December 13

Puck sat through the service with a pair of Linnea’s old plastic headphones on his ears.

Back at the house, Dad put together a pile of burgers for lunch. And Mom made macaroni with cheese. Once everyone had gathered around the table, it was time for the usual discussions.
“Francis’ orthodontist aligned one of Francis’ teeth right under his nose too,” Dad was saying.
He had.
“Just like mine,” said Collette. “Maybe he did that to you, Francis, because you broke his million dollar machine.”
“Well, I didn’t get any radiation from it.”
“We don’t know that,” said Dad.
“’Doctor, he’s glowing!” said OLeif.
“Look, everyone, I have mayonnaise on my arm!” Joe announced.
“Maybe I wasn’t the one who got the radiation,” Francis giggled.
Then out came the brownies that Francis had made on Saturday.
“You just felt like making brownies?” Collette asked, wondering at this sudden inspiration in the baking department.
“Yup.”
“He was hungry for brownie batter, but couldn’t eat all of it, so he baked it,” Carrie explained.
“The sprinkles are a nice touch, Francis,” said Mom.
“Oh, Francis, your brownies are so cute!” said Joe.
“And he wore a pink apron when he made them,” said Carrie.
“It said ‘Mommy and Me’ on the front,” said Mom.
Then the subject switched to Joe…
“You remember that time you passed out at Scout camp before breakfast?” Dad asked him.
“That’s because I was so starving.”
“Fainted right into the fire,” said Mom, with a laugh.

In the afternoon, Collette drove Mom, Linnea, and Puck to Walgreen’s to pick up the Christmas photos, a bottle of chocolate milk for Linnea, and a package of goldfish crackers. They then rejoined the family where some were involved watching Going My Way.

By five o’clock, OLeif was up at church to rehearse a little again before the Christmas program. He was joined later by Dad, Mom, Collette, Linnea, and Puck. And this was followed with punch and cookies.
“Juice!” Puck cried happily. “I want juice!”
OLeif helped him drink from a cup of green punch with ice cream floating on the top. Fortunately, after his first real encounter with soda, Puck still fell asleep immediately that night.