Ford thought about carrying Dipper out of the woods and to the nearest hospital. It seemed like the most logical solution. The longer they spent out here, the lower Dipper's chances of survival would get. But they had walked for hours and perhaps miles out and while Ford had grown older in the years since adopting Dipper and Mabel the kids had grown bigger. Maybe back then he could have but nowadays, he could carry them for short periods at a time. Add onto the howling wind and flurries of snow, he had concluded that their safest option would be to stay put and wait for help.
"It really hurts…" Dipper whimpered.
"I know buddy, I know, but help will be here soon…I promise," said Ford. But deep down, he had no idea if that was true, but he had to keep Dipper hopeful.
"This is such a waste of time," Janice mumbled as Stan trudged through the snow in the Stan-mobile. He was now regretting not buying those snow tires as Ford had begged him to do.
"No it's not Janice…just think of it this way, with the Stan-mobile we can get your precious Christmas tree home faster," Stan sarcastically quipped. Quite frankly, he was wanting to tie her up onto the roof just so he could have a few moments to drive in peace and quiet.
"Well excuse me for wanting to give my niece and nephew a traditional Christmas!"
"We were happy celebrating Hanukah…" Mabel eventually managed to whisper.
"Oh Mabel you simply thought that you were happy…but everyone knows that Christmas is the superior holiday!"
"Why does one have to be any better than the other? Can't we just celebrate both without criticizing the other?" Mabel asked.
"Because bigots like Janice have to think that the way they do things is better than everyone else's way of doing things and if we don't follow them, we're the wrong ones!" Stan outright stated.
"I am not a bigot! I just know what I like! What's wrong with that?"
"Nothing's wrong with it Graunty Janice, but why does everyone have to like what you like? We have as much of a right to like what we want as you do. What's best for you may not be what's best for everyone. Dad used to say that our differences are what makes us the strongest."
"Well…I think that your father was wrong…" Janice said quietly.
Mabel was finally starting to have anger build in her very loving heart. Janice could get away with saying many things, but when it came to her father, Mabel was finding it harder and harder to not burst that built up anger out.
"Well…I think he was right! And so did my mother!" Mabel said in a passive aggressive tone.
"Don't you think that I know that Mabel? I am fully aware of the choice she made! She chose him over me! I'm fully aware that I lost…I lost her long before she passed away! I just didn't want to lose you and Dipper the same way…" she managed as her voice cracked and she began to cry.
Mabel felt the anger in her wither away as she heard that.
"You didn't have to lose her Graunty Janice…She didn't want to lose you, she just wanted to share you with our dad, and with me and Dipper. It's you who didn't want to make any changes…it makes us feel like you love your traditions and yourself more than you love Dipper and I. Why can't there be enough room in your heart for all of us? Not just for mom, but for dad, Stan and Ford and Christmas and Hanukah? Why do they have to be at war with each other? Why can't we all be friends? Why can't the world just learn to get along?!"
Janice wished that she had an adequate answer for the girl, but she knew that she didn't. What she did know was that she suddenly had a deep urge to at the very least find Dipper. Deep down, even she was beginning to worry. She may end up alone at the end of this holiday, but she wanted to be alone with the knowledge that those she loved were safe. After all, they were the only family she now had left.
