On Christmas Day, Kit was happy to be surrounded by her family and friends. Mother and Dad were sitting at the piano while Mrs. Howard, Sterling, Ruthie and her parents sat around the living room. Kit smiled as she looked at everybody. The heat in their home was warm compared to the snow outside. When her mother starting playing "Silent Night," Kit sang along.

"Silent night, holy night. Round yon virgin, mother and child." By the third line, everybody was singing. Even Dad and Mr. Smithens.

"Would anybody like coffee?" Mother asked as the song ended.

"I will take a cup Margaret."

"So would I." Mr. Smithens said.

"Do you have any tea?" Mrs. Howard asked.

"We do."

"I'll go help you and make some." She said.

"We'll all go Margaret." Mrs. Smithens replied and they walked into the kitchen. Kit walked over to Ruthie.

"I'm glad your family agreed to spend Christmas with us."

"My parents have spent more time around in the last few weeks because of what happened." Kit nodded.

"My brother's over there now. He had to go because of the war."

"A lot of things changed after they bombed Hawaii."

"I miss Charlie, especially at the holidays." Ruthie nodded. Mother walked back in with two cups of coffee, three teas and two mugs of cocoa with extra marshmallows. She handed the cups to the girls.

"Here you are Kit." She smiled.

"Thank you."

"Thank you Mrs. Kittredge."

"You're welcome girls." She sat down and everybody started talking. Dad cleared this throat.

"Something we started as a Christmas tradition since the Depression was to talk about what we're thankful for. Would anybody like to start?"

"I would Mr. Kittredge." Sterling squeaked out. He looked around the room. Kit winked at him. "I'm grateful to be with my mother and have such wonderful friends as Ruthie Smithens and Kit Kittredge." They smiled. Mrs. Howard put her hands on Sterling's shoulders.

"I have my wonderful son with me and through the Depression you were always there for us Margaret. You and Howard let us stay with you and you will never know how grateful I was for that." Both Mother and Dad nodded. There was a slight smile hiding on Mother's face. Mr. Smithens stood up.

"I'm thankful for the roof I had for my family as well as my kind and wonderful daughter Ruthie and my wife." He kissed Ruthie's mother's cheek.

"I'm thankful for my safety." Mrs. Smithens stated. "There are people other there fighting so we can be free here and I want to thank them." Everybody nodded as Ruthie stood up.

"I'm thankful for my friend Kit. No matter how bad things got, I knew I could always go to her house and things would be better." She smiled at Kit. Kit put down her cocoa and sat up, but never stood.

"I'm grateful for Mother and Dad. Aunt Millie, Sterling and Ruthie, even Uncle Hendrick. They are the reason why we're able to stay here in Cincinnati. Dad may have had to leave if it wasn't for Mother's great idea and I'm glad we're still together."

"Thank you Kit." Mother's eyes were with with tears. Then Dad adjusted himself on the piano bence.

"I'm thankful for my family. My wife Margaret and our children Charlie and Margaret Mildred "Kit" Kittredge." He paused. "There is so much I could state as the Depression ends. I'm thankful to have my car dealership and to be able to support my family again." He squeezed Mother's shoulder. The sound of the front door caught Kit's attention, but when her older brother Charlie walked in he motioned for her to be quiet. She sat there sitting on her hands waiting for her mother to speak.

"I have a great deal to be thankful for, I have good health, my family, my home," she got teary eyed, "I just wish I could see my son for Christmas. I want to make sure he's okay, but he could be anywhere." Her back was to him as he walked over and hugged her. When she realized it was Charlie, she started crying. "Oh Charlie. How'd you get here?"

"They gave me a two day leave Mother. I had to come see you for Christmas."

"I'm glad you did." She tried to wipe her eyes.

"It's so good to have you here Charlie."

"I'm glad to see you all." His eyes twinkled looking at his little sister. "Kit." She rushed over and he grabbed her in a hug.

"I missed you Charlie."

"I've missed you too Kit."

"This really is a Christmas blessing." Sterling interjected. Kit nodded.

"That's what it is. A Christmas blessing."