November 30

Over at the house, Collette and Carrie-Bri left for a hike in Castlewood. Collette had never been there before, and they followed the three-mile trail by the train tracks next to the river, then up a number of flights of stairs to the bluffs. It was a beautiful perch.

Back at the house, Puck was being tempted again by the glass bowl of chocolate wrapped in red and green foils and M ‘n Ms. He pulled out two in succession, asking permission, which Collette gave him. But the third one he popped in his mouth while in the process of asking.
“Alright, bud,” said Collette. “No more.”
“I won’t take any more, Mama. I won’t take any more. I sorry, Mama. I sorry.”
And he came over to hug her and pat her on the back.
“I sorry. I wuv you. I wuv you, Mama.”
Collette had the distinct feeling that she was being buttered up.

That afternoon, Mom and Collette left for Costco to stock up, particularly while Mom and Dad would be in Branson for the weekend.
Festivities were already in the air there — giant white and chocolate cupcakes frosted in red and green peppermint frosting, mini red velvet frosted cupcakes, orange-frosted scones, and etc., and etc.

When they returned, Francis was busy drawing red squiggles on the whiteboard with a dry erase marker and a power drill before getting down to math and Portuguese at the kitchen table, where he amused himself punching patterns into a wad of silly putty between algebra equations.