American Christmas Stories by Connie Willis

Author:Connie Willis
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Library of America
Published: 2021-09-01T21:41:42+00:00

Fifteen minutes later the nurse came back. The bedroom was empty, and in the sitting room before a half-trimmed tree the Old Man was holding a small—a very small—drink in his hand. He waved his glass at her outraged face.

“Merry Christmas,” he said, a slight—a very slight—thickness in his voice. “And get me that telegram that came for Sally today.”

She looked disapprovingly at William, a William on whom the full impact of the situation—plus a very small drink—had suddenly descended like the impact of a pile-driver. Her austere face softened.

“You look tired,” she said. “You’d better sit down.”

“Tired? Him?” scoffed the Old Man. “You don’t know him. And where the hell’s that telegram?”

She brought it, and he put on his spectacles to read it.

“Sally doesn’t know about it,” he explained. “Held it out on her. Do her good.” Then he read it aloud. “Home for breakfast tomorrow. Well. Love. Merry Christmas. Tony.”

He folded it and looked around, beaming.

“How’s that for a surprise?” he demanded. “Merry Christmas! Hell, it will be a real Christmas for everybody.”

William stood still. He wanted to say something, but his voice stuck in his throat. Then he stiffened. Back in the pantry the doorbell was ringing.

1944

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