The door opened and a short plump lady with a kindly face asked if she could help?I blurted nervously that I was expected but apologized that I was a ...ittle late.The lady smiled sweetly "Straight through to the end door and knock and wait"I said a weak Thank you and walked the narrow passage to the dark painted door.My memory stirred to the past and the dreadful walk to the headmaster's office and that same dread feeling returning of impending punishment.I knocked meekly twice....A male voice. Mak kept an eye out as they walked, looking more worried as the sun dropped lower."What are you looking for?" Jewel asked. "What's wrong?" Nothing's wrong." Nothing that wasn't already wrong, anyway, he thought to himself. "I've just been hoping to spot some kind of cave where we can spend the night."They finally had to settle for a dry hollow under a fallen tree. They had lost everything but their clothes to the Krostens, but Mak had picked up some poorquality fragments of flint in a stream. Fran kissed me and ran off to her class, leaving Denise and me alone."Let me guess," she started. "Your dad had a 'conference' this weekend, right?" Yes, he did," I replied. "And, if it is my turn to guess, your mom did too?" Precisely!" Denise said. We both laughed."And this morning we are told the two families will be together for Christmas?" she continued."Yup, that's what I'm told," I chuckled."Do they really think we haven't got them figured out?" she asked."Well, I think they still kid. With a light snow in place the view was even better than normal. She made me sit in the truck and look out over the valley for 30 minutes before we entered the cabin. The limited lights of the valley and stars on the snow were very mesmerizing and Sherry just nuzzled into me and marveled at the various constellations. When we got into the cabin, I told her I needed to stoke the stove and she replied, "Why? it is already hot." I know," I laughed, "but I need to get the fire roaring in the cabin.