The Gift of Christmas Present Read Online Free PDF Page A

she was imagining things.
    â€œFine. Now help me get these ridiculous trousers off. I don’t know what got into my crazy daughter-in-law’s head yesterday, helping me put these confounded things on. I told her I should stick to loose, stretchy garments until my ankle heals up. But, oh no, she thought I should dress up nicely. She’s a ridiculous young woman!”
    Christine felt a bit embarrassed as she helped the old woman slip out of the lined wool trousers, carefully slipping the narrow pant leg past the oversize, bandaged foot. She couldn’t help but notice the pale, scrawny legs. Howawful to grow old , she thought as she turned away and laid the trousers on the bed.
    â€œDon’t leave those pants on the bed,” the woman chided as she pulled the bathrobe around her. “There.” She pointed to the wall with two doors. “The closet is on the right. Find a pants hanger and hang them up. Then find me a jogging suit.” She cackled. “Not that I plan to do any jogging. Get the blue velour one, please. Those pants have extra-wide legs as I recall.”
    Christine walked into the large closet. It was about the size of her dorm room, only completely outfitted with shelves and drawers and rods full of beautiful clothes. Expensive clothes. And shoes! She’d never seen so many shoes—that weren’t in a store, anyway. She quickly located what appeared to be the more casual section of the closet and found not one but two blue velour jogging suits.
    â€œDo you mean the dark blue or the light blue?” she called from the closet.
    â€œThe darker one, I think.”
    Christine emerged with a jogging suit. “This one?”
    â€œYes, that’s it. I don’t care much for that color on me, but at least it will be comfortable.” Mrs. Daniels was attempting to stand now, struggling to get the crutches in place. “However, I’ve decided I want to take a shower after all. I’ll need you to help me with the bandage.”
    So Christine followed her into a large bathroom where everything was white. White marble tiles, white fixtures, and white towels. Mrs. Daniels lowered herself onto a metal bench topped with a white velvet cushion. She stuck out her bad foot and groaned slightly. “Be careful when you unwrap it,” she warned. “It’s still very tender.”
    Christine knelt down and gently untwined the layers of elastic bandage until she exposed a very swollen and odd-colored foot. It was shades of yellow, purple, and black. “Oh, my,” she said as she laid the bandage on the counter. “That looks like it hurts.”
    â€œOf course it hurts,” Mrs. Daniels snapped, her brows drawn tightly together.
    â€œI’m sorry.”
    â€œWell, it’s not your fault.” Mrs. Daniels seemed to soften just a bit. “And I suppose the pain is making me a little grouchier than usual.”
    Christine took some comfort in the old woman’s confession. “That’s understandable.”
    â€œBesides that, I’m old,” Mrs. Daniels said. “I’ve earned the right to be a curmudgeon if I feel like.”
    Christine smiled. “That’s not a word you hear every day.”
    â€œWell, I used to teach English. Back in the days when students were expected to have an actual vocabulary.”
    Christine stood, feeling a bit overwhelmed at the idea of helping this old woman bathe. How on earth had she gotten herself into this crazy mess, anyway? “Do you want me to start the water in the shower for you?”
    â€œYes.”
    So Christine turned on the water and adjusted it to what felt like the right temperature, then stepped back. “That’s nice that you’ve got a place to sit down in there,” she said. “That should make it easier for you.”
    â€œThat’s the whole point,” Mrs. Daniels said. “Now turn your back while I get into the shower, but