Merry Humbug Christmas by Sandra D. Bricker

Author:Sandra D. Bricker [Bricker, Sandra D.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Romance, General, Fiction, Christian, Holidays
ISBN: 9781433680755
Google: ywCxmQEACAAJ
Publisher: Broadman & Holman
Published: 2013-01-01T05:00:00+00:00

Merry Christ

Humbug mas

It Came Upon a Midnight Deer

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Merry Christ

Humbug mas

It Came Upon a Midnight Deer

S A N D R A D. B R IC KE R

Nashville, Tennessee

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Merry Christ

Humbug mas

It Came Upon a Midnight Deer

S A N D R A D. B R IC KE R

Nashville, Tennessee

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Prologue

“Whoa, whoa, Mom. Hold on. Are you telling me I was

named after a peanut butter cup?”

“Reese, please. Don’t be silly at the Christmas dinner table.”

“We don’t even eat dairy, and Daddy’s allergic to peanuts! How

could you name your firstborn child after a chocolate-covered peanut butter cup?”

“It’s not like we haven’t ever tasted a dairy product,” her mother replied. “Your father and I didn’t embrace the vegan lifestyle until we moved to Berkeley in the sixties. Back then we still called ourselves vegetarians.”

Her younger brother flashed a peace sign, and Reese giggled.

“I loved those peanut butter cups before I knew they were poi-

son,” her father lamented.

“The moment midwife Elaine put you into my arms, I thought

you were the most delicious little thing I’d ever seen. Isn’t that right, Alan?”

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Merry

Humbug Christmas

Her father’s only comment came in the form of an arched eye-

brow as he peered at them over the casserole bowl of vegetable

stuffing.

“So your thought process went something like, ‘Hmm. Delicious.

Baby. . . . Chocolate and peanut butter?’”

“I think you had to be there, Sis.”

Reese watched her father pour the Pendergrass family’s version

of gravy over the mound of smashed potatoes on his plate. The bald spot on the top of his head had widened in recent years, and he’d pulled what was left of his hair into a short ponytail at the back of his head.

“Hey, wait a minute,” Reese said as realization dawned. “How did

you come up with Herschel’s name? Daddy! Was Herschel named

after a Hershey bar?”

“What?” Hersch cried. “Is that true?”

“Reese Pendergrass,” her mother warned. “Stop stirring the pot

and eat your Tofurkey.”

Tofurkey—a gelatin-like mound of tofu rolled around an herb-like bread stuffing with the inexplicable and distant flavor of turkey—had graced the Pendergrass holiday table ever since Reese

could remember.

“Will you think less of me if I run down to McDonald’s for a Big

Mac?” Reese asked.

Her mother flicked her long, straight hair over her shoulder, and her hand flew instantly to her heart. “Alan?”

Her father’s eyes bulged. “What do you know about Big Macs? Is

this what you do with your friends on the weekend now? You con-

sume genetically mummified cattle in secret?”

Reese swallowed around the lump in her throat, averting her

eyes to the slightly jiggling mound of tofu on her plate. “Only a couple of times.”

Her mother’s response came in the form of a moan muffled by

the hand over her mouth.

“Herschel? You too?”

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Hersch shook his head and closed his eyes. “And my friends won-

der why I’m so messed up.Yes, Dad. I’ve eaten at McDonald’s. I’ve also had tacos, and last weekend Brad’s parents took us out for pep-peroni pizza! With extra cheese.

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