Christmas with Tucker Read Online Free PDF Page B

him in any way.
    As Tucker and I walked away from our homestead, the late-afternoon sun reflected off his brushed coat in hues of deep burnt pumpkin and cinnamon that reminded me of autumn. The clouds hung low in the sky and made the blue space above us seem closer, yet still immense. It was brisk for November, but bearable with a sunny and gentle breeze that carried a musty timber smell up from the creek.
    As we walked out of the barnyard, we passed by Dick and Dock. Both of the giant beasts were resting their heads on the top rail of their corral. Tucker ambled over to investigate the pair, but when he got too close, they kicked up their heels and disappeared into the barn.
    “Come on, Tucker, let’s go.”
    We headed east along the path that went past Thorne’s cabin. At the edge of the fence line, we turned south, through the hay-fields, and down to Kill Creek. Once we crossed under the fence, I slipped the rope around his neck so we could practice working on the leash.
    When we got to the creek, I released Tucker and skipped stones. While I counted skips, Tucker sank down to his eyeballs in the creek, holding his head just above the water and lapping up cool drinks of the murky water with his tongue.
    While resting in a little patch of grass by the bank, Iwatched the dog play in the water and tried to take in the pleasing aroma of the wild onions that were the last remaining bits of plant life tenacious enough to stand up to the advancing march of winter.
    I pulled the envelope from my pocket, removed the letter, and started to read:
    Dear George
,
    Everyone misses you terribly, but I’m at the top of the list! I like my new job and still can’t believe how much they are paying me … three times what I made working for the telephone company when I was a teenager. I am enclosing a few pictures of your new house and your bedroom that I thought you might like to look at so they will feel more familiar to you when you get home. The house is only 5 minutes away from Grandad and Grandma Peterson! They spend lots of time over here and can’t wait to see you. How are things there on the farm? I’m sure your grandparents are glad to have you around and I know they will miss you very much when you leave. Please assure them that we will all come and visit as much as possible! Trisha and Hannah are still loving college life—especially since they’re at Grandad’s alma mater and he and your grandmother join them for all the football team’s home games. They were both home for the weekend and insisted that we make “George’s Oatmeal Cookies.” I told them I would not dare make them until we could share them with you
.
    Grandma and Grandad Peterson asked me to tell you “hi,” too. We’ll see you at Christmas. I can’t wait … miss
you so much. I’ll try to call you before we leave so we can start planning, packing, etc
.
        
Love
,
    
Mom
    p.s. When I come back to Kansas for Christmas, I am going to make you a whole sack of your cookies!
    I folded up her letter and put it back in my pocket. The house in the picture seemed huge by our standards and my bedroom was already decorated with a football bedspread and bookshelves. I had always wanted bookshelves in my room.
    When I turned to the north, a growing chill was in the air. The sky was going from blue to gray and puffs of darker clouds were rolling in on the horizon. With each gust of wind, the few leaves that remained on the trees were letting go, accepting their place. Unfortunately, I had no such clear convictions. Kansas. Minnesota. Minnesota. Kansas. Where was my resting place?
    The dog’s nose was deep in a mouse run and his tail wagged rhythmically. I wondered how dogs sensed or thought about
home
and if Tucker might have something to teach me on the subject.
    “Tucker, come on. It’s time to walk back.”

Chapter 8
    “SNOW DAY!” my grandfather yelled, his voice booming up the staircase.
    Nowadays, when children hear grown-ups say