Summary

A week before Christmas, Daniel prepares the house with handmade Christmas decorations cut out of gold and green paper. Daddy says that Daniel is "funny" because he likes "making house nice and that" (67). During Christmas Eve, Daddy does not return for lunch and his absence worries Daniel who thinks he should venture out in the copse to find him. He imagined that Daddy might have hurt himself by slipping on one of the tools, axes, machetes, and saws that he brings on his trips. Daddy appears at the door and invites them to walk outside with him. Daniel, Daddy, and Cathy walk by the treeline of evergreen pines and contemplate the shadows and lights cast by the lantern against the trees. They walk back to their house in silence. On Christmas morning, they go out and see the Christmas tree again, a tree...