When we got home from school, Mom announced to Mary and me, "Your father and I are doing some Christmas shopping after supper. You two are going to be...watching the three youngest tonight." OK," said Mary, in her usual agreeable way. I just nodded.Mom turned to me. "You still have a few hours to amend your Christmas letter."The Arthur part of my brain was feeling much better, so I took the opportunity. I listed several books that I wanted to read and then at the end, in a what-the-hell moment,. The tag said it was a size six, and I was seven pushing eight, but I thought I could make it work. “Well,” she said, noticing that the purple dress had caught my eye. “Put it on.” I started walking toward the closet, but Cindee stopped me. “I mean here,” she said with that famous smile. “I won’t tell anyone.” Cindee went off to the bathroom to finish her hair, and I started taking off my jeans. I was immediately happy I’d chosen to wear some nice lingerie instead of the boring cotton stuff I. ”“If this was for her and for me, what about you?” I asked.“If we decide it’s right, then it will be for you and me. But not now; not today.”“What about your parents!”“What about them? If I’m happy, they’ll be fine.”“How can you be happy with this?”“Because I could be her for you. It made me happy to be her for you. This time.”“So, what do we do now?” I asked.“Well,” she said, laughing softly, “I suggest you take a shower and then we have breakfast. You have a train to catch.”“I meant about. As i was weeding the garden i heard my mother call my name i turned my head to see what she wanted i thought oh great more chores to do . My mother came out side and told me after i was done with the garden i was to head over to my neighbor Steve's house he had an attic that needed to be cleaned out. I knew this day would not be a fun one more work on top of what i had already done. Steve was my friend Terry's father Terry had been sent to live with his mother Amy as soon as school let out part.