When Lolly woke up, Fluff was snuggled up beside her. The sun was just beginning to light her room. In a few hours her Geometry final would be behind her. She could not wait. She had no expectations of any good grade. With this class passing the final with a high C was her realistic hope. The best part of the day, would be after school. After five long weeks, Pa would be home. She knew she would have to share him, but that was okay. All that really mattered was that soon he would be on his way home.

Mitzi came in to help her to pick her Armor of the Day. Lately, Lolly had been choosing most of her own clothes, but to face Geometry she needed to bring in the big guns. Mitzi chose black jeans, a black sweater and black chucks. Lolly thought she looked like a burglar but she didn't protest.

The ride to school was like every ride to school that week. Munch sat beside her completely silent glaring at the world. It was Thursday. This morning he was the only storm cloud on her horizon. Fortunately, he had opted out of going to the family dinner, Grandma Toady was preparing that evening.

At school, Munch went his way without a word. She and Trevor went to the library for some last minute studying. When the bell rang, Lolly headed to P.E. There wasn't a final in that class, so she sat in the locker room and studied some more. When it was time for Geometry she knew she would never be more ready than she was now. She just had to face this dragon and then she would be on her way home to Pa.

The final was super hard. Lolly's brain felt squeezed dry when she finished. There was only a few minutes left before the bell rang. Next, she would have to endure Munch's presence until, he got off the bus. When the bell rang she made a dash into the hall. She really wanted to get on the bus before Munch did. By luck or grace she managed to do so. Too soon Munch arrived. Never had he felt so very far away from her. How long was he going to keep this up? She was so annoyed with him. He was such a brat. Right now, this minute, what she really wanted to do was punch him for real, not those jabs she gave him when he embarrassed her or she was frustrated with him. What she wanted to do was deliver a real solid punch with her knuckles. It would probably hurt. Also, it was not the best way to start the Christmas holidays. Hitting never solved anything and she was determined not to let him ruin her afternoon with Pa. If he could freeze her out, she could freeze him out. She turned her gaze to the front windshield. In the reflection of the glass, she could see Munch. He really did look miserable. Why couldn’t he just accept what was happening? Why was he making himself so unhappy? It wasn’t like Pa was the Big Bad Wolf.

The bus stopped. As Trevor passed by Lolly on his way out, he gave her shoulder a squeeze. “Looking forward to meeting your Pa,” he said.

“He’s looking forward to meeting you too.” Well, at least she hoped Pa was.

To Munch, Trevor said, “See ya, man.”

Munch didn’t respond. Due to Trevor’s association with Lolly, Munch had not been speaking to him either. Trevor shook his head and headed for the door. Just before he got out, he mouthed, “I’ll call you.” She nodded. He gave her a sympathetic look and got off the bus. The door rattled shut.

Soon, they would be at Munch’s stop. He would get off the bus and if she was lucky she wouldn't see him again until Christmas Day, if he came to Christmas Day at the trailer. When the bus reached Munch’s stop, he didn’t get off. Mrs. Anderson didn’t ask why. She shrugged and drove on. Lolly started to ask, but then she stopped herself. Her first thought was that maybe there been some change in Munch’s cold little heart. Her second thought, the more likely thought, was that he was going to rumble. She prayed she was wrong.

The bus pulled into the trailer park. Mrs. Anderson said, “Happy Holidays you two! See you in 1976!”

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Lolly returned the greeting, Munch did not. He walked ahead of her to the trailer. His whole body was rigid and she noticed his fists were clenched. He was going to make a scene, and like Mitzi, he really knew how to make a scene. When he passed his mom’s little Volkswagen Beetle he literally glared at it, like the car would care. As he passed Pa’s truck, his threw back his shoulders and marched to the front door.Grandma Toady opened the door and said, “Hello Munch. Didn’t expect to see you.”

Munch said nothing. Lolly followed him inside, behind her were Max and Kevin. Well, if Munch let it rip, he would have a built in audience. Lolly forgot all about Munch the instant she saw Pa. He got off the couch and wrapped her in a big hug. Against his neck she said, “Don’t ever be gone for five weeks again. I forbid it.”

Pa chuckled and said, “I missed you too Short Cake.”

From behind Lolly, Munch growled, “Why do you call her Short Cake? She’s a person not a dessert.”

Okay, that was weird. A challenge had just been thrown down. Pa released Lolly and replied, “It’s a term of endearment and you know that.” His words were met with absolute silence. Lolly refused to turn around and look at Munch. Pa said, “Munch, I think we need to have a talk. Just us. Let’s go out on the porch.”

“Nope, not happenin’.”

Lolly turned around. Over the years she had seen Munch in many, many moods. This went deeper than just a mood. His anger was palpable. In his eyes was hate. Why had he allowed hate to fester inside of him? Hate was poison.

Pa was a patient man. In a gentle voice he said, “I can’t force you to talk to me and I’m not going to try, but we really do need to talk. Just us.”

In a voice of barely controlled anger, Munch said, “Hell will freeze over first.”

Without missing a beat, Pa said, “Then I will bring mittens for Satan and wear my coat.”

Okay, that was a weird too. Max and Kevin were trying to choke back their giggles. Mitzi, who had been silently watching from the kitchen door, said, “Munch, you are so mean. I want Aunt Estelle for my Aunt. I want to live on your farm and I want you for a cousin, at least I did.” Then, she started to cry. She ran sobbing and buried her face in Grandma Toady’s apron.

Grandma Toady picked Mitzi up and said, “Michael, in my house, children respect their elders, and their elders respect them. If you can’t behave respectfully, I will drive you home.”

From the shelter of Grandma Toady’s arms, Mitzi said, “Oh, you are gonna get it now.”

Because of his long association with Grandma Toady, Munch knew better than to tangle with her. He turned to his mother and commanded, “Mama take me home.”

Estelle rose from the couch. To everyone’s surprise, including her own, she said, “No, Grandma Toady has already offered you a ride home. If you won’t take it then you can walk home or sit on the front porch until I am ready to leave. I was invited for supper, so I am staying for supper.”

Munch glared at his mother. “Then, I will WALK.”

She glared back and said, “Go ahead.”

The look on Munch’s face was one of confusion. His mother was not responding the way he had programmed her to. He said, “You would let me walk all the way home?”

With more firmness than Lolly had ever heard Mrs. D—, Estelle use she said, “There is no let to it. The choice is entirely yours. You can let Grandma Toady take you home, be here with us and have a good meal or you can pout and walk all the way home.”

With one swift look, Munch took in the faces of everyone present. It was clear no one was on his side of this argument. He mumbled, “I think I will just go sit in the car.” He turned around and left the trailer.

Trembling, Estelle stepped into Pa’s arms. “I am so sorry about that.”

Pa held her close and said, “You don’t need to apologize for Munch. He is old enough to take responsibility for his own actions.”

With tears in her eyes, Estelle buried her head in Pa’s shoulder and whispered, “You’re right.”

Fifteen minutes later, when no one was paying attention, Lolly looked out the front window. Munch was in the car, but he was not alone. Kevin and Max had joined him. It looked like Munch was pretending to drive and they were on some kind of road trip.

An hour later, Aunt Jessie came in with her famous Chocolate Pie. With pie in hand, she gave Pa a hug. “Good to see you big brother.” She smiled at Estelle and said, “I didn’t know you were here yet.”

Estelle asked, “Didn’t you see my car? It’s parked behind Trace’s truck.”

A look of confusion crossed Aunt Jessie’s face. She said, “Uh, no. I parked behind Trace.”

All the color drained from Estelle’s face.

Mitzi ran to the front door, and opened it. Loudly, she exclaimed, “Munch took your car!”

Sure enough the red Volkswagen was gone.