CHAPTER 8: DO I HAVE TO?
Howard pulled himself away from the game only long enough to give his wife a confused look and ask, "Ice? Why would we need ice? We're drinking eggnog!"
"The children need ice," Roberta said. "They're drinking soda. Do it for the children. Okay?"
A look of comprehension suddenly lit Howard Gordon's face as he exclaimed "Oh! The children! That's right. I see." Then, more quietly, "Do I have to?"
"Yes," Roberta said, leading him to the front door. "You have to. Don't be long. We'll be right here, waiting for you."
Sighing in defeat, Howard trudged out of the house.
"Hey!" Lizzie exclaimed, looking up briefly from the jigsaw puzzle she was working while she waited for her turn to take on the Donkey Kong champion of Gordo and Matt's current game. "Gordo, where's your dad going?"
Lizzie was a precocious child, so often acutely aware of the emotional state of those around her. She had sensed a negative vibe surrounding Gordo's father, and hoped everything was all right.
Gordo, of course, was in on the deal. He knew exactly where his father was going, but he was sworn to secrecy. So he glibly rattled off, "I think I heard something about needing ice."
Lizzie considered. "Why would we need ice? We have an icemaker. There's plenty of ice here. Isn't there?"
Annoyed by Lizzie's innocent question, Gordo replied, "I don't know, Lizzie. Do you think I have some kind of inside path to the way grownups think? Well, guess again! I don't."
Gordo's disproportionate annoyance with Lizzie's question was brought on by a deep sense of guilt. He hated what his mother was making his father do! But he had been told it was necessary, after his own sloppy reveal of The Santa Secret earlier in the week. Gordo did not agree with this plan, and felt terrible that he was the reason his father had to engage in this ridiculous behavior, but what could he do? Mom had spoken. He just had to grin and bear it. And play along.
"But your dad didn't look too happy," Lizzie insisted. "What do you think could be the matter?"
"How should I know!" Gordo exclaimed in exasperation. "And what does it matter anyway? You know how it is with grownups. It's always one thing or another. There's always some stress, some crisis going on in their lives. At least that's what my parents are always saying."
"Well, I don't like it," Lizzie replied firmly. "I want everybody to be happy. Especially at Christmas."
Gordo rolled his eyes again, causing him to momentarily lose control and his cart fell off the track.
"Ah ha!" Matt cried, jumping up and down. "I win! I win! I AM the Donkey Kong King!"
"Yeah, you win," Gordo said dejectedly.Beaten by a four-year-old.
"Not so fast!" Lizzie reminded her little brother as she bounced up off the couch. "You still have to play me. Gordo! Move over!"
Several things happened in the next moment. As Gordo stood up to relinquish his seat to Lizzie, he realized his father had now left the house and his mother was walking back into the living room. He also noticed that Mr. McGuire was heading towards the small downstairs bathroom, muttering something which Gordo did not understand about a lizard. But he did understand this was going to be his only opportunity to NOT BE HERE when his father returned in that ridiculous suit.
"Well, as long as I'm up," he announced. "I guess I'll go visit the restroom. D'oh! Sorry! Your dad got there first! Well, I'll just go upstairs!" And in a flash, he shot up the stairs.
Once on the quiet upper landing, Gordo moseyed into the bathroom, but try as he might, he could not legitimize the visit. So he zipped up his pants and went to the far end of the hall, hiding in Lizzie's bedroom, in an attempt to avoid hearing the squeals of delight that were sure to follow his father's return through the front door.