When she left, Anita took Mom's valise, the round one with the wooden handle from Eaton's department store. Mom was furious. She'd had it on hold at the store for weeks while she earned enough to pay ... [+]
In just three days, it will be Christmas. Despite the bright and cheery decorations twinkling in the streets, wreaths on doors, and Christmas trees peeking through windows, Hector doesn't feel one drop of joy or excitement. The magic of Christmas seems to have evaporated this year. People passing one another on the street do not wish each other Happy Holidays, smile, or even make eye contact. They simply rush by with their heads down and eyes straight ahead, their minds preoccupied with their to-do lists and avoiding human interaction.
Hector doesn't even feel Christmas Spirit from his own f