6

Gee, Merry thought, as she sat with Jackie and Graham later, this is like a day spent entirely in restaurants.

It was the holidays. A lot of people were home for a brief visit, which usually resulted in huge get-togethers at great long tables at restaurants.

This, Merry thought, is our best technique to cram everybody in in as short a time as possible.

Graham said something.

"Geez, I'm sorry," Merry said. "I was daydreaming." She realized her mind was on Jackie's remark from that morning.

"Why do you have to be so nasty towards everyone all the time?" Jackie had asked.

"Because, Jackie," she had answered. "Gro Harlem Brundtland killed my family with a scabbard, that's why!"