第7部分(第5/6 頁)

　several　hours；　and　you’re　getting　wet　standing　here。　Winborn’s　just　a　couple　miles　up　the　road。　They’ve　got　a　shed　with　a　cover　there；　and　some　benches；”　my　father　said。　“Why　don’t　you　all　get　in　the　car　and　I’ll　run　you　up　there。”

The　man　thought　about　it　for　a　moment；　and　then　he　beckoned　to　his　family。　They　climbed　into　the　car。　They　had　no　luggage；　only　the　clothes　they　were　wearing。

Once　they　settled　in；　my　father　looked　back　over　his　shoulder　and　asked　the　children　if　Santa　had　found　them　yet。　Three　glum　faces　mutely　gave　him　their　answers。

“Well；　I　didn’t　think　so；”　my　father　said；　winking　at　my　mother；　“because　when　I　saw　Santa　this　morning；　he　told　me　that　he　was　having　trouble　finding　you　all；　and　he　asked　me　if　he　could　leave　your　toys　at　my　house。　We’ll　just　go　get　them　before　I　take　you　to　the　bus　stop。”

All　at　once；　the　three　children’s　faces　lit　up；　and　they　began　to　bounce　around　in　the　back　seat；　laughing　and　chattering。

When　we　got　out　of　the　car　at　our　house；　the　three　children　ran　through　the　front　door　and　straight　to　the　toys　that　were　spread　out　under　our　Christmas　tree。　One　of　the　girls　spied　Jill’s　doll　and　immediately　hugged　it　to　her　breast。　I　remember　that　the　little　boy　grabbed　Sharon’s　ball。　And　the　other　girl　picked　up　something　of　mine。　All　this　happened　a　long　time　ago；　but　the　memory　of　it　remains　clear。　That　was　the　Christmas　when　my　sisters　and　I　learned　the　joy　of　making　others　happy。

My　mother　noticed　that　the　middle　child　was　wearing　a　short…sleeved　dress；　so　she　gave　the　girl　Jill’s　only　sweater　to　wear。

My　father　invited　them　to　join　us　at　our　grandparents’　for　Christmas　dinner；　but　the　parents　refused。　Even　when　we　all　tried　to　talk　them　into　ing；　they　were　firm　in　their　decision