“Butwhy?”Mandy gasps.
“It’s beautiful,” Mike says.
“Bears are always naked,” says Mandy.“Why’s it embarrassed?”
“Maybe it’s embarrassed that it’s skiing,” Lucy says, tiara still on her head.
I turn to Hunter, laughing so hard I can barely talk.
“Did you steal this from the ski resort gift store?”I ask.
“No,I bought it from the ski resort gift store with my employee discount,thank you very much,” he says.
“Hunter,” Jennifer says, pointing.“You’re my new favorite.Did I tell you guys about the dog door?Gertrude can get in and out butnot the raccoons.”
“Babe, I’m right here,” Carl says dryly.
Jennifer kisses him quickly, and we allawwbecause of alcohol.
“Babe, I know you’re the father of my children, but you didn’t fix the dog door,” Jennifer explains.
“Good to know what the hierarchy is,” Carl says.
“Whose turn is it?”Mike asks.
Carl holds up his slip of paper with the number five on it.
“I’d take the sign but it’s coming home with me anyway,” he says.
Mandy holds up the toilet paper, and Hunter holds up the sponges that turn into dinosaurs.Carl considers them for a moment.
“I’ll take my chances with the pile,” he says.
An hour later,we all leave the Rusty Beaver.It’s not snowing now, but there’s a light dusting on the ground, and we’re all bundled up as we leave.
“You’re driving, right?”I call to the sober-seeming Carl as Jennifer looks at the bear sign again and laughs.
“Definitely,” Carl says, looking at her.“Don’t worry.”
“I’m notdrunk, I’m tipsy and excitable,” Jennifer says.
Carl puts a hand on her back and they walk toward the only car on the street.
“Merry Christmas!”Jennifer calls over her shoulder.
“Us or him?”Lucy asks.
“You make it sound sodire,” I say.
“Choose wisely,” Lucy says.
“That’sfromLord of Rings, right?”Hunter says.
I put one hand on his arm.
“That’s fromIndiana Jones,” I say, petting his arm.“You tried.”
He sticks his tongue out at me.
