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Show -238- "All r i g h t , " he said. "Is anyone having a martini?" "Your xrife i s , " his daughter replied with a smile. His xrife walked through the door, sipping a martini on the rocks• "Make mine s t r a i g h t up," the Professor said. "Of course, xrhat else?" his Son-in-laxr said, already through the door xrith the drink in his hand. Just then, too, the music came on xrith a blare of sound. "Turn i t doxm! Turn i t doxm!" his daughter shouted. The sound diminished to a recognizable level: The Txrelve Days of Christmas. "Mother!" his granddaughter exclaimed. "I'm sorry. I didn ' t know i t was turned so loud. "Okay," her mother replied. "I'm sorry too. It startled me, t h a t ' s a l l ." They a l l settled doxm. The table had been set in the 6%yon d front room, just >*W4&«r the kitchen door. The Professor's xrife and daughter sat on txro of the s t r i g h t chairs beside i t . His Son-in-law, a f t e r pouring the txro children soft drinks, spraxrled on the floor near the h i - f i . They a l l sat s i l e n t l y as the sentimental music soared through the room. The children sat near the tree, s t i l l looking longingly a t the g i f t s . The Professor's daughter finally spoke: "Hoxr did your xrriting go t h i s xreek?" He told her he thought i t had gone well. "One more week," he said. "God knoxrs xrhat i t will be like |