Christmas in New York by Monique Martin

Author:Monique Martin [Martin, Monique]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: time travel, great depression, new york, christmas, christmas story
Publisher: Monique Martin

~~~

Charlotte rested her elbows on the window sill and cupped her chin in her hands. Lots of people had walked by the building but none of them were Henry. Maybe he wasn’t coming. She told herself she’d wait a few more minutes, though, just in case.

The minutes dragged by as Trudy bossed Em around behind her. She looked down at her untouched plate of cookies. She wanted to give them to Henry so she hadn’t eaten any. Her stomach rumbled at the sight of them.

She forced herself to look away. She pressed her forehead against the cold glass and watched the street below. And watched.

Still no Henry.

After another ten minutes had passed, she gave up. It was no use. He wasn’t coming.

She turned away and watched the other girls play. Em was no longer playing the baby, but had somehow been cast as the husband to Trudy’s wife. But she was still being bossed around. Em’s teddy bear was as interested as Charlotte was in it.

With nothing else to do to pass the time Charlotte walked over to the little book shelf. She skimmed the titles.

Read it. Read it. Hated it. Oh, Kipling!

Tink.

Charlotte paused as she started to take a copy of Just So Stories off the shelf.

Tink.

It came from behind her and she turned toward the window.

Tink.

She put the book down and hurried over to the window. She couldn’t have kept the smile off her face if she tried. Down below in the street, Henry was winding up to throw another pebble at the window.

He stopped when Charlotte opened the sash.

“Hey,” he said in a loud whisper. “Can you come out?”

Charlotte held up her hand, silently asking him to wait.

Trudy put her hands on her hips and glared at Em. “You go to the bar every night.”

Em didn’t understand. “I do?”

“You do.”

“Hey,” Charlotte interrupted. “Will you cover for me?”

Trudy looked up as she made a show of considering it. Charlotte knew what she wanted.

“You can have my cookies,” Charlotte said.

Trudy nodded and Charlotte handed her the plate. She quickly tucked a few pillows under the blanket on the bed. It didn’t look like her, but Mrs. Blomster had her hands full with the twins. She probably wouldn’t do more than poke her head in. Probably.

“Tell her I’m really tired and need my sleep, okay?”

“Okay,” Trudy said through a mouthful of cookies.

Em looked at her sadly.

“Sorry,” Charlotte said and hurried back to the window.

She climbed out onto the fire escape and down the ladder. It was a lot easier the second time.

“Ready?” Henry asked.

“For what?”

Henry grinned. “To see New York.”

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