"
To me she whispered, "Now, hon, lift up your chin and say
it."
I started to look up, but I saw the churchful of people. I
looked down at my feet, trying to think what to do. If I were
home, I could crawl under Grandma's bed. I tried to think some
more. The churchful of folks were still looking. If I could just
be a crawfish instead of a Christmas tree, I could scoot
backwards and hide behind the curtain! But Aunt Vic had stepped
back there. She motioned for me to take my finger out of my mouth
and say my piece.
"Christmas is-" she whispered.
"CHRISTMAS IS A-COMING," I started. "And, and, uh-" I looked
back at Aunt Vic.
"The goose-" she whispered.
"CHRISTMAS IS A-COMING.
"THE GOOSE IS A-GETTING FAT!
"PLEASE PUT A PENNY IN THE OLD MAN'S HAT!
"IF YOU AIN'T GOT A PENNY,
"If you ain't- If you ain't- If-" I had to look at Aunt Vic
again. She whispered, "Half penny."
"IF YOU AIN'T GOT A PENNY,
"A HALF A PENNY'LL DO.
"IF YOU AIN'T GOT NO HALF PENNY,
"GOD BLESS YOU!"
A roar of laughter swept the whole church, and everybody
started clapping hands, even the school kids behind the curtains!
The clapping kept swelling louder and louder till it waked
Ginger.
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