The Van Pelts had always lived modestly, and even though their children were rapidly growing into that phase of their lives where they were making more noise and consuming more resources, never once had it occurred to their parents to relocate to a slightly larger abode. Nevertheless, this was probably for the best, as doing so might have negated the events of these few days entirely. In any event, even with three children, the Van Pelts were able to live in relative comfort, a fact which baffled Lucy considerably. Perhaps Rerun's ongoing stint as an exchange student in Belgium had something to do with it; with one of their children currently making himself comfortable in Europe, their parents were able to focus more completely on their two elder children, who had of course remained stateside. Lucy didn't much care for any particular explanation; all she really wanted was to get away from this godforsaken state as soon as possible. Minnesota had never been for her, anyway; once she finished up at the local community college in a few years, she was gone.

Rather than concerning ourselves with further exposition, however, it would be best for us to pick up where we last left Lucy. As she entered the main room of her home, she distinctly heard voices and laughter emanating from Linus' room. Immediately deducing that her younger brother was once again on Skype with Sally (since that was the only person she knew he ever talked to besides her and his parents), she snuck closer to the doorway, trying to avoid being heard. She did this all the time; it was often funny to listen to Linus making a fool of himself in front of the girl he'd not so long ago completely despised.

"...So anyway, Sally," he was saying, "were you able to work out a plan to come out here for Christmas?"

"Oh, Linus," came the reply, in a sad tone that wasn't entirely fake. "I tried my best, but my parents wouldn't let me. I guess it was just too far. Brother's home for winter break, and I guess they just wanted to have some time with all of us together. Sorry…" Even though Lucy knew this story to be patently false, she did admire the fact that she was at least trying to keep the secret alive.

"Oh…" Linus sounded deflated. "Well…I guess that's how it goes. It just wasn't in His plan, I guess."

"Yeah…but at least we can still talk to each other on Christmas, right?"

"Of course, of course. I have to go, but we'll talk again soon, okay?"

"Okay! Love you, sweet babboo!"

"Love you too," Linus chuckled as he ended the call. It was all so saccharine that Lucy couldn't help but feel sick. Who even decided that this would be a thing anyway?

Suddenly, she heard Linus say: "Okay, Lucy, I know you're there. You can stop hiding now."

Lucy chuckled mischievously as she strode into the room. "How do you always know I'm there?" she asked, somewhat rhetorically. She tousled her brother's hair. "It's like you're some kind of psychic or something."

"I am not," he said, completely missing the joke, as always. "I just know you well enough to know when you're up to something."

"What?" Lucy gasped in fake shock. "How could you say something like that? Have you no faith in your big sister?"

"It isn't a joking matter, Lucy. How am I to know that you aren't secretly preparing for another one of your pranks?"

"Oh, come on. I got you good enough with the last one that I'm set for a while. Relax a little."

Linus rolled his eyes. "Well, fine. But if we have another mishap like that, I won't be happy. I'm still cleaning shaving cream out of my ears from that one, you know." He twirled in his chair. "So anyway, where have you been?"

"Oh, you know, just on a walk. It's actually a nice day out, at least by most standards. You should have come with me, maybe got some fresh air. It would have been good for you."

"I don't think so."

"Oh, come on. You need to do something besides moping around your room all day. It isn't healthy to feel so down about everything."

"I'll be fine, Lucy. I'm just going through a rough patch…" He sighed. "This, too, shall pass. It's like it says in Psalms: 'The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles.'"

"Psalms 34:17." Lucy had heard him recite this verse countless times in recent weeks; it had become a mantra of sorts. Hardly Christmassy in her opinion, but this was Linus; he could find Biblical meaning in just about everything. For all she knew, he had a verse prepared for every scenario he could possibly encounter. She wasn't quite sure if that spoke more to his spirituality or to his stubbornness. It didn't matter, honestly. "Look, I can't make you do anything you don't want to do. But try to do something to make yourself happier, won't you?"

Linus sighed again. "Okay, I'll try. But I don't know what good it'll do. It's getting harder every day." He turned back to his desk, where his Bible lay open. He flipped through it a bit, before coming to a specific page he'd dog-eared. "'Do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand…'"

Lucy left quietly as he continued to read the verse. She knew he was doing his absolute best to cope with his loneliness—or at least what he claimed to everyone else to be loneliness. But he could be so stupid at times. How could he be so lonely when he had his family all around him? And surely, as a senior in high school, he had enough social ability to have at least a few friends to his name...right?

At least she could take comfort in the fact that before too long, he'd learn that his girlfriend and his old best friend were in town. It seemed almost cruel to keep the secret, especially considering recent developments, but a promise was a promise. Even though she didn't quite understand it, maybe there was some sort of solace to be taken in that after all. As silly as this whole Christmas thing seemed to her now, Lucy couldn't help but be reminded of the Christmas pageants she and her friends all put on as a child. Back then it was so much easier; nobody ever worried about people moving away or leaving. It was a simpler time.

Simplicity was something that had been sorely lacking the last few years, but with any luck, maybe a little bit would come back soon.