CHAPTER 11

 

“Wow! What a crazy story!” Nick said. “High body count.”

“Yeah,” Nick added. “And it kind of made me hungry.”

Nancy looked at him in disbelief. “You just ate like half a dozen doughnuts and four eggnogs, coffee and brandy...”

“But I can smell the turkey.” Nick stuck his nose up in air and took a long whiff. “Maybe you and Mom should start getting everything—”

“Me?” Nancy said. “Why? Because I’m a girl, I should have to ‘stay in the kitchen?’ I don’t think so. What’re you gonna do, you lazy—?”

“Enough,” Dan said roughly.

Nick and Nancy glanced at each other.

“I think it would be nice if everyone helped me with dinner this year,” Judy said, causing raised eyebrows from Grandpa and Jack.

“A new tradition,” Judy said. “I’ll make you a deal, Nick. I’ll let you have one more eggnog and we can have Grandpa read to us while we fix dinner.”

“How come he gets to read?” Jack asked. “I could do that.”

“Age has its benefits, my boy.” Grandpa laughed.

“Listen, Nick,” Dan said, rising unsteadily to his feet and stretching. “Let’s read one more story and then help your mother with dinner. You can even read this one.”

“Alright, I guess so. What’s it called?”

“‘Tis the Season To Be Wicked.”

“Sounds good.” Nick took the book from his father.