A Surprise for Lily by Mary Ann Kinsinger Page A

filled with Mama’s oatmeal raisin cookies, a book Mama had been reading for bedtime stories before she had left for the wedding, and a fat envelope. The cookies looked delicious and the book wouldbe wonderful to read before bedtime tonight, but what Lily really wanted was the envelope. She tore it open as soon as Grandma handed it to her. Inside were letters from Papa and Mama. Dannie had drawn a picture. Another piece of paper had a tracing of Paul’s little hand. At the bottom, Mama had written, “To Lily and Joseph. From Paul.”
    Tears pricked Lily’s eyes and she blinked fast to keep them back. She unfolded the letter from Mama.
    Dear Lily and Joseph,
    We all miss you so much and can’t wait until you can come home. Dannie and Paul haven’t shown any sign of the chicken pox. It will be two weeks on Wednesday since they were exposed to them. If they are still clear by the end of the week, then Papa and I think it will be safe for you to come home.
    Dannie has lost another tooth. He kept it so he can show it to you later. He has been trying to teach Dozer a new trick to surprise you when you come home but it hasn’t been going very well. Dozer seems to miss you too. He lies down by the shop door and doesn’t want to play. Even his favorite red ball doesn’t hold his attention very long.
    Lily felt the tiniest pang of sympathy for Dozer, though it quickly left when she remembered how thoroughly he had chewed up her doll Sally. But she knew that Dozer just wanted everything to go back to normal. That’s how she felt, too. She read on.
    I have been busy sewing and mending. Paul wears out the patches on the knees of his pants as fast as I cansew them on. Dannie has been trying to learn how to sew patches too. So far he has managed to sew on one patch. He still has trouble getting the thread tangled but he is learning. If Dannie keeps on learning like this, Lily might not have to do any more hand sewing.
    We have been drinking goat milk regularly since Pansy is dry.
    Lily felt like gagging. She hated goat milk. It tasted just like a billy goat smelled: awful. That was the first good thing she had discovered about not being at home. That and discovering that Dannie was learning to sew. Two good things.
    I hope you’re having fun at Grandma and Grandpa’s house. I’m sure Aunt Susie will be sorry when it’s time for you to come home.
    Love,
Mama
    Lily flipped the paper over. Papa had written on the back. His handwriting looked tall and handsome, just like him.
    Dear Lily and Joseph,
    We miss having our family together. It will be very nice once you can all come home again. The shop seems lonely without Joseph making toys after school. I miss Lily’s cookies, too.
    He did? Joseph and Dannie gagged when they ate Lily’s cookies. That would be the first thing Lily would do when she got home. Make cookies for Papa.
    Last week, a couple came into the shop to order furniture. They brought their little boy along and forgot to watch him for a few minutes. In the blink of an eye, the little boy ran his hand along a tabletop that I had just finished putting a coat of varnish on. I had to redo the whole thing.
    Lily could just imagine the scene. Papa wouldn’t have been happy about the extra work the little boy had caused, but he wouldn’t have said anything about it to the customers. He was that kind and understanding.
    I’ve been getting a lot of orders for Christmas already. I hope I can get all of them done in time. It feels kind of nice to know Whispering Pines is helping to make Christmas special for folks.
    How is everything going in school? I hope you are both doing your best. If you have any problems, you can always talk to Grandpa and Grandma. They will know how to help.
    Love,
Papa
    Lily handed the letter to Joseph to read and reached into the box to get a cookie. As delicious as Mama’s oatmeal raisin cookie tasted, her stomach hurt as she ate