jg.skippingchristmas-第5部分

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er　which　they　produced　another；　making　six；　the　eldest　of　which　was　no　more　than　twelve。　The　entire　brood　was　hanging　ornaments　and　tinsel。　At　some　point　during　every　December　Luther　overheard　one　of　the　neighborhood　women　ment　on　just　how　awful　the　Frohmeyer　tree　looked。　As　if　he　cared。
　Awful　or　not；　they　were　certainly　having　a　wonderful　time　draping　it　with　tacky　decorations。　Frohmeyer　did　research　at　the　university；　110；000　a　year　was　the　rumor；　but　with　six　kids　there　wasn't　much　to　show　for　it。　Their　tree　would　be　the　last　to　e　down　after　New　Year's。
　Luther　turned　around　and　headed　home。　At　the　Beckers'；　Ned　was　on　the　sofa　with　an　icepack　on　his　shoulder；　Jude　hovering　over　him；　lecturing　with　her　finger。　The　ladder　was　on　its　side；　being　inspected　by　the　mother…in…law。　Whatever　the　cause　of　the　fall；　there　was　no　doubt　that　all　blame　would　be　placed　on　poor　Ned。
　Great；　thought　Luther。　Now　I'll　have　to　listen　to　details　of　another　ailment　for　the　next　four　months。　e　to　think　of　it；　Ned　Becker　had　fallen　off　that　ladder　before；　five　maybe　six　years　earlier。　Crashed　into　the　tree　and　knocked　the　whole　thing　oven　Broke　Jude's　keepsake　ornaments。　She'd　pouted　for　a　year。
　What　madness；　thought　Luther。
　
　Four
　
　Nora　and　two　friends　had　just　captured　a　table　at　their　favorite　deli；　a　converted　service　station　that　still　sold　gas　but　had　also　added　designer　sandwiches　and　latte　at　three　bucks　a　cup。　As　always；　it　was　packed　at　noon；　and　the　long　lines　attracted　even　more　folks。
　It　was　a　working　lunch。　Candi　and　Merry　were　the　other　two　members　of　a　mittee　to　oversee　an　auction　for　the　art　museum。　Around　most　of　the　other　tables；　similar　fund…raisers　were　being　plotted　with　great　effort。
　Nora's　cell　phone　rang。　She　apologized　because　she　had　forgotten　to　turn　it　off；　but　Merry　insisted　she　take　the　call　anyway。　Cell　phones　were　buzzing　all　over　the　deli。
　It　was　Aubie　again；　and　at　first　she　was　puzzled　as　to　how　he　had　obtained　her　number。　But　then；　she　routinely　gave　it　away。
　〃It's　Aubie　from　The　Pumpkin　Seed；　she　explained　to　Candi　and　Merry；　thereby　linking　them　to　the　conversation。　They　nodded　with　disinterest。　Presumably；　everybody　knew　Aubie　from　The　Pumpkin　Seed。　He　had　the　highest　prices　in　the　world　so　if　you　shopped　there　you　could　one…up　anyone　when　it　came　to　stationery。
　〃We　forgot　to　discuss　your　party　invitations；〃　Aubie　said；　and　Nora's　heart　Froze。　She；　too；　had　forgotten　the　invitations；　and　she　certainly　didn't　want　to　discuss　them　in　front　of　Merry　and　Candi。
　〃Oh　yes；〃　she　said。　Merry　had　struck　up　a　conversation　with　a　volunteer　at　the　next　table。　Candi　was　scanning　the　deli　to　see　who　wasn't　there。
　〃We　won't　be　needing　them；　either；〃　Nora　said。
　〃No　party？〃　Aubie　asked；　his　words　laden　with　curiosity。
　〃Yes；　no　party　this　year。〃
　〃Well；　I…〃
　〃Thanks　for　calling；　Aubie；〃　she　said　softly　and　quickly　and　snapped　the　phone　shut。
　〃Won't　be　needing　what？〃　Merry　asked；　suddenly　breaking　off　her　other　conversation　and　honing　in　on　Nora。
　〃No　party　this　year？〃　Candi　asked；　her　eyes　locking　on　to　Nora's　like　radar。　〃What's　up？〃
　Grit　your　teeth；　Nora　urged　herself。　Think　of　beaches；　warm　salt　water；　ten　days　in　paradise。　〃Oh　that；〃　she　said。　〃We're　taking　a　cruise　this　year　instead　of　doing　Christmas。　Blair's　gone；　you　know；　we　need　a　break。〃
　The　deli　was　suddenly　quiet；　or　at　least　it　seemed　so　to　Nora。　Candi　and　Merry　frowned　as　they　replayed　this　news。　Nora；　with　Luther's　words　ringing　in　her　ears；　pushed　the　offensive。　〃Ten　days　on　the　Island　Princess；　a　luxury　liner。　Bahamas；　Jamaica；　Grand　Cayman。　I've　already　lost　two　pounds；〃　she　said　with　a　cheerful　smugness。
　〃You're　not　doing　Christmas？〃　Merry　said　in　disbelief。
　〃That's　what　I　said；〃　Nora　responded。　Merry　was　quick　with　a　judgment；　and　years　ago　Nora　had　learned　to　bite　back。　She　stiffened；　ready　for　a　sharp　word。
　〃How　do　you　simply　not　do　Christmas？〃　Merry　asked。
　〃You　skip　it；〃　Nora　replied；　as　if　that　would　explain　everything。
　〃Sounds　wonderful；〃　Candi　said。
　〃Then　what　do　we　do　Christmas　Eve？〃　Merry　asked。
　〃You'll　think　of　something；〃　Nora　replied。　〃There　are　other　parties。〃
　〃But　none　like　yours。〃
　〃You're　sweet。〃
　〃When　do　you　leave？〃　Candi　asked；　dreaming　now　of　beaches　and　no　in…laws　piled　in　for　a　week。
　〃Christmas　Day。　Around　noon。〃　It　was　an　odd　time　to　leave；　she　had　thought　after　Luther　had　booked　the　cruise。　If　we're　not　celebrating　Christmas；　dear；　she'd　said；　why　not　leave　a　few　days　earlier？　Avoid　Christmas　Eve　while　we're　at　it。　Eliminate　the　whole　crazy　mess。　〃What　if　Blair　calls　Christmas　Eve？〃　he'd　replied。　And　besides；　Biff　got　399　knocked　off　the　package　because　few　people　travel　on　the　twenty…fifth。　Anyway；　it　was　booked　and　paid　for　and　nothing　was　going　to　change。
　〃Then　why　not　have　the　party　on　Christmas　Eve　anyway？〃　Merry　asked；　getting　pushy；　fearful　that　she　might　feel　obligated　to　host　a　replacement。
　〃Because　we　don't　want　to；　Merry。　We're　taking　a　break；　okay。　A　year　off。　No　Christmas　whatsoever。　Nothing。　No　tree；　no　turkey；　no　gifts。　We're　taking　the　money　and　splurging　on　a　cruise。　Get　it？〃
　〃I　get　it；　Candi　said。　〃I　wish　Norman　would　do　something　like　that。　He　wouldn't　dream　of　it；　though；　afraid　he'd　miss　twenty　or　so　bowl　games。　I'm　so　envious；　Nora。〃
　And　with　that　Merry　took　a　bite　of　her　avocado　sandwich。　She　chewed　and　began　glancing　around　the　deli。　Nora　knew　exactly　what　she　was　thinking。　Who　can　I　tell　first？　The　Kranks　are　slapping　Christmas！　No　party！　No　tree！　Nothing　but　money　in　their　pockets　so　they　can　blow　it　on　a　cruise。
　Nora　ate　too；　knowing　that　as　soon　as　she　stepped　through　the　door　over　there　the　gossip　would　roar　through　the　deli　and　before　dinner　everyone　in　her　world　would　know　the　news。　So　what？　she　told　herself。　It　was　inevitable；　and　why　was　it　such　a　big　deal？　Half　would　be　in　Candi's　camp；　burning　with　envy　and　dreaming　along　with　Nora。　Half　would　be　with　Merry；　seemingly　appalled　at　the　notion　of　simply　eliminating　Christmas；　but　even　within　this　group　of　critics　Nora　suspected　many　would　secretly　covet　their　cruise。
　And　in　three　months　who'd　care　anyway？
　After　a　few　bites　they　shoved　their　sandwiches　aside　and　brought　out　the　paperwork。　Not　another　word　was　mentioned　about　Christmas；　not　in　Nora's　presence　anyway。　Driving　away；　she　phoned　Luther　with　the　news　of　their　latest　victory。
　Luther　was　up　and　down。　His　secretary；　a　fifty…year…old　triple　divorcee　named　Dox；　had　quipped　that　she'd　have　to　buy　her　own　cheap　perfume；　she　supposed；　since　Santa　wasn't　coining　this　year。　He'd　been　called　Scrooge　twice；　and　each　time　the　name　had　been　followed　by　a　fit　of　laughter。　How　original；　Luther　thought。
　Late　in　the　morning；　Yank　Slader　darted　into　Luther's　office　as　if　angry　clients　were　chasing　him。　Peeking　out　first；　he　closed　the　door；　then　assumed　a　seat。　〃You're　a　genius；　old　boy；〃　he　said　almost　in　a　whisper。　Yank　was　an　amortization　specialist；　afraid　of　his　shadow；　loved　eighteen…hour　days　because　his　wife　was　a　brawler。　
　〃Of　course　I　am；〃　said　Luther。
　〃Went　home　last　night；　late；　got　the　wife　to　bed　then　did　the　same　thing　you　did。　Crunched　the　numbers；　went　through　the　bank　statements；　the　works；　came　up　with　almost　seven　grand。　What　was　your　damage？〃
　〃Just　over　six　thousand。〃
　〃Unbelievable；　and　not　a　rotten　thing　to　show　for　it。　Makes　me　sick。〃
　〃Take　a　cruise；〃　Luther　said；　knowing　full　well　that　Yank's　wife　would　never　agree　to　such　foolishness。　For　her；　the　holidays　began　in　late　October　and　steadily　gathered　momentum　until　the　big　bang；　a　ten…hour　marathon　on　Christmas　Day　with　four　meals　and　a　packed　house。
　〃Take　a　cruise；　Yank　mumbled。　〃Can't　think　of　anything　worse。　Socked　away　on　a　boat　with　Abigail　for　ten　days。　I'd　pitch　her　overboard。〃
　And　no　one　would　blame　you；　Luther　thought。
　〃Seven　thousand　bucks；〃　Yank　repeated　to　himself。
　〃Ridiculous；　isn't　it？〃　Luther　said；　and　for　a　moment　both　accountants　silently　lamented　the　waste　of　hard…earned　money。
　〃Your　first　cruise？〃　Yank　asked。
　〃Yes。〃
　〃Never　done　one　myself。　Wonder　if　they　have　single　folks　on　board？〃
　〃I'm　sure　they　do。　There's　no　requirement　you　have　to　take　a　partner。　Thinking　of　going　solo；　Yank？〃
　〃Not　thinking；　Luther；　dreaming。〃　He　drifted　off；　his　hollow　eyes　showing　a　hint　of　hope；　of　fun；　of　something　Luther　had　never　seen　〃before　in　Yank。　He　left　the　room　there　for　a　moment；　his　thoughts　running　wildly　across　the　Caribbean；　so　wonderfully　alone　without　Abigail。
　Luther　was　quiet　while　his　colleague　dreamed；　but　the　dreams　soon　became　slightly　embarrassing。　Fortunately；　the　phone　rang　and　Yank　was　jolted　back　to　a　harsh　world　of　amortization　tables　and　a　quarrelsome　wife。　He　got　to　his　feet　and　seemed　to　be　leaving　without　a　word。　At　the　door；　though；〃　he　said；　〃You're　my　hero；　Luther。〃
　Vic　Frohmeyer　had　heard　the　rumor　from　Mr。　Scan…Ion；　the　scoutmaster；　and　from　his　wife's　niece；　who　roomed　with　a　girl　who　worked　part　time　for　Aubie　at　The　Pumpkin　Seed；　and　from　a　colleague　at　the　university　；　whose　brother　got　his　taxes　done　by　someone　at　Wiley　&　Beck。　Three　different　sources；　and　the　rumor　had　to　be　true。　Krank　could　do　whatever　he　damned　well　pleased；　but　Vic　and　the　r