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The Magic Sleigh Bell
he became, the less patience he had with the kids, and it took an
extra effort to not speak harshly to them sometimes. It was better not to say
anything.
Travis and Natalie, each wondering about
the origins of their unusual find, watched silently as their father disappeared
around the side of the house. Lost in thought, they dutifully raked and bagged
the leaves for the trip to the composting depot.
Travis had stuffed the bell into his back
pocket and forgotten about it by the time they had put away the rake and dashed
out of the cold, into the house.
Their father had surprised them with a cup
of hot chocolate to warm them up, though he did not stay around to share it
with them. Instead, he had gone to the makeshift desk in the basement to review
his job application file and the "CAREERS" section of the weekend newspaper.
Natalie was busy with her colouring book,
and Travis was thinking of his next hockey game when he shifted in his chair
and felt the bell in his pocket. He pulled it out and studied it for a while.
He was about to make a sarcastic remark to his sister, when he suddenly had
second thoughts and decided not to. It wasn't like him to pass up an
opportunity to tease her, but when he thought about this little bell and
whether it had been in the eavestrough... well then, if so, how did it get
there?
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