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they wanted--even when they didn't know what they

wanted until they had it.

What would childhood be like without believing

in Santa Claus? Not the kind of childhood I wanted

for our twins!

Even for those locked away, Christmas was a busy

time, even for one beginning to despair, and doubt, and distrust. Secretly, Chris and I had been making gifts for Momma (who really didn't need anything), and gifts for the twins--plushy stuffed animals that we tediously backstitched by hand, and then filled with cotton. I did all the embroidery work on the faces when they were still flat. I was, in private in the bathroom, knitting Chris a cap of scarlet wool--it grew and it grew and it grew; I think Momma must

have forgotten to tell me something about gauge. Then Chris came up with an absolutely idiotic and

horrific suggestion. "Let's make the grandmother a

gift, too. It's really not right to leave her out. She does

bring up our food and milk, and who knows, a token

like this may be just the thing needed to win over her

affection. And think how much more enjoyable our

lives would be if she could tolerate us."

I was dopey enough to think it might work, and

for hours and hours we slaved on a gift for an old

witch who hated us. In all this time she had never

even once said our names.

We bonded tan linen to a stretcher frame, glued on

different colored stones, then carefully applied gold

and brown cording. If we made a mistake, ever so

painstakingly we'd do it over and make it right so she

wouldn't notice. She was bound to be a perfectionist who'd see the slightest flaw and frown. And never, truly, would we give her anything less than our best

efforts could produce.

"You see," said Chris again, "I really do believe

we have a chance in winning her over to our side.

After all, she is our grand- mother, and people do

change. No one is static. While Momma works to

charm her father, we must work to charm her mother.

And even if she refuses to look at me, she does look at


Tags: V.C. Andrews Dollanganger Horror