76 THE CEDARVILLE REVIEW Jake’s Journal by Hannah Fultz December 20, 7:30pm The first time Mom told me, I almost didn’t believe her. “No,” I said. “We’re not going this year, Mom. We’re not.” “Excuse me, what did you say?” said Mom. She had heard me, all right. “Oh, I’m sorry, I wasn’t speaking loud enough. I said, we’re not going!” I snapped. Mom got that no-nonsense look on her face when she answered. “Yes,” she said firmly, “we are. We’ve spent every single Christmas in a cabin in the mountains. We started the tradition before you were born. If Dad and Lucy were still here, they would want us to.” If Dad and Lucy were still alive? But they’re not. “If you want to go, you can go,” I told her. “I’m going to stay home this year. Twelve years is old enough for you to trust me by myself for a week.” Mom set her mouth into a hard line. “Jacob Thomas Anderson,” she said, using my full name, which she hardly ever used. “This topic is not up for debate.” She
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