The butcher went into the back of the shop and came out with a large package wrapped in butcherpaper.
“Here you go. This be your wages for the week. And son, if you are so inclined, I would like to offer you a permanent job. You did fine worktoday.”
“How much you payin’?” Tommyasked.
The butcher laughed. “Five bob aweek.”
“Seven,” Tommycountered.
“Done. Now be gone. Go home and have a happy Christmas and I will see you bright and early the day after BoxingDay.”
“Yes,sir.”
“A-w-w,” both Geoffrey and Miriam saidtogether.
“But that is not all, is it?” They askedtogether.
“Not quite,” Diana said, and then readon.
Tommy was weary and still in some pain from the fall as he trudged home, carrying his precious parcel which would be the basis for their Christmas dinner tomorrow. He was not particularly happy with tripe, but it would make a decent meal the way his mother preparedit.
He finally arrived home and opened the door. His mother was already home from the mill and, to his great surprise, he saw his sister standing at the side of the room decorating a Christmas tree. A few candles were burning brightly as Doris strung a chain of red and green paper garlands around the tree—careful not to string it near thecandles.
“Happy Christmas, Tommy,” Doris criedout.
“You got us a tree?” heexclaimed.
“It is an angel tree,” Doris said. “I was selling my flowers and an angel bought my very last one for twoguineas.”
Tommy could not answer but could only stare at the loveliness of thetree.
Finally, their mother spokeup.
“Tommy, did you bring us the tripe from thebutcher’s?”
Pulling himself together, Tommy handed his mother the parcel. “Yes,Mamma.”
“That is very heavy for tripe,” his mother added as she sat it on the small kitchentable.
She began to unwrap it as Tommy went over to help his sister decorate thetree.
“It is so beautiful,” he said. “Were you able to save any money from the twoguineas?”
“Oh, yes. Most of it. Because it was Christmas Eve, I got the tree at a very good price. Now we will be able to buy mother a used coat so she will not be so cold during thewinter.
Mother let out a gasp. “Tommy, did you bring home the right package? This is not tripe, this is a wholeturkey.”
The children turned and stared at theirmother.
“A turkey? A whole turkey all forus?”
“How long will it take to cook?” Dorisasked.
“If I put it in the oven in the morning it will be ready fordinner.”
“Then we can go and bring Grandmother here for dinner tomorrow—if she is wellenough.”
“That will be wonderful,” Mother said. “And my dear children, this is going to be our best Christmasever.”
