelled　at　each　other　every　Christmas　when　they　decorated　the　damned　thing。　And　no　Frosty　on　the　roof？　When　every　house　on　the　street　would　have　one？　Which　brought　up　the　issue　of　public　ridicule。　Wouldn't　they　be　scorned　for　ignoring　Christmas？
　So　what；　Luther　had　replied　over　and　over。　Their　friends　and　neighbors　might　disapprove　at　first；　but　secretly　they　would　burn　with　envy。　Ten　days　in　the　Caribbean；　Nora；　he　kept　telling　her。　Their　friends　and　neighbors　won't　be　laughing　when　they're　shoveling　snow；　will　they？　No　jeers　from　the　spectators　when　we're　roasting　in　the　sun　and　they're　bloated　on　turkey　and　dressing。　No　smirks　when　we　return　thin　and　tanned　and　pletely　unafraid　of　going　to　the　mailbox。
　Nora　had　seldom　seen　him　so　determined。　He　methodically　killed　all　her　arguments；　one　by　one；　until　nothing　was　left　but　their　charitable　giving。
　〃You're　going　to　let　a　lousy　six　hundred　bucks　stand　between　us　and　a　Caribbean　cruise？〃　Luther　asked　with　great　sarcasm。
　〃No；　you　are；〃　she　replied　coolly。
　And　with　that　they　went　to　their　corners　and　tried　to　read。
　But　after　a　tense；　silent　hour；　Luther　kicked　off　the　sheets　and　yanked　off　the　wool　socks　and　said；　〃All　right。　Let's　match　last　year's　charitable　gifts；　but　not　a　penny　more。〃
　She　flung　her　paperback　and　went　for　his　neck。　They　embraced；　kissed；　then　she　reached　for　the　brochures。
　
　
　Three
　
　Though　it　was　Luther's　scheme；　Nora　was　the　first　to　be　tested。　The　call　came　on　Tuesday　morning；　from　a　pricklish　man　she　didn't　much　care　for。　His　name　was　Aubie；　and　he　owned　The　Pumpkin　Seed；　a　pompous　little　stationery　store　with　a　silly　name　and　absurd　prices。
　After　the　obligatory　greeting；　Aubie　came　right　to　the　point。　〃Just　a　bit　worried　about　your　Christmas　cards；　Mrs。　Krank；〃　he　said；　trying　to　seem　deeply　concerned。
　〃Why　are　you　worried？〃　Nora　asked。　She　did　not　like　being　hounded　by　a　crabby　shopkeeper　who　would　barely　speak　to　her　the　rest　of　the　year。
　〃Oh　well；　you　always　select　the　most　beautiful　cards；　Mrs。　Krank；　and　we　need　to　order　them　now。〃　He　was　bad　at　flattery。　Every　customer　got　the　same　line。
　According　to　Luther's　audit；　The　Pumpkin　Seed　had　collected　318　from　the　Kranks　last　Christmas　for　cards；　and　at　the　moment　it　did　seem　somewhat　extravagant。　Not　a　major　expense；　but　what　did　they　get　from　it？　Luther　flatly　refused　to　help　with　the　addressing　and　stamping；　and　he　flew　hot　every　time　she　asked　if　so…and…so　should　be　added　to　or　deleted　from　their　list。　He　also　refused　to　offer　so　much　as　a　glance　at　any　of　the　cards　they　received；　and　Nora　had　to　admit　to　herself　that　there　was　a　diminishing　joy　in　getting　them。
　So　she　stood　straight　and　said；　〃We're　not　ordering　cards　this　year。〃　She　could　almost　hear　Luther　applauding。
　〃Do　what？〃
　〃You　heard　me。〃
　〃May　I　ask　why　not？〃
　〃You　certainly　may　not。〃
　To　which　Aubie　had　no　response。　He　stuttered　something　then　hung　up；　and　for　a　moment　Nora　was　filled　with　pride。　She　wavered；　though；　as　she　thought　of　the　questions　that　would　be　raised。　Her　sister；　their　minister's　wife；　friends　on　the　literacy　board；　her　aunt　in　a　retirement　village…all　would　ask；　at　some　point；　what　happened　to　their　Christmas　cards。
　Lost　in　the　mail？　Ran　out　of　time？
　No。　She　would　tell　them　the　truth。　No　Christmas　for　us　this　year；　Blair's　gone　and　we're　taking　a　cruise。　And　if　you　missed　the　cards　that　much；　then　I'll　send　you　two　next　year。
　Ra