said Tatep, his eyes widening. “Clarence Doggett, is it not?” When Marianne nodded, Tatep said, “Are you about to get your head shaved again?” Marianne laughed enormously. “If I do, Tatep, this time I’ll paint my scalp red and green-traditional Christmas colors-and hang one of Killim’s glass ornaments from my ear. Not likely, though,” she added to be fair. “Clarence doesn’t go in for head shaving.” To Nick, who had clearly taken in Tatep’s “again,” she said, “I’ll tell you about it sometime.”@ Nick nodded and stuck another nut between Clarence’s jaws. This time he watched as the nut gave way with a explosive bang. Still laughing, he handed the nutmeat to Tatep, who ate it and rattled his quills in laughter of his own. Marianne was doubly glad she’d invited Tatep to share the occasion-now she knew exactly what to make him for Christmas. ### Christmas Eve found Marianne at a loss-something was missing from her holiday and she hadn’t been able to put her finger on precisely what that something was.
