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Show yu. Stephanie dusted off the cash register and the counters nearby- her regular tidying up-then knelt to straighten the Snoopy rack she'd set up the night before. Even the Christmas carols are distorted, she thought, as the music from the public address system outside wavered and finally failed. "God bless us, everyone!" a man blustered into the shop behind her. She stood quickly, turning to face him. "Oh, it's you, Garth. Merry Christmas!" "Where's that brother of yours?" he growled, stamping the snow off his feet. "I've been all over looking for him!" "Really?" Stephanie glanced at the wall clock. "He could be on his way to work. Did you try the restaurant?" "Just did. I probably missed him." "Is something wrong?" "Not yet. I wanted to talk to him about that scholarship portfolio. The other kids have theirs in. His and Chic's are the only ones left." Mrs. Eagleton walked up the narrow aisle from the back of the shop. "Well, look who's here!" "Hi," Garth grinned. "Figured I'd badger your help while I had a chance." "Be my guest!" Kay winked at Stephanie. "Say, did you notice our window out front? Stephanie did that. Isn't she marvellous? I've had that merchandise in a dusty box under the cash register for a year. She found it yesterday and created that beautiful piece of nostalgia out there." "Well, it certainly caught my eye," Garth said. "What's all this excitement about a scholarship?" Kay asked as she pulled out a stool for Garth to sit on. "Well . . . JD, you know, is hoping to win a National Scholastic Award. It's full tuition to any four year college and two of our students will get it." "Goodness, that's worth working for," Kay said. "Does he have a chance for it?" "So far. He and the Wilcox boy have been running neck to neck on grade point. Both had high scores on the ACT. But darn, he's gone to pieces over this UFO thing." |