Village Squire, 1978-12, Page 23little package from the counter and started toward the door.
"Merry Christmas." my father and mother called back. But
Danny was hardly out the door before father turned and saw the
cross look on mother's face..
"Now don't look at me like that. What was 1 to do. tell a man
he can't have presents for Christmas?"
"Hush, %.c'll talk about this later," she said back in a voice I
wasn't used to hearing from her. The music in her voice was
gone. It had been gone a lot lately. 1 was sent to bed early that
night. After supper, after I'd filled the woodbox for tomorrow but
before 1 could settle down to read the Christmas story in the
Family Herald mother said: "Off to bed with you now Willie.
You've got a big day ahead of you."
"Aw mom. can't 1 even read for a while."
"Now your school concert is tomorrow night and you'll be up
late then. You've got to get some sleep sometime. Growing boys
need lots of sleep."
"Well can I read in bed?"
"You do and •1'II skin you."
Muttering and protesting (but under my breath because if she
ever heard what 1 was saying I'd be in bed with mote hurt than
my pride at having to go early) 1 went up the stairs. Parents!
1 wanted to linger s long as 1 could over undressing and
getting to bed but the bedroom was chilly enough that I quickly
jumped into bed. curling up in a ball to heat my toes with my own
warmth. Sometimes 1 wished Betty still slept with me. She had
until this fall when mother had said it wasn't right for a sister
and brother to sleep together any more. I couldn't figure out why
%vhcn it was quite all right last year it wasn't this year but she
said something about nie getting too old and worked away fixing
over the room down the hall with new flowered wallpaper and
painting an old dresser pink to fit what she thought a little girl's
mom should look like.
l think Betty missed me too. Oh she was all excited when she
first got the room but later when the shine had warn off a little
and when it started getting darker earlier so she had to go to bed
GIFTS FOR
THE HOME...
•pictures & wall decorations
•lamps & cushions
•bathroom accessories
•bedspreads, table linens
1rEnd INTERIORS
151 Main St. W., Listowel
You are invited
to come to the factory
and see the quality
for yourself.
FACTORY OPEN FOR INSPECTION
WEEKDAYS 8:30-11:30 a.m., 1-3 p.m.
OR BY APPOINTMENT.
7°1°‘6.
•
NORTHLANDER
A complete line of 12
and 14 wides now available.
Now also building
Commercial/Industrial Units.
An alternate form of
farm housing, custom
designed and built to
your requirements.
—(Io odr n; .iiir(A —
Manufactured in Canada by
Custom Trailers Ltd.,
165 Thames Rd. E.
Exeter, Ontario [Box 190]
(5191235-1530 Telex 064-5815
December 1978. Village Squire 21