Skipping Christmas Read Online Free PDF Page A

your party invitations,” Aubie said, and Nora’s heart froze. She, too, had forgotten the invitations, and she certainly didn’t want to discuss them in front of Merry and Candi.
    “Oh yes,” she said. Merry had struck up a conversation with a volunteer at the next table. Candi was scanning the deli to see who wasn’t there.
    “We won’t be needing them, either,” Nora said.
    “No party?” Aubie asked, his words laden with curiosity.
    “Yes, no party this year.”
    “Well, I—”
    “Thanks for calling, Aubie,” she said softly and quickly and snapped the phone shut.
    “Won’t be needing what?” Merry asked, suddenly breaking off her other conversation and honing in on Nora.
    “No party this year?” Candi asked, her eyes locking on to Nora’s like radar. “What’s up?”
    Grit your teeth, Nora urged herself. Think of beaches, warm salt water, ten days in paradise. “Oh that,” she said. “We’re taking a cruise this year instead of doing Christmas. Blair’s gone, you know, we need a break.”
    The deli was suddenly quiet, or at least it seemed so to Nora. Candi and Merry frowned as they replayed this news. Nora, with Luther’s words ringing in her ears, pushed the offensive. “Ten days on the Island Princess , a luxury liner. Bahamas, Jamaica, Grand Cayman. I’ve already lost two pounds,” she said with a cheerful smugness.
    “You’re not doing Christmas?” Merry said in disbelief.
    “That’s what I said,” Nora responded. Merry was quick with a judgment, and years ago Norahad learned to bite back. She stiffened, ready for a sharp word.
    “How do you simply not do Christmas?” Merry asked.
    “You skip it,” Nora replied, as if that would explain everything.
    “Sounds wonderful,” Candi said.
    “Then what do we do Christmas Eve?” Merry asked.
    “You’ll think of something,” Nora replied. “There are other parties.”
    “But none like yours.”
    “You’re sweet.”
    “When do you leave?” Candi asked, dreaming now of beaches and no in-laws piled in for a week.
    “Christmas Day. Around noon.” It was an odd time to leave, she had thought after Luther had booked the cruise. If we’re not celebrating Christmas, dear, she’d said, why not leave a few days earlier? Avoid Christmas Eve while we’re at it. Eliminate the whole crazy mess. “What if Blair calls Christmas Eve?” he’d replied. And besides, Biff got $399 knocked off the package because few people travel on the twenty-fifth. Anyway, it was booked and paid for and nothing was going to change.
    “Then why not have the party on Christmas Eve anyway?” Merry asked, getting pushy, fearful that she might feel obligated to host a replacement.
    “Because we don’t want to, Merry. We’re taking a break, okay. A year off. No Christmas whatsoever. Nothing. No tree, no turkey, no gifts. We’re taking the money and splurging on a cruise. Get it?”
    “I get it,” Candi said. “I wish Norman would do something like that. He wouldn’t dream of it, though, afraid he’d miss twenty or so bowl games. I’m so envious, Nora.”
    And with that Merry took a bite of her avocado sandwich. She chewed and began glancing around the deli. Nora knew exactly what she was thinking. Who can I tell first? The Kranks are skipping Christmas! No party! No tree! Nothing but money in their pockets so they can blow it on a cruise.
    Nora ate too, knowing that as soon as she stepped through the door over there the gossip would roar through the deli and before dinner everyone in her world would know the news. So what? she told herself. It was inevitable, and why was it such a big deal? Half would be in Candi’s camp, burning with envy and dreaming alongwith Nora. Half would be with Merry, seemingly appalled at the notion of simply eliminating Christmas, but even within this group of critics Nora suspected many would secretly covet their cruise.
    And in three months who’d care anyway?
    After a few bites they shoved their sandwiches