The Farmville herald. (Farmville, Va.) 1957-current, 1960-12-23
By SHIRLEY SARGENT

I'VE can't 60 home for Christ
mas" Bart Stockton scowled,
looking from the checkbook out
the huge window at the joshua
trees SO he wouldn't have to meet
his wife's eyes.
Peggy Stockton's eyes were a
deep blue that contrasted with
her short honey-blond hair. Usu-
ally her eyes sparkled. but now
they reflected establishment, sor-
row and then welled with tears.
'Oh, Bart" she cried, "are you
sure we can't manage a trip to
Wisconsin"
Grimly he said, I'm positive
we can't even afford a holiday
week end in Los Angeles. Our
first Christmas together will have
to be right here on the desert"
Hard Luck
No snow" Peggy was staring
out at the hot sand. mo family.
no fire in the fireplace why
can't we go by bus if we can't
afford to fly?"
Hon. look around you'll" Bart
was tall. tanned, crew-cut and.
at the bleak moment, careworn
beyond his twenty two years.
We're broke because we bought
the air conditioner and the TV
and because I'm not a good
manager.
The Stockstons had been mar
ried in September and came
straight to the modern, cement |
brick "hideaway" which consi- !
tuted the managers headquart- |
ers at the big desert trailer park |
belonging to Bart's father. They
had swum, sunbathed. hiked and !
riden horseback, weather permit
ting. reveling in the relaxing at
mosphere of palms. joshuas. end
less sand. and week ends at Lake
Tahoe and Las Vegas. That and
each other had been enough until
they had begun thinking of fami-
ly. friends and winter with a GER
tain inconsistencies.
Once determined on a won
derful' Christmas to- match the
rest of their life. Peggy ordered
4 tree. greenery. lights and holly
and told Bart how much it all
would cost. I'VE can't do it and
vand home presents too" Bart
exploded
I'VE can borrow" Peggy said
leatedly. ITS bad enough not to
go home At least. we can have
tree. Your father will under
stand"
"Oh, sure he will" Bart said
bitterly. Hell understand his
own son is such a poor manager
he can't even live on a gener-
GUS salary"
Hush" Peggy chung to him.
We're quarreling! You're right,
we must economic even if we
celebrate Christmas without a
tree
Visiting
That night she did some think
ing about Bart's job, their future
and the need for economizing.
The next day she visited some
Of the trailer and then spent sew
eral mornings off on the desert.
Surprised
He came home early that after
noon to find Peggy on the patio
surrounded by tumbleweeds. egg
shells. pieces CT manzanita and
tin cans. What's this trash do
ing here?" He sent a tumble
weed sailing with his foot.
Don do that! These things
are our Christmas decorations,
not trash!"
Christmas decorations! Are
you crazy?"
Peggy laughed. Il guess it
looks like it. but one of the
trailer women taught me how to
scavenge. III just spray this
tumbleweek white. then paint |
these egg shells blue and hang
them on it. Well make a pictur- |
esque cardle no d Ter out of |
crooked manzanita. Then Ill
spray :"
Bart stopped her again with a
kiss. You've convinced me that |
we'll have the snazziest decora-
tons and l have the prettiest |
wife on the whole desert"
When we're through" Peggy |
murmured. there II be two good |
managers in our family. not just |
one. ard we'll give Santa Claus
a hand"
Bart sighed happily. Hand me
that can of spray"