Winter break begins and Melinda's mother leaves a note for her to put up the tree. Melinda misses her childhood when there was a feeling of magic at Christmas time. She thinks her parents would be divorced by now if it weren't for her. She tries to imagine what Heather would do to decorate for Christmas and sets about making the house more festive.
On Christmas day, Melinda and her family exchange presents. Included in the gifts from her parents are charcoal pencils and a sketch pad; they've noticed she's drawing. Tears fill Melinda's eyes and she almost tells them her terrible secret. Her parents wait, sensing that she has something to say, but Melinda feels there's a snowball in her throat. She can't speak and the moment passes.
Two days.....
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