December 14: 1968

11 days until Christmas…

"Lily, don't do that," Petunia said out of the corner of her mouth.

Lily let the scrap of paper fluttering from hand to hand glide down the aisle.

"I said stop it!" Petunia whispered forcefully.

"Why? It's not hurting anyone," Lily reasoned.

Petunia reached over and yanked the paper away. "Mummy told you not to, and besides, someone might see." She glanced nervously around the small church, her blond braids thwacking Lily in the face.

"Petunia!" Lily whined.

Mrs. Evans gave her daughters a stern look.

Lily scowled and edged as far away from Petunia as possible for the rest of the preacher's droning sermon.

The sun was out, scattering iridescent sparkles over the snow, which was soon dirty and trampled as people left.

"I'm going to the lake to skate," Petunia announced.

Lily jumped up. "Ooh, me too!"

"I'm going. I as in me, and just me," specified Petunia.

"Dad, I want to go, too!"

"Petunia, she only wants to come because she wants to be like you," Mr. Evans whispered, kneeling down so he was at her level. "That's how little sisters are."

"Well, I wish she wasn't my sister!"

Mr. Evans chuckled. "You don't really have a choice."

Petunia rolled her eyes. "Come on, Lily."

"Yay!" Lily shrieked, skipping alongside her all the way to the frozen stretch of ice.

"Stay near the edge," Petunia warned, lacing up her skates.

Lily wobbled unsteadily away from her older sister. "You can't tell me what to do!"

Petunia sighed and pushed off, gliding back and forth on the edge nearest the woods and practicing small leaps and twirls. Closing her eyes, she could imagine her skating teacher offering a steady stream of advice and encouragement.

And three… two… one… jump! Good landing! Now turn to the right… Not too soon, dear.

She opened her eyes and realized she hadn't heard from Lily in a while.

"Petunia, look!" Lily called, waving as she skated in small circles in the center of the lake.

Petunia skidded to a halt. "Lily, get away from there!"

"You're not the boss of me!" Lily gave a small hop on her skates.

Crack!

And then Petunia was watching her little sister disappear beneath the ice.

"Lily!" she raced to the edge of the hole and kicked off her ice skates.

"Petunia, I'm scared!" Lily cried, coughing and spluttering in the freezing water.

So am I! , Petunia wanted to yell, but she forced herself to stay calm.

"Grab my hand," she commanded, lying down on her stomach to distribute her weight on the thin ice.

Thank goodness, Lily had the sense to listen, and Petunia dragged her onto thicker ice.

"Don't you ever do that to me again!" Petunia said, taking off her coat and wrapping a very drenched Lily in it.

Lily looked about to cry as she said in a small voice. "I'm sorry."

"You better be."

The two girls trudged home. Mrs. Evans was frantic, but calmed when she decided that no lasting damage was done.

They were settling in for bed that night when Lily whispered across the room, "Petunia, I'm glad you're my sister."

Petunia smiled into the darkness. "Lily, I'm glad you're my sister, too."