Chapter 16
When Polly’s brothers came for Thanksgiving, they had brought along strange items that she had requested. However, she wouldn’t divulge her plans. During the month of December, Mildred received the same mysterious shrug each time she questioned the long-johns and socks soaking in red or green dye in a couple of discarded buckets Polly had found at the hospital. Her roommate presumed these things had to be part of Polly’s exuberant Christmas spirit. Shortly after Thanksgiving, her roommate began decorating their apartment until Mildred finally wondered, “What are you doing, competing with Bucks and Innes’s?”
“No, silly. It’s just the first time I’ve ever had any money to buy anything, and I want Christmas to be special. I’m so tired of people being sad because of this stupid wa
