The Next Generation
Chapter 1: Dreaming of a White Christmas
“Merry Christmas, Dad,” Brad Sturgis said into the phone, trying to keep the homesickness from showing in his voice. “I know Christmas isn’t for a couple of days but I just thought I’d check in.”
This was Brad’s first Christmas away from the Bennett-Barnes household since David and Andy had taken him in and adopted him following the death of his parents when he was in high school.
“How are things at home? Is Claudia up?”
Claudia was the family’s Christmas tree. It had been a family tradition to name their Christmas trees. Claudia was a seven-foot, artificial blue spruce, and decorating her each year was a major family event.
“Brad!” Dad David Bennett exclaimed. Then Brad heard, “Andy, it’s Brad. Pick up the extension!”
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