Bug gives a little grumble in your lap, holding up a piece of paper that does not look the way it should."Messed it up," she mumbles, voice as soft as the snow outside the window.You take the piece of paper and try to keep from smiling. The would-be star is missing one of its arms and another looks more like a tumor. "It's a little off," you agree. "Want to try again?"Bug looks more upset than you expected, her cheeks puffing and eyes narrowed. "Just mess it up again." She isn't wrong... She's only four - it's natural not to have the dexterity required for the task. Especially using these unwieldy children's safety scissors."Here," Kimberly says from the kitchen, coming toward you both and taking a sheet of brightly colored paper from the stack. She sketches a large eight-pointed star with her artistic hands, then folds it neatly in half. "Try this one, Lils."Bug frowns at it, tilting her head. "Gra'ma said they're s'posed to be little stars.""Well Grandma doesn't live in this house, and we can put whatever size stars we want in the window," Kimberly says with a little wink at you. "And I think we should have all sizes. Big and little.""Your mama's right," you say, bouncing the girl on your knee. It's harder than it used to be - she's getting so big so fast. "Grandma Flor doesn't make the Christmas rules."Bug considers this before grinning, taking the offered star, and painstakingly cutting along the line Kimberly created. You and your sister watch her work - the cut is wavy in places, but the star keeps its limbs.Bug unfolds it, beaming. "Look!" she exclaims. "I did it!""Beautiful!" Kimberly praises, leaning down to press a kiss to Bug's crown. "Which window do you want to put it in?""The black one," Bug exclaims.You see Kimberly stiffen; it matches how your muscles bunch, going tight.Bug is referring to the small glass insert beside the kitchen door. The one you keep a black drape over so the light can't draw the Woods' attention."Why?" Kimberly asks, her tone sharper than you've heard in a while.Bug doesn't seem to notice. "'Cause hol'days are for 'eryone," she parrots Florence. "That means the tree people, too."Florence definitely hadn't said that part.Kimberly swallows, gaze latching onto yours. There is an unfettered horror there."Have you... seen them?" you ask, scared to hear the answer. "The tree people?"Bug shakes her head in the negative. "Josie did. She said they were waving at her. She said she thinks they're prolly nice.""Don't go to Josie's house," Kimberly snaps so suddenly that Bug flinches."Just don't go without us," you soften the fear, but you feel it. You feel the terror that's coloring Kimberly. "Make sure I'm with you. Or your mama.""Or Papa?" Bug presses."Or Papa," you agree."Or Gra'ma?""Right.""Or Ann'ka?""No," Kimberly says before you can agree. "Only us, your papa, or Grandma Flor. That's all."Bug pouts but doesn't argue, little fingers toying with the star. "Can I put the star on the black window?""What if we drew some cute candy canes on it, then give the star to your papa?" you offer, trying to distract the girl from the Woods and its denizens. "I bet he'd love it.""Papa loves candy canes!" Bug exclaims."He does," Kimberly breathes in relief. "Let's do that. I'll get the crayons, one second."
You wrap Bug into a tight hug, listening to her babble, and focus on calming your pounding heart.
The woods are waking up again, and they've noticed one of the children. One of Bug's friends.
At least it isn't Bug.
At least there is time.