CHAPTER 15

 

“I’m glad you read that story during the appetizers, Daddy,” Nancy said. “That was a little too gory for me. Can you read another one? This is fun, even if the stories are pretty awful. I’m glad I’m not reading them at night alone in my bed.”

“Really,” Nick said, dipping his remaining shrimp into his sister’s cocktail sauce. “From what I hear you’re never alone in bed.”

“Oh shit,” Jack said under his breath.

Nancy turned on Nick. “At least I’m not failing all my classes! You’re such an asshole.”

“Enough!” Judy yelled and held up a hand at Dan who was about to interject. “We’ll discuss this tomorrow. You two are not going to ruin my Christmas dinner with your bickering.”

Jack popped a roll into his mouth and started to speak.

“And you...” Judy pointed her finger at him. “...don’t talk with your mouth full.”

Jack swallowed hard. “Sorry, Mom.”

Nancy turned to her father. “Daddy, can I read the next story?”

“Maybe we should eat first,” Grandpa said.

“I have to know what the next story is,” Nancy said, a little too vehemently.

Dan nodded at his daughter. “Yeah. Me too. We’ve broken every other tradition today... Why not? Any objections?”

The family didn’t say a word. Even Judy begrudgingly gave in. “What’s next, Nancy?” she asked.

Nancy took the book from Dan. “A Cabin In The Woods.”