Alex Harris 00 - Armed

mannequin arm next to her. I wondered if the police had arrested Jerry yet. As much as I wanted the killer caught and behind bars, something still bothered me. I couldn’t give this persistent feeling any more credence than it being just a feeling—nothing more. I couldn’t grasp an image that occasionally slipped into my forethoughts only to quickly flee back to the safety of my subconscious. An image of Irwin Scott, from the picture in Mrs. Scott’s desk, fleetingly came into view. I shook my head. Was he trying to tell me something? But what? I had never met the man. I saw his face in my mind and shook the image out.
    I stood at the window for a few more minutes until the cold crept through the green plaid. Just as I started to turn to go back to bed, the first flakes of snow began to fall.
    “Well, well, well,” Dad said as he came into the kitchen. “Looks like the kids are going to be able to use their new sleds.”
    I got up early hearing my mother in the kitchen. I knew she would never go back to bed after fixing the turkey so I joined her for an early morning cup of tea and some Italian cookies we made the night before. We even managed to get in a few hands of gin before Dad got up.
    The gifts remained unopened until Sam and her family arrived. Dorothy’s package intrigued me. I couldn’t wait for Mom to open it. The box mysteriously appeared after church and Mom gave it a few shakes before she went to bed. Beautifully decorated in brown paper with pinecones, cranberries, and dried orange slices woven into an intricate design, Dorothy seemed to be better at using food for decoration than as a source of nourishment.
    “Who just called?” I asked my mother.
    “Sam. The kids are in heaven, eighty-eight percent, over all their things, but she said they seemed disappointed about no sleds under the tree. I can’t wait to see their faces!” My mother’s soft brown eyes twinkled at the thought of the sleds hiding in the garage.
    By ten-thirty, the rest of the gang arrived and everyone settled around the tree. An hour later, torn paper and ribbon covered the living room but one small package tucked far under the tree remained. Mom acted very nonchalant all morning but the suspense took its toll. Dad reached under the tree and handed Mom the small box. Sam and I looked at each other across the room and shrugged; neither of us had any idea as to the contents of the mysterious package.
    Mom slowly untied the red ribbon and gently lifted off the berries and pinecones. She looked around the room hoping for some clue before she lifted the top. “Oh, my goodness! Harry, what have you done?” Mom put the box aside and threw her arms around Dad.
    “Well, can you share with the rest of us?” Sam pleaded.
    “Your father and I are going to London with the Scrabble group!” She held up a piece of paper. My dad had copied Scrabble tiles that spelled out London and pasted them on the paper.
    “It’s not until next October,” Dad said.
    “I don’t care. Oh, Harry, what a treat!”
    When the excitement died down a bit Dad stirred things up again. “You know, Mabel, there’s one gift missing.” He eyed his grandchildren.
    “I think you’re right. I distinctly remember there being one other thing,” Mom said, playing along.
    I joined my sister and brother-in-law on the sofa and the three of us watched the play unfold.
    “Why don’t we go and check the garage.”
    The grandparents left the room. Kendall and Henry kept on playing in the wrapping paper rubble, oblivious to their grandparents. With all the new toys they got, the wrapping paper held their interest most.
    A few minutes later Dad came back holding a newly refurbished sled. “Look what I found in the garage. There isn’t a name on it.”
    Henry and Kendall stopped jumping around. Henry stared at the sled his grandfather held and screamed out. “It’s mine! I asked Santa for one and he must have mixed up the houses!”
    Kendall’s eyes showed hurt for just one second until she saw her grandmother enter with another sled.
    My parents set the sleds on the living room floor. Both children walked over tentatively, still not believing their good fortune.
    “Well, now. These are very special sleds.” Dad put an arm around each child. “Do you know why?” Two little heads shook. “It’s because they belonged to your mother and aunt. Santa must have fixed them up so you could use them.”
    “Is it true, Mommy? Was this your sled?” Kendall