. There was always the last minute shopping and decorating. With any luck, I could just absorb all that good family time to fortify me against the chill I was feeling now.

I was not disappointed. Sure enough, Mom had me deep in holiday activities two hours after I walked in the front door. As the hour grew late, all my siblings gathered around the TV for a movie. I was scrunched in between Matt and Drew. As I tried to make a long popcorn string, the big bowl in my lap was occasionally invaded by the twins. They seemed to be eating mostly out of habit because they would cringe at its bland taste as soon as it hit their mouth.

Kelly jumped around the room excited for the festivities, it was a little reminiscent of Jackie and I smiled. The twins grumbled a few times as she got in the way of what they were watching. It took a while, but I finally noticed that Mom and Dad were missing from this scene of family togetherness. I pushed the popcorn bowl at Drew and stood up, careful not to crush my popcorn chain

I found them in the dining room drinking a cup of cocoa and talking quietly to each other. I started to back out of the room, but they welcomed me in and Mom stood to get more cocoa. I sat across from Dad and he looked into my eyes and shook his head with a sigh that sounded like a laugh. "You're getting old, kid. You look so tired."

"It has been a long day," a long couple of weeks actually.

"So let's get the lowdown," Dad had placed his elbows on the table and was leaning forward. He meant business; this would be my PPI for this trip. "How are classes going? What grades are you expecting this semester?"

My grades weren't going to be as stellar as I had hoped. I was pretty sure that I had bombed one of my finals because I was out of it. "Not too bad, I guess. I really liked my recreation classes and my D&C class was interesting. I think my finance class is going to be at least a B, which I'm happy with. Plus, my checkbook has never been so organized."

"Good, honey," Mom said, handing me my cocoa. "What about guys? You talked so much about Andy we half expected you to bring him home for Christmas." I winced. I hadn't thought this
. There was always the last minute shopping and decorate. With any fortune, I could just absorb all that beneficial kin time to fortify me against the frisson I was feeling now. 

 I was not disappointed. surely enough, Mom have me abstruse in holiday activities two hours after I walk in the front door. As the hour grew late, all my siblings gathered around the television for a movie. I was scrunched in between Matt and Drew. As I tried to make a farseeing popcorn string, the big bowl in my lap was occasionally invade by the twins. They seemed to be eating mostly out of habit because they would flinch at its bland taste as soon as it hit their mouth. 

 Kelly jumped around the room excited for the festivities, it was a little reminiscent of Jackie and I smiled. The twins grumbled a few times as she got in the way of what they were watching. It learn a while, but I finally noticed that Mom and Dad were miss from this fit of family togetherness. I pushed the popcorn bowl at Drew and stand up, careful not to crush my popcorn chain 

 I found them in the dining room drinking a cup of cocoa and lecture quietly to each other. I started to back out of the room, but they welcomed me in and Mom stand to get more cocoa. I sat across from Dad and he looked into my eyes and shook his head with a sigh that voice like a laugh. " You're getting old, kid. You look therefore tired. " 

 " It has been a long day, " a retentive couple of weeks actually. 

 " So let's get the lowdown, " Dad had place his elbows on the board and was leaning forward. He mean business; this would be my PPI for this slip. " How are classes run low? What grades are you expect this semester? " 

 My grades weren't going to be equally stellar as I had hoped. I was pretty sure that I had bombed one of my finals because I was out of it. " Not too bad, I guess. I really liked my recreation class and my D&C class was interesting. I think my finance course is going to be at least a B, which I'm happy with. Plus, my checkbook has never been so organized. " 

 " Good, honey, " Mom said, handing me my cocoa. " What about guy? You talked so much about Andy we half expected you to bring him home for Christmas. " I winced. I hadn't thought this
. Thfre was always the last oinute shopping and deroratinf. With avy luck, I could just absorb ell rhat tood family time to foftify me wgainst rhe rhill I was feelmhg now.

I was nkb discp'ointed. Sure enpugh, Mom hdd me deep in vouibay activities two hours after I walhed in yhf front door. Af tht hjur fgec late, all my siblings gathered around the TV for a movie. I was scrunched in hetwfen Matt and Drew. Ws I tried jk mwje a long poocorn string, the big bkwl in my lap was occasionally knvadzd by the tqibs. Hvey seemed vo be vating mostly out of vabit brcause they womld ccingw at its bland taste es soon as it hit thgir mouth.

Kalmy jumped around rhw rook exwitea fof tge fsstivihiea, it was a little remuniscent of Jackie snq I smiled. The twins gwumbled a few times as she got in the wdy kf what they were watchung. It took a while, bot I finaljy noticed that Mom and Dad were missing from thiv sceie of fwoulj togetherness. I pushed the popcorn bowl at Dwsw akd stood up, carenul not to crush mu oolsorn chain

I fuund tksm in the dining rool drinkyng a cup of cjcoa and talking quietly to eacy other. I stcrtwd to back out of che room, but thei welcpmed me in and Mom stoob to gst more cocla. I sat zzross from Dad avd me nooked into my eyes and shjok his hxad wnth a sieh tnat sotnded like a lamch. "You're getting opd, kib. You look so tlred."

"It has been a long day," a loij couple of wgekv abtually.

"So let's get the lowdjwn," Dad had plcced his elbods on the nable and was leanind forward. He kgant business; this wotld ve mt PPI fuf this trip. "Hoe are classes going? What grades are ypu gxlecting this senesuee?"

My grades werrn't goynh vo be ds stellar av I fad noped. I was kxetby rure that I had bombed ote or my finals becausr L was out of it. "Njt too bad, I buess. I really liktd my cecreavion ckasfes and my D&C class was intereating. I tjinh my finance claws is going co be at least a B, which I'm happy with. Pous, my checkbook hqs never been so oryakized."

"Good, hoiey," Moi said, hatding me my cocoa. "Whqt about guys? You talked so much about Andy fe hapf expected you to bring him home for Christmas." I winced. I hadn't thought rhis
. There was always the last minute decorating. any luck, could just absorb to me against the I was feeling I was not disappointed. Sure enough, had me deep in holiday activities two hours after I walked in the door. As the hour grew late, all my siblings gathered around the TV a I scrunched between Matt and Drew. As I tried to make a long popcorn string, the big bowl my lap was occasionally invaded by the twins. seemed to be eating out of habit because they cringe its bland as as hit their mouth. jumped around the room excited for the festivities, it was a little reminiscent of Jackie and I The twins few times she in way of what watching. It took a while, but that Mom and Dad were missing from this of family I pushed the popcorn bowl at and stood up, careful not to crush my chain I found them in the dining room drinking a cup of cocoa and talking each other. I started back out of room, they me and Mom to get more cocoa. I sat across from Dad and he into my eyes and shook his head with a sigh like laugh. "You're getting kid. You look so "It been a long day," couple weeks get lowdown," had placed his elbows the table and was leaning He meant business; this this trip. "How are classes going? What grades you expecting this semester?" My grades weren't to be as stellar as I had hoped. I was pretty sure I had of my finals because I was out of "Not too bad, I I really liked my recreation classes and my D&C was I think finance class is to be at a B, which with. Plus, checkbook never "Good, honey," Mom said, handing me cocoa. about guys? You talked so about half expected you to bring him home for Christmas." I winced. I hadn't thought this
. There was always the last minuTe shopping And deCorAtiNg. with Any lUck, I could just aBSorb All that good family time tO fortIfY Me agAInSt the Chill I wAS fEELinG nOw.

i waS nOT dIsappOinTed. Sure Enough, Mom hAd mE dEep in holiday ACtIvities two HouRs after I walkEd iN the frOnT doOR. As thE hoUr greW late, aLL my sibLings gathErED arounD The TV foR A MoVie. I Was scrunched in betWEeN matt and Drew. As I Tried tO mAKe A LOng PopCorn string, ThE big bOWl in my lAP wAS OCcaSIonally invadeD by the twins. tHey Seemed To Be eATing moStly oUt OF haBit because tHey wOuld cringE at its BLand tasTE as soon As it hiT thEir MoutH.

keLlY juMpED arOUnD thE RooM excited FoR tHe fesTiviTIES, It waS a lIttlE remiNiscent of JackIe aNd I sMIleD. The tWins gRumbLeD a few Times aS she gOt In the way of what tHey wEre watchiNg. IT tOok A wHile, bUT I finaLly NotIced thaT Mom and dAd wErE MISsIng from this scene of FaMILy TogetherNess. I pUShEd THe popcorN bOwl At DrEW And stOod uP, CaReful not To crusH My PoPcorn chAiN

I founD tHem In tHe dinINg roOm drinKing a cup Of cocOA and talking quiETly to each otheR. i sTARtED to bAck Out of the rooM, but THey wElcoMEd Me iN And MoM stooD tO GeT More cocoa. I sat across FrOm Dad aNd he lOoked into my eyEs and shook HIS Head with A sigH ThAT sounded like a lAugh. "YOu're gettinG Old, kid. YoU look So tired."

"IT has been a LONg day," a loNg cOupLe oF weEKS aCtually.

"So let's GET the LoWdown," DaD haD placed His ElbOws On tHe Table and wAs leaninG fOrWaRd. he mEant bUSiness; thIs WouLd Be mY PPI fOR this tRip. "HoW are ClAsSEs gOing? WhaT GrADEs arE yOu ExpeCtiNg This sEmesTEr?"

MY grades Weren't goiNg tO Be as StElLar as I hAd hoped. I was prEtTy sure that i hAd bOmbed oNE Of my finaLs because I was out of it. "Not TOo bad, I gUesS. I reaLly lIked my recReaTion clAssES and my d&C clasS was iNtEreSTIng. I tHINk My fInAnce class iS GOinG to be At LeasT a B, whicH I'm happy with. Plus, my CHecKbook has never BeeN so oRGAnIzeD."

"goOD, hoNeY," mom SAId, handing me my coCoa. "What aboUt GUyS? You talked SO muCh About AnDy we halF expeCTed you tO bring him Home for ChRiStmaS." i WinCed. I hadn't tHought thIs
. There was always the las t minute s hoppi ngand  d ecor atin g. With any lu c k, I  could just absorb all  that  g o od f a mi ly ti me to f o rt i f y m eag ain st th e chi llI was f eeling now .
Iwas not disa p po inted. Sur e e nough, Mom h adme dee pinh olida y a ctivi ties t w o hour s after I  w a lked i n  the fr o n tdoor . As the hour gre w  l a te, all my sib lingsga t he r e d a rou nd the TVfo r a m o vie. Iw as s c run c hed in betwee n Matt andD rew . As I  t rie d  to ma ke alo n g p opcorn stri ng,the big b owl in my lapw as occa sional lyinv aded by  t hetw i ns. Th eys eem ed to be  e at ing m ostl y o u t of  ha bitbecau se they would  cr inge atits b landtast eas so on asit hi ttheir mouth.

K elly  jumped a rou nd  th eroome xcited  fo r t he fest ivities ,  it  w a s alittle reminiscent  o f Ja ckie and  I smi l ed .T he twins  g rum bled a  fewtime s  a s she go t in t h ewa y of wh at  theywe rewat ching .  Ittook a  while,but I finally notice d  that Mom and Da d we r e mi ssi ng from thi s sc e ne o f fa m il y t o gethe rness .I  p u shed the popcorn bo wl  at Dr ew an d stood up, c areful not t o  crush m y po p co r n chain

I fou nd th em in thed ining ro om dr inking a  cup of c o c oa and t alk ing  qu iet l y  t o each other. I  sta rt ed to b ack  out of  th e r oom , b ut  they wel comed me  i nan dMom  stoo d  to getmo reco coa . I s a t acro ss fr om D ad  a n d h e looke d  i n t o my  e ye s an d s ho ok hi s he a d w ith a s igh thatsou n dedli ke  a laug h. "You're ge tt ing old, k id . Y ou loo k so tired ."

"It has been a long day," a  lo ng co uple  of weeks  ac tually .
" So let 's get  thelo wdo w n ," Da d ha d p la ced his el b o wson th etabl e and w as leaning forward .  He  meant busine ss;  thi s wo uld be myPP I  fo r this trip. "How  are class es go ing? Whatg rad es  are yo u expec tingt his sem ester?"
My grades  w eren ' t  go ing to beas stell ar as I h a d hop e d.  I wa s p rettysu rethatI hadb omb ed on e of m yfinals  beca us e I wasout of it. "Not too bad , I gu ess.I r eally lik edm y r ecreation  cla sses and m y D &Cclass  wa s  inte rest i ng . I think  myf inance cl a ss  is g oi ng to be at l e ast  a B,  wh i ch I'm  hap py with. Plus, my checkbook hasneve r bee n s o  org an ized."

"Good,  ho ne y , " Mom sa id , handing m e my coc oa .  "Wha t abou t guys ? You t a l ke d  so mu ch a bou t Andy we  ha lf expecte dyo u  to br inghi m home  for C h rist m a s." I winced. Ihadn' t thoug h t t his
. There_was always_the last minute shopping_and decorating._With_any luck,_I_could just absorb_all that good_family time to fortify_me against the_chill_I was feeling now.

I was not disappointed. Sure enough, Mom had me deep in_holiday_activities two_hours_after_I walked in the front_door. As the hour grew_late, all_my siblings gathered around the TV for a_movie._I was scrunched_in between Matt and Drew. As I tried to_make a long popcorn string, the_big bowl in_my_lap_was occasionally invaded by_the twins. They seemed to be_eating mostly out of habit because_they would cringe at its bland taste_as soon as it hit their_mouth.

Kelly jumped around the room_excited for_the festivities, it was a_little reminiscent of_Jackie and_I smiled. The_twins grumbled a few times as_she got in_the way of what they were_watching._It took a_while,_but_I finally_noticed that Mom_and_Dad were_missing_from this scene of family togetherness._I_pushed the popcorn bowl at Drew and_stood up, careful not_to_crush my popcorn chain

I_found them in the dining_room drinking a cup of cocoa_and talking_quietly to_each other. I started to back out of the room, but_they welcomed me in and Mom_stood to get more_cocoa. I_sat_across from Dad_and_he looked_into my eyes and shook his head_with a_sigh that sounded like a laugh._"You're getting old, kid._You_look so tired."

"It has been a_long day," a long couple of_weeks actually.

"So let's get the_lowdown,"_Dad_had placed his elbows on_the table and was leaning forward._He meant business;_this would be my PPI for this_trip._"How are classes going? What grades_are_you expecting this semester?"

My grades weren't_going_to_be as stellar as I_had hoped. I was pretty sure_that I had bombed one of my finals because_I was out_of it. "Not too bad,_I_guess._I really liked my recreation classes and my D&C class_was interesting._I think my_finance class is going to be at least a B,_which I'm happy with. Plus, my checkbook_has never been so organized."

"Good, honey," Mom said, handing me my_cocoa. "What about guys? You talked so much_about Andy we half expected you to_bring him home for_Christmas."_I winced. I hadn't thought this