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//-->All I Want for ChristmasNora RobertsJingle Bells, Wedding Bells AnthologySilhouette1984PrologueZeke and Zack huddled in the tree house. Importantbusiness, any plots or plans, and all punishments forinfractions of the rules, were discussed in the sturdywooden hideaway tucked in the branches of thedignified old sycamore.Today, a light rain tapped on the tin roof anddampened the dark green leaves. It was still warmenough in the first days of September that the boyswore T-shirts. Red for Zeke, blue for Zack.They were twins, as identical as the sides of a two-headed coin. Their father had used the color codesince their birth to avoid confusion.When they switched colors—as they often did—theycould fool anyone in Taylor's Grove. Except theirfather.He was on their minds at the moment. They hadalready discussed, at length, the anticipated delightsand terrors of their first day in real school. The firstday in first grade.They would ride the bus, as they had done the yearbefore, in kindergarten. But this time they would stayin Taylor's Grove Elementary for a full day, just likethe big kids. Their cousin Kim had told them thatrealschool wasn't a playground.Zack, the more introspective of the two, had thoughtover, worried about and dissected this problem forweeks. There were terrible, daunting terms likehomeworkandclass participation,that Kim tossedaround. They knew that she, a sophomore in highschool, was often loaded down with books. Big, thickbooks with no pictures.And sometimes, when she was baby-sitting for them,she had her nose stuck in them for hours. For as longa time as she would have the telephone stuck to herear, and that was long.It was pretty scary stuff for Zack, the championworrier.Their father would help them, of course. This wassomething Zeke, the eternal optimist, had pointed out.Didn't they both know how to read stuff likeGreenEggs and HamandThe Cat in the Hatbecause theirdad helped them sound out the words? And they bothknew how to write the whole alphabet, and theirnames and short things, because he showed them.The trouble was, he had to work and take care of thehouse and them, as well asCommander Zark, the big yellow dog they'd savedfrom the animal shelter two years before. Their dadhad, as Zack pointed out, an awful lot to do. And nowthat they were going to go to school, and haveassignments and projects and real report cards, hewas going to need help."He's got Mrs. Hollis to come in once a week and dostuff." Zeke ran his miniature Corvette around theimaginary racetrack on the tree-house floor."It's not enough." A frown puckered Zack's foreheadand clouded his lake blue eyes. He exhaled with along-suffering sigh, ruffling the dark hair that fell overhis forehead. "He needs the companionship of a goodwoman, and we need a mother's love. I heard Mrs.Hollis say so to Mr. Perkins at the post office.""He hangs around with Aunt Mira sometimes. She's agood woman.""But she doesn't live with us. And she doesn't havetime to help us with science projects." Scienceprojects were a particular terror for Zack. "We need tofind a mom." When Zeke only snorted, Zack narrowedhis eyes. "We're going to have to spell in first grade."Zeke caught his lower lip between his teeth. Spellingwas his personal nightmare. "How're we going to findone?"Now Zack smiled. He had, in his slow, careful way,figured it all out. "We're going to askSanta Claus.""He doesn't bring moms," Zeke said with the deepdisdain that can only be felt by one sibling for another.'He brings toys and stuff. And it's forever untilChristmas, anyway.""No, it's not. Mrs. Hollis was bragging to Mr. Perkinshow she already had half herChristmas shopping done. She said how looking aheadmeant you could enjoy the holiday." "Everybodyenjoys Christmas. It's the best.""Uh-uh. Lots of people get mad. Remember how wewent to the mall last year with Aunt Mira and she [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]