The Holly Joliday (5 page)

“Mrs. D. sure was surprised,” Mom said.

“Yeah, she kept saying ‘mouse,’ and Stink didn’t come out.”

“My snowflake got stuck in the door to the stage!” said Stink.

Ding, dong.

“Could that be the pizza man
again
?” Dad asked.

“I’ll get it!” called Stink. He raced out of the kitchen and opened the front door. Stink could not believe his eyes. It was Jack Frost, live and in person!

“One more package for the Moodys got left behind in my truck,” Jack said. “Thought it might be important.”

“Wow!” said Stink, taking the package. “I never knew the mailman came at night!”

Jack Frost laughed. “At this time of year, we work long hours.”

“Thanks!” said Stink. “So you think it might snow tonight?”

“Never say never,” said Jack. “Might be making snow angels and having snowball fights yet. Well, gotta go. I still have a lot of work to do!”

“Goodbye, Jack Frost! Have a Holly Jolly Day! I mean a Holly Joliday! I mean a Jolly Holiday!

“Did you hear that?” Stink asked his family, coming back into the kitchen.

“We heard you wishing somebody a holly
joliday.
” Judy cracked up. “Who
was
it?”

“Jack Frost.”

“Not again,” said Judy, rolling her eyes.

“Who’s Jack Frost?” Mom and Dad asked at the same time.

“You guys don’t know who Jack Frost is?” Stink asked.

“He’s the new mailman,” said Judy.

“And he brings snow,” Stink added. “And tonight he brought us a package. Can we open it? Can-we-can-we-can-we?”

“Hmm. No return address on the box,” said Dad. “Must be from Grandma Lou.”

“She already sent fruitcake,” said Mom.

“Maybe it’s a yule log,” said Judy.

“What’s a yule log?” asked Stink.

“
Yule
never know!” Judy cracked up. “Just open it, Stink!”

Stink ripped the tape off the box. Inside were two squishy packages — one marked for Judy, and one for Stink. They tore off the wrapping paper.

“Mittens!” said Stink. A green pair for Stink and a red pair for Judy.

“Fa la la la la,” said Judy. “I’d rather have fruitcake.”

“That’s weird,” said Stink. “There’s still nothing that says who they’re from. Just a note that says, ‘You’ll need these when the snow flies.’”

“Ooh — it’s a mystery,” said Judy.

“Maybe they’re from Jack Frost!” Stink said.

“So now Jack Frost knows how to knit, too?” Judy snorted. “Stink, why would the mailman give us a present?”

“He’s not
just
the mailman,” said Stink.

After pizza, Judy and Stink went into the playroom. Stink stared out the window. Judy decked the halls with Christmas-in-Hawaii stuff — she decorated the blow-up palm tree from the holiday show with origami surfboards, sailboats, and sea horses. She hung a string of pink flamingo lights. Even Mouse got to wear a grass skirt and fake flower
lei.

Stink pointed to the black sky. “I think I see some clouds!”

“I think you’re seeing stars, Kimo,” said Judy.

“I wish every one of those stars was a snowflake,” said Stink. He sighed. “I hope it snows by midnight. Jack Frost said —”

“Stink,” Judy said, craning her neck to look up at the sky, “give it up. No way is it going to snow by midnight.”

“Wanna bet?” asked Stink.

“Sure,” said Judy. “But if I win,
you
have to eat fruitcake.”

“Okay, but if I win, you have to help me build a snowman.”

“Deal,” said Judy.

“Hey, wait just a minute!” said Stink. “How will you know if it snows by midnight? You’ll be in bed, sound asleep by then.”

“No way,” said Judy. “I’m waiting up.”

“Cool yule!” said Stink. “Me, too!”

8:12 p.m.

“No way am I drinking this!” Stink sniffed the yucky-smelling stuff in his Santa mug.

“It’s coffee,” said Judy. “That’s how you stay awake.”

“Coffee! Bluck! I’d rather drink a cup of mud.”

“Just try it,” Judy told her brother.

“Dad, are we allowed?” asked Stink.

“Go ahead. Try it,” said Dad. “It’s a special occasion.”

“C’mon, Kimo,” said Judy. “You go first.”

Stink stared into the dark murky liquid. He took a sip.
Bluhhh!
He spit it into the sink. “It tastes like tree bark,” said Stink. Dad grinned.

“Tree bark?” said Judy. “There must be other ways to stay awake besides drinking tree bark.”

8:43 p.m.

Judy and Stink played all the holiday CDs they could find. Mom and Dad sang along to “Frosty the Snowman,” “Jingle Bell Rock,” and “Winter Wonderland.” Stink and Judy sang the Grinch theme song at the top of their lungs:

9:15 p.m.

They took turns reading aloud all the books in the house about snow.
Owl Moon
and
The Snowy Day
and
Snowflake Bentley.
Dad even recited the poem “Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening.”

“All these snowy books are making me sleepy,” said Stink.

“All these snowy books are making me cold,” said Judy. “Brrrrr!”

9:23 p.m.

Mom and Dad wrapped more presents. Judy and Stink played fifty-two-card pickup about fifty-three times. “No fair. How come you always get to throw them, and I always have to pick up all the cards?” asked Stink.

9:36 p.m.

“I have a game for us, Stink. I’ll ask you a question, and you say, ‘Freak of nature.’ Ready?”

“Ready, Freddy.”

“What’s another name for a blizzard in Virginia?”

“Freak of nature.”

“What’s your favorite subject in school?”

“Freak of nature.”