Tuesday, December 16<\/p>\n
So, who do we have going with us today?<\/em> Schrodinger asked, coming into the kitchen from the porch. Wet snowflakes still clung to his fur, and he smelled slightly cold.<\/p>\n Molly, Drew and Pavel were seated at the kitchen table, sipping tea. The remains of breakfast (empty plates, because Molly had made egg sandwiches) were piled in the center of the table, waiting to go in the dishwasher.<\/p>\n \u201cWell, that depends,\u201d Pavel said. \u201cWhat are you planning on doing today?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWorking,\u201d Drew said regretfully. \u201cBut at least I\u2019ll be home tonight at a decent hour.\u201d He got up, stretched, and went to fill his thermos with more tea. \u201cFor the last time until Saturday, anyways.\u201d<\/p>\n Molly winced. The week before the Snow Queen\u2019s ball was always hectic at the Station, and even this year, despite the lack of snow and cold, traffic had already picked up. She wondered if this year was going to be the last ball ever.<\/p>\n Pavel was looking at her, so she said hastily, \u201cSchrodinger and I have to finish up our Christmas shopping today in the Cove.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSo you\u2019ll need strong arms, yes?\u201d Pavel flexed his muscles thoughtfully. \u201cI think I can handle that.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAre you sure?\u201d Molly warned him, giggling a little. \u201cHave you seen me Christmas shop?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cShe\u2019s got a bigger list this year too,\u201d Drew said, looking over at his friend and grinning. \u201cYou might want to bring a companion.\u201d<\/p>\n Pavel looked dubious until Schrodinger piped up, And that doesn\u2019t even include MY list!<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll tell the boys to bring the carriage,\u201d Pavel said resignedly, and Molly and Drew couldn\u2019t help themselves; they burst out laughing at the look on his face.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll make dinner for you afterward,\u201d Molly promised, giving him a hug. \u201cWill that make up for putting up with Schrodinger and I dragging you from store to store all day?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat depends,\u201d he said, eying her. \u201cWhat\u2019s dinner?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s two steaks marinating in the fridge,\u201d she told him, and his eyes lit up. \u201cAnd I\u2019m making mashed potatoes, and honey-glazed carrots.\u201d<\/p>\n And there\u2019s a blueberry pie in the freezer!<\/em> Schrodinger said excitedly. And vanilla ice cream!<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cSold!\u201d Pavel said. \u201cI never pass up blueberry pie.\u201d<\/p>\n As soon as Molly loaded up the dishwasher, they left in Pavel\u2019s carriage. Drew had left before them, promising to be home in time for dessert, if nothing else.<\/p>\n It was still snowing, but the roads were clear, so Pavel\u2019s carriage had no issues. Molly leaned back against the seat and sighed. \u201cI could get used to this,\u201d she admitted.<\/p>\n If we had a pony, we could do this more often,<\/em> Schrodinger said.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re not getting a pony,\u201d she told him.<\/p>\n Why not?<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cBecause we don\u2019t have time for a pony,\u201d Molly said. \u201cAnd that\u2019s final.\u201d<\/p>\n Pavel was watching them, amused. \u201cAnd why do you want a pony, Schrodinger?\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Because if we had a pony, we could use the sleigh that Drew painted,<\/em> Schrodinger said.<\/p>\n \u201cI told you, if we get enough snow, we\u2019ll borrow a pony and take the sleigh out,\u201d Molly said. \u201cBut neither Drew nor I has enough time to take care of a pony, Schrodinger. And you, despite being a marvelous creature, do not have hands and cannot take care of a pony.\u201d<\/p>\n You don\u2019t know that,<\/em> he said loftily. There\u2019s a lot about CrossCats you don\u2019t know yet.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cOkay,\u201d she said, trying not to chuckle at him. \u201cSo tell me. How would you take care of a pony?\u201d<\/p>\n Well, that depends on what is involved,<\/em> Schrodinger said.<\/p>\n \u201cMucking out stalls,\u201d Pavel said. \u201cHorses poop a lot.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd feeding them,\u201d Molly added. \u201cAnd brushing them.\u201d<\/p>\n Oh.<\/em> Schrodinger\u2019s head sank down on his paws. I didn\u2019t realize it was that much work.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s why we\u2019ll borrow one,\u201d Molly told him, rubbing his ears. \u201cAll the fun, none of the work.\u201d<\/p>\n Promise?<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cI promise,\u201d she said. \u201cAs soon as there\u2019s enough snow.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhere are we going in the Cove today?\u201d Pavel asked, as they came into town.<\/p>\n \u201cWell, I need to go and get Drew\u2019s gift,\u201d Molly said, pulling a list from her pocket. \u201cThat\u2019s over at Jeff\u2019s Music Store. Then we have to go to the Tin Store, and the Home for All store, and then over to Katerina\u2019s.\u201d<\/p>\n The coffee shop? Really? Why?<\/em> Schrodinger looked confused, and Molly grinned. Her hatred of coffee was well-known.<\/p>\n \u201cBecause she\u2019s got a Sacher torte for me,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n \u201cYou mean you eat baked goods from someone else?\u201d Pavel stared at her in mock-horror. \u201cReally?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSometimes,\u201d Molly said. \u201cHave you ever had Katarina\u2019s tortes?\u201d<\/p>\n He shook his head.<\/p>\n \u201cTrust me. It\u2019s to die for.\u201d She looked over at Schrodinger. \u201cAnd what do you need to get?\u201d<\/p>\n I\u2019ll meet you at the Tin Store,<\/em> he said. I have to go pick up your present.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cPaul will go with you,\u201d Pavel said to the CrossCat. \u201cJust in case.\u201d<\/p>\n They stopped at Jeff\u2019s Music Store first. Paul, who was a tall, thin pirate that Molly hadn\u2019t met before, trotted off after Schrodinger, who set out purposefully across the square. Molly had no idea what he was going to get, or how he paid for it, but he seemed to have everything under control, so she and Pavel went into the Music Store.<\/p>\n It was full of shining instruments, and rather than the radio, Jeff himself was playing his electric cello in one corner of the room, and the deep tones of \u201cSilent Night\u201d hung in the air. Molly and Pavel waited until he was done, then clapped.<\/p>\n \u201cHey, Molly!\u201d Jeff leaned the instrument against the wall and hurried out to meet them. \u201cWho\u2019s your friend?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThis is Pavel,\u201d Molly said, hugging Jeff. \u201cHe\u2019s helping me collect Christmas presents today.\u201d She looked eagerly at Jeff. \u201cDid it come in?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYep, and it\u2019s beautiful.\u201d After shaking Pavel\u2019s hand, Jeff went over to the counter and, reaching down, pulled out a long case. Molly held her breath as he opened it gently.<\/p>\n \u201cOh my,\u201d she whispered, as the lights shone on the gleaming hard wood of the violin. \u201cIt\u2019s perfect.\u201d<\/p>\n Drew had told her that summer that he\u2019d played the violin when he was younger, but he\u2019d had to give it up, and was thinking about getting back into it. So Molly had gone to Jeff, knowing he could get her the perfect instrument. Now, as he lifted the violin out of its case, and set the bow on the strings, she knew she\u2019d been right.<\/p>\n He tuned the strings, and then began to play the same tune that he\u2019d been playing on the cello when they\u2019d come in. The notes sang through the store under Jeff\u2019s expert hands, and Molly sighed happily at the end.<\/p>\n \u201cThank you so much,\u201d she said, as he replaced the violin and bow in the case, and wrapped it up. \u201cHe\u2019ll love it.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI had no idea he was going to pick up the violin again,\u201d Pavel said, as Molly accepted the wrapped package. \u201cHe hasn\u2019t played in years.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHe mentioned it this summer, but we couldn\u2019t find one he liked.\u201d Molly put the package in her bag. \u201cThanks, Jeff.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo problem.\u201d Jeff hesitated. \u201cHey, Molly, can I ask a question?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSure, what\u2019s up?\u201d<\/p>\n He paused, then said, \u201cIs it true?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIs what true?\u201d Molly asked.<\/p>\n \u201cThat there won\u2019t be a ball this year.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo, that\u2019s not true at all!\u201d Molly said, her heart sinking. \u201cWhere did you hear that?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s going around the Cove,\u201d Jeff said. \u201cThat because there wasn\u2019t any snow, the Snow Queen wasn\u2019t going to have her ball.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cShe will have her ball,\u201d Pavel said firmly. \u201cWith or without snow. You can count on this.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cGood.\u201d Jeff smiled at them both. \u201cI\u2019d hate to see that tradition end.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt won\u2019t,\u201d Molly assured him. \u201cIt won\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n It was the same at Home for All, and the Tin Store. Molly was disheartened to hear all the rumors: that the ball had been canceled; that winter wasn\u2019t coming back; and even worse, that the Snow Queen had withdrawn her favor from the Cove. Molly assured each of them that no, the ball was still on; yes, winter was still coming; and no, the Snow Queen hadn\u2019t withdrawn her favor. By the time they came back to the carriage and met up with Schrodinger and Paul, she was exasperated.<\/p>\n \u201cWhere are these rumors coming from?\u201d she demanded, throwing herself into the carriage.<\/p>\n I can tell you,<\/em> Schrodinger said darkly, hopping up. But not until we\u2019re on our way back home.<\/em><\/p>\n Molly, intrigued, made short work of her visit with Katarina and Mick. She picked up the torte, reassured both of them that the ball was still happening Saturday, and then hurried back to the carriage.<\/p>\n \u201cSpill it,\u201d she ordered, once they were back on the road out of town. \u201cWhat happened?\u201d<\/p>\n Schrodinger blew out a gusty breath, his head down on his paws. When we went to get your present, I smelled Caliban,<\/em> he said. So we decided to check it out.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cCaliban?\u201d Pavel sat up straight. \u201cHe\u2019s actually in the Cove?\u201d<\/p>\n No, not him. But we saw his servant again. He went into the Music Box.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cThe Music Box? Why?\u201d Molly said, frowning. The Music Box was one of the specialty shops in the Cove, and its proprietor Tinker made some of the most amazing music boxes she\u2019d ever seen.<\/p>\n I don\u2019t know,<\/em> Schrodinger said. But he came out with a package after about five minutes, and hurried out of town.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cHow\u2019s he getting in and out of the Cove?\u201d Molly asked suddenly. \u201cDrew said he wasn\u2019t using the Station.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHe probably has a medallion that lets him hop onto the Roads,\u201d Pavel told her. \u201cBecause he\u2019s not using the Sea Roads either.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI wish I knew what he was doing here,\u201d Molly fretted. \u201cI don\u2019t like him skulking around my town.\u201d<\/p>\n Pavel smiled at her. \u201cWe\u2019ll figure it out, and then we\u2019ll put a spoke in his wheel,\u201d he promised her. \u201cYou have another job. Any ideas on how you\u2019re going to convince the Snow Queen?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes, actually.\u201d Molly looked over at him. \u201cAre you busy tomorrow?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNot really, although I was going to hang out at the Station with Drew,\u201d Pavel said. \u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI need someone to make a special delivery for me.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Tuesday, December 16 So, who do we have going with us today? Schrodinger asked, coming into the kitchen from the porch. Wet snowflakes still clung to his fur, and he smelled slightly cold. Molly, Drew and Pavel were seated at the kitchen table, sipping tea. The remains of breakfast (empty plates, because Molly had made …<\/p>\n