Harry splayed his tiny hands across the plexiglass of the 'Santa's Workshop' display at the corner of the Jasper Shopping District. "Gee, mom," Harry mused, not taking his eyes away from the store, "Look at that." He was referring to a small toy train in the corner of the display. Addie wiggled down from where she was hoisted up in my arms, so she could see what Harry was looking at. She pressed her stubby toddler nose up against the window, and fog crept up around her face from her hot breath against the cold glass. "Can I get it, ma?" This time, he turned to look at me. He made his eyes big and his lower lip bigger, and slipped his small hand into mine. I glanced up at the store. "It's closed, Harry," I pointed out. "I want the doll," Addie declared, stepping back and stumbling into me.

"Why is it closed, ma?" Harry inquired. "Well, I don't know. I suppose it isn't Christmas, and Santa Clause is off duty," I attempted to justify. I tugged Harry and Addie along by their raincoats, tearing them away from the toy shop. "Your brother and your dad are waiting for us at Homestead Court." Six paces up the street, Addie wanted to know, "Ma, where home-said-fort?"

"Homestead Court," I corrected her, "is just around the corner, dear."

"Why are daddy and Laurie up there, ma?" Harry asked, placing his thumb promptly into his mouth. I tore his thumb out of his mouth, and answered, "Daddy was looking for a crib for Laurie."

"Why do we need a crib for Laurie?"

"Because he's a baby, and when you were-

I stopped mid-sentence when Addie tore away from my grip, and sped off into a nearby department store. "Addison!" I shouted, taking after her. Harry followed me halfway in, but stopped when he saw another toy train in the toy aisle of the store under a huge, cardboard 'Buy One, Get One Free!' sign. "The train! It's the same train, ma!" he exclaimed. I quickly grabbed Addie from the coat aisle, and had a stern talk with her that involved a lot of finger-wagging and brow-furrowing.

Back in the center of the store, I found Harry, who was examining the trains carefully. I took him by the collar and dragged the both of them out of the store and down the street. Addie resisted weakly, uttering, "But mommy." Addie whined all the way to Homestead Court, dragging her feet along the pavement. "Mommy, my shoes is untied." I ignored her, trying to keep my sanity. "They untied, ma! Look!"

About twenty paces later, I gave in and sat her down on a bench. While I was lacing her shoes, I praised Harry, "Thank you for cooperating with your sister today."

Harry gave a boyish shrug and smiled his six-year old two-front-teethless smile. "Your welcome. It was alright, ma." Then, he stuck his hand into the pocket of his trousers, and pulled out something. He held his grubby fist out to me, and opened it slowly. In the palm of his hand was a small, red train. "Harry, where did you get that?" I asked, alarmed.

"From the store, it was 'Buy One, Get One Free'. And I picked the 'Get One Free' part."