Show I By DANIEL F F. F LINDSAY Pr TOM OM LARKIN opened the kitchen door His wife wiCe looked up with a n hopeful smile as he entered He just shook his head No mail at all she said as she went on fixing dinner Oh there were a couple of ads and a bill from the seed company He hung his hat on a hook and crossed to the pump His whitehair white whitehair whitehair hair was damp around his face when he straightened up again Its just not like Bill she sighed Bills got an streak always did have even when he was wasa a little feller Pas Pa's old briar gave off a pungent odor as he lit it But this is different Tom she said putting a pan of biscuits inthe in inthe inthe the oven tomorrow is Christmas Its It's a long way to the coast Maybe he wrote but didn't mail it in time Ma his tired old voice was filled with bitterness theres no V C 7 T j iJ r r c i iC s ss s She could see Pa striding into into the living room need to stick pins in yourself by hopin hop in Christmas or no Christmas a that boy is still mad The old ladys lady's eyes shone with faith He might stay mad all year long but when Christmas comes r hell he'll write I know Im I'm his Ma Dont forget Tom said as he blew smoke at the ceiling His eyes crinkled at the corners Im his father Dinners ready Pa she said filled with a deep longing and fought to keep the tears out of her voice I r cn understand that boy still bein mad at me but why does he have to take it out on you Youre wrong Tom Ma replied as she lifted her head and smiled The day after Christmas first delivery delivery delivery de de- livery well we'll get a letter You'll see Not from him he shook his head grimly Youre Judy she reminded reminded reminded re re- minded him as they sat down a good in daughter Oh Im I'm not her replying replying replying reply reply- ing as he covered his biscuits with gravy a fine girl Its It's his bull headed pride She got up and taking the coffeepot coffee coffeepot coffeepot pot off the cook stove filled his cup They ate on in silence Finally he pushed his plate b back ck You arent aren't much he scolded I Im just just not hungry Pa I see he stood up Im goin out and turn the heater on in the hen house It'll be cold tonight His old shoulders slumped forward as he went outside She shook her head and started picking up the dishes Her mind sank back into the past To the days when Christmas Christmas Christmas Christ Christ- mas was alive with the excitement and laughter of young voices She could see Pa striding into the living living living liv liv- ing room bearing a large evergreen on his shoulder Behind him there was always a highly excited little littleboy littleboy littleboy boy bearing an axe She wondered if the little boy ever thought of it pA DA A CAME back on the porch She smiled he kicked his as toe against the threshold Its It's a wonder she thought that theres there's any threshold left after all these years He came into the kitchen dumping an arm armload armload armload load of kindling in the box behind the range Pa He shook his head and took off orr his wraps replying Stopped She hung the dish towels up to dry He pulled a rocker in from the living room and sat down Everything all aU right in the barn Ma asked as she threw afew a afew afew few lumps of coal in the fire Sure Pa said A sad smile crossed his lips the use Ma Were We're both blue She sat down at the old kitchen taI table table ta ta- I ble and started peeling apples uttered uttered uttered ut ut- ut- ut I know it Gonna bake me a pie he asked She nodded Apple was always Billys Billy's favorite too Now Ma what's the use of a he stopped as they heard a car drive up in hi the yard Must be Jim Rogers Said today that new calf of his was sick He opened the kitchen door and peered out into the night She could hear him catch his breath as he watched a man and anda a woman get out Ma who do you think his voice was lowI lowI lowI low I knew Ma laughed as she laid the paring knife down with a happy happy happy hap hap- py smile smite I knew it all the time I |