Facts of Life -- v

*

It was my turn to host the girls for our Christmas party this year. It's one of those things you enjoy only when it's going on, not when it's ahead of you. Years ago, it would have kept me awake nights. I would have wondered what to serve and how to be sure everybody has a good time. But I don't care so much anymore; and now that I don't, I wish I hadn't got myself thick with nerves for so many years.

I made some chocolate pretzels and some blitzes and spread frosting over a host of Christmas cookies. I made a batch of sea foam and even a couple dozen gum drops, and the whole time, I tell you, I ate way too much, way too much. I'll bet I spent twenty dollars on Chex mix, since my own kids eat it by the pound whenever they come over during Christmas because I'm the only one who makes it with real mixed nuts. I took out the pine cone wreath from the closet and an old Christmas tablecloth that Ted claimed he didn't even remember. The only thing new for the party was a pair of Christmas CD's Ted picked out himself, only because he couldn't resist buying himself a new toy this year, that new CD player, when the tape deck he bought not that long ago still played very well, as far as I'm concerned. Boys will be boys.

It was Martha's idea to sing. Usually the girls each bring a five‑dollar present, and we throw them in a pile in the middle of the room, pick a number, and everyone gets to choose—or trade. After that it's cards. But Martha says that this year we ought to sing a little for a change, since everybody likes to sing anyway.

"Whyn't you get Mandy over to play for us?" she says. "Didn't you say she was already playing carols?"

Now listen. Martha plays ragtime like Al Jolson, by ear too yet. If she wanted to sing so badly, she could have played every last carol herself. There was something up her sleeve.

But I played the game. I asked Mandy to come over around 7:30 or so—it was a school night, after all—and play those carols she'd been practicing so all the cooks could sing along.

By then, I figured, I'd have my sandwiches served, and we'd have gone through the whole presents thing. 

 You know, it sometimes amazes me what we can do to each other. We all had a good time that night, even though Verona never said a word to me. I didn't try to pry her loose because I think she's got a right to what she feels. We all joked with each other, we all had a good time, but the two of us never said a word.

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Tomorrow: the end of the story.