Our respective parents' on Christmas Day."

"But gosh, Charlie, it wouldn't be Christmas without thewhole family being together."

"Well, you will be on Christmas Eve, so why can't we have Christmas morning together?"

"Because Christmas breakfast is a traditi on with our family. Mother'd flip her lid if I wasn't there. As a matter of fact, she'll probably want me to stay the night.'

"

Charlie slumped into the overstuffed chair, "Families! What about our family....you and me? Don't we count?"

Sue perched on the arm of the chair and ruffled the wave in Charlie's hair. "Let's not get into a huff. We'll work it out some way really, darling."

For the five days until Christmas Eve, Charlie thought, brooded, plotted to no avail. She simply couldn't resolve the situation. She wanted to spend Christmas with Sue, but there were the two families, each with their own demands. What she wanted had little to do with what would be. Sue just accepted things as if it didn't matter. And Charlie was beginning to think it didn't matter.

As she left the office amid the well wishing, she muttered to herself, "Merry Christmas, indeed! wish I were a bear and could go into hibernati on until the blamed thing is over and done with." When she arrived at the apartment she found it empty. The unlighted tree looked as dismal as Charlie felt. She walked past it to the kitchen and poured herself a shot.

The phone rang and Charlie begrudgingly sauntered back to the living room to answer it.

"Merry Christmas!" said the voice on the other end of the line.

Charlie stuffed the words back through the mouth piece automatically.

"You don't sound very merry, Charlotte.' Sue's mother.

It was

-11-