A/N: So sorry I didn't put an author's note or disclaimer in the first chapter! I kinda forget sometimes...okay a lot. Long-term memory stuff is not one of my strong points. Anyway, huge thank you to Flying utterly for reviewing even though I didn't ask! Not that I'm going to object to reviews of course.
Disclaimer: I don't own anything, all rights to Jeanne Birdsall. I'm not good at clever disclaimers, so be prepared to listen to a bunch of lame and pathetic ones.
"Batty? Baaaa-tyyyyy!" Iantha's voice drifted into Batty's head, worming its way into her dreams. Batty turned over and blinked sleepily.
"But, Iantha, I'm tired…" Batty yawned.
"I'm sorry, Battykins, but you should get up now. Your father has something special planned for today."
"What is it?"
"I can't tell you."
"You could." Iantha laughed her beautiful laugh that Batty loved and scooped her up and began to tickle her. Only when Batty was breathless with laughter did Iantha stop.
"All awake now?" she asked. Batty nodded, still catching her breath. Iantha carried her downstairs and set her at the kitchen table.. All her sisters were there eating breakfast, plus her father.
"Where is Jeffrey?" asked Batty, worried that it had all been a dream. "And Cagney?" Iantha smiled reassuringly.
"They're still sleeping."
"Can I wake Jeffrey up so he can eat breakfast with me?"
"Best to let them get their rest, Battykins." Iantha moved to the cupboard to get some Cheerios for her, even though Batty could make her own breakfast now. She could even make cereal without spilling the milk on Hound's head. Speaking of Hound, where was he? Batty slipped out of her chair and padded down the hallway to the mudroom just outside the back door. Sure enough, there was Hound eating breakfast with his nose buried in his bowl. When he saw Batty, he rushed over and proceeded to say good morning by licking her face. Batty giggled and towed him back to the kitchen, where she curled up under the table with him.
Resting her head on Hound's back, Batty listened to the familiar morning sounds contentedly; Daddy talking in Latin, Skye and Jane arguing about what to get Jeffrey for Christmas, Rosalind humming by the stove, the sizzling hiss of frying eggs, and Iantha opening the refridgerator for milk. There were familiar smells, too, of egg yolk and Daddy's coffee and Hound's fur.
Suddenly Iantha's slipper-clad feet appeared next to Batty's empty chair.
"Where could Batty be?" That was Iantha's voice. Batty stifled a giggle.
"She's under the table." Batty frowned and crouched behind Hound. Skye had to ruin everything, didn't she?
"No, no Batty here." That was Iantha's voice again. "I guess I'll just have to eat her cereal for her." At that, Batty clambered up onto her chair.
"Here I am, Iantha!"
"Yes, so you are," remarked Iantha, setting down a bowl of Cheerios. "Eat up; you have a big day ahead, or so your father tells me." Batty was happily scooping cereal into her mouth when Jeffrey and Cagney came thumping down the stairs, with tousled hair and still in pajamas.
"Jeffrey!" Batty leapt out of her chair and tugged Jeffrey's hand. "Sit next to me!" Jeffrey obliged.
"I suppose I'm just chopped liver, huh?" said Cagney mournfully, but his eyes were sparkling. Batty hugged his knees. "Don't be silly, Cagney." Cagney grinned and ruffled her hair.
"Silly? I'm the silly one?" He said. Batty giggled. "Now, Battykins, where can I get some breakfast around here?"
"Don't you worry about that," said Iantha, sailing across the kitchen with a big platter of bacon and eggs. "It might not be Churchie's, but our Rosalind has some cooking talent, too." Rosalind glanced up from her perch near the kitchen stove, saw Cagney, blushed and turned away again. Batty frowned. She hoped that Rosalind would still love Tommy while Cagney was here. Batty liked Tommy very much, even though he made her do football drills sometimes.
Mr. Penderwick pushed his chair back and stood up.
"All right, troops, now that everyone's here, I have an announcement to make." Everyone looked up. "Now, Christmas is in six days, and I have noticed that we are missing something important. Any guesses?"
"Food."
"Reindeer."
"Churchie."
"No, no, no. Since it is my and Iantha's day off, I have decided that we should get a Christmas tree!" After all the exclamations of surprise and approval had faded, Mr. Penderwick spoke again. "So, today we are going to the Cresser's Tree Farm, near where Eleanor and Franklin are, right Batty?" Batty nodded, her eyes glowing. A Christmas tree! The Penderwicks had never had a real Christmas tree before, always using a fake one that Hound had somehow knocked over and chewed half the needles off last Christmas. "Iantha will be staying here to take care of Ben. Cagney will be, too, as he wants to read some books on the native flora that I have. Does anyone else want to stay?" Nobody raised their hands. Mr. Penderwick laughed. "We'll be leaving soon, so finish up your breakfast." Batty ate the last of her Cheerios, happy thoughts running round her head. They were going to get a Christmas tree!
"Bye, Iantha!" Jane called, waving out the window. Iantha waved back, already a distant figure on the doorstep.
"Roll the window up, Jane, it's freezing," grumbled Skye, even though she was bundled up in a quilted jacket, boots, gloves, and her camouflage hat. Jane rolled up the window obediently, then turned to Jeffrey, who was in between Batty and Skye.
"Did you have a Christmas tree at Arundel, Jeffrey?" she asked. Jeffrey looked thoughtful for a minute.
"I think we used to," he said. "When I was little, I remember marching around a gigantic tree in the entrance hall and playing with the little antique ornaments that Mother probably spent a fortune on."
"How did she feel about you playing with her ornaments?" Skye snorted.
"I don't think she minded very much, until one Christmas I think I wanted to get to the top of the tree, to see the star. I was climbing up the branches when it started to tip over. I leapt off and landed safely, but the tree fell over and smashed all the ornaments on one side. I was sent to my room that time."
"Do you still have a Christmas tree?"asked Rosalind from the passenger seat.
"No. Now, Mother and Dexter go off to fancy exotic places for their holidays. This year they're going to the Bahamas after their fancy ball. It's almost as if they want to get as far away as possible from me." Jeffrey stared out the window, thinking. Batty spoke next.
"I would never want to get away from you, Jeffrey. Especially not on Christmas." Jeffrey smiled at her.
"Thank you. That means the world to me, Battykins."
"We're here!" said Mr. Penderwick, slowing down. Jane hopped out and looked eagerly at the snow-covered fields dotted with tall evergreens. What a promising place of adventure! Sabrina Starr could hide from the security goons here! Oh, wait, but that happened in the city…oh well. Jane was itching to pull out her notebook.
"Look, that's Eleanor and Franklin's barn!" Batty pointed across the fields to a big red barn. "Oh, Daddy, can we visit them?"
"Maybe later, Batty. Let's get this tree first." Their father picked Batty up and, placing her on his shoulders, made his way to a small log cabin not far from the road. Skye, Jeffrey, Jane, and Rosalind followed.
The log cabin had a cheerful red front door that Mr. Penderwick rapped twice. In a moment, the door was opened by a lady with short brown hair. There were crinkles by her mouth and eyes that Jane knew immediately were caused by smiling. Batty bent down from her perch on Mr. Penderwick's shoulders to whisper in Jane's ear.
"She looks nice."
Jane agreed. This woman certainly did look nice. Just the kind of person who could listen to Sabrina Starr's adventures and give constructive criticism to a budding writer.
"Hello, I'm Martin Penderwick," said her father, offering his hand. The woman shook it.
"Margaret Cresser. You can just call me Maggie." She smiled at the children, and Jane felt warmth in her smile. A real kindred spirit!
"Hello, Maggie. We're looking for a Christmas tree." said Mr. Penderwick.
"Please, help yourself." said Maggie, gesturing towards the field of trees. "Do you need help?" Mr. Penderwick shook his head.
"Thank you, we'll be fine." he said turning to go. Jane tapped him on the shoulder.
"But, Daddy, we don't have an axe or anything. How will we chop the tree down?" Her father looked distracted, then turned back to Maggie sheepishly.
"Uh, could we actually borrow an axe or something?" Maggie smiled and disappeared for a minute before returning with an axe.
"Here you go," she said, handing it to Mr. Penderwick.
"Thank you. Batty, why don't you hop down now." suggested Mr. Penderwick, bending down so Batty could get off. But Batty was hardly listening. Jane turned and saw that her sister was staring at a tortoiseshell cat peering out from the edge of the log cabin. Batty ran over and extended her hand to the cat, who stared at it for a moment before nuzzling the hand with her head.
"Batty, come on," said Skye impatiently.
"No, it's alright. I'll stay with her." volunteered Rosalind, bending down next to Batty.
"Okay." Skye shrugged, then turned to Jeffrey. "Race you!" They took off, kicking snow up in small clouds. Jane smiled and leaned against her father.
"I love this Christmas so far, Daddy." Her father put an arm around her.
"Me too, Jane-o."
Skye collapsed against a tree trunk, panting hard.
"No fair! You tripped me back there."
Jeffrey smirked at her.
"Excuses, excuses. You probably tripped over your own feet." Skye launched herself at him, and they scuffled around in the snow for a few minutes. Jeffrey ended up on top, and Skye was stuck uncomfortably close to him, so close she could feel his shallow breaths against her skin. Jeffrey stared back, and Skye felt her cheeks begin to heat up.
"Yoo-hoo! Over here!" Jeffrey quickly scrambled off of Skye, who retrieved her camouflage cap (it had been knocked off) to avoid looking at Jeffrey. Jane was waving at them from a tree little ways away. Skye and Jeffrey walked over, staring in awe at the huge tree.
It was gigantic, stretching into the sky at least a foot taller than the trees around it. It looked proud and majestic, the king of trees. Skye shook her head. What was she thinking? She was starting to sound like Jane.
"Think this is the one?" asked Mr. Penderwick.
"Definitely," said Skye, Jane, and Jeffrey at the same time.
"Alright." Mr. Penderwick swung the axe off his shoulder and struck the tree, which quivered. Again and again.
"The proud tree king was surprised. He had never felt a blade before. But Sabrina Starr was going to use any means necessary." narrated Jane.
"Shut up Jane," said Skye, tackling her sister. They rolled over and over in the snow until Jeffrey shouted "TIMBER!" The sisters rolled out of the way as the tree as it crashed to the ground.
"The mighty tree king has been felled!" hollered Jane, jumping around. This time Skye and Jeffrey tackled her.
"Steady, troops." said Mr. Penderwick, lifting up part of the tree. "I'm going to need some help here." They all rushed to help him carry it back to the log cabin, where they found Rosalind and Batty still petting the cat.
"Her name is Heidi," Batty told them, her eyes shining. "Maggie told me." While Mr. Penderwick payed Maggie for the tree, Jane, Jeffrey, Skye, and Rosalind hoisted the Christmas tree onto the top of the car and secured it with ropes.
"I bet it'll fall off in the middle of the road." predicted Skye, climbing into the car.
"The tree king was still crafty, even when parted from his army of minions." muttered Jane. Jeffrey tickled her, and then Skye started tickling her from the other side Batty shrieked as Jeffrey began to tickle her, too. Packed to the brim with happiness and Christmas spirit, the Penderwick car headed home.
A/N: Please please review! It's one of my first fics, so please no flames or anything. REVIEW