We 'll have a whole week of holidays . '' Gordon was noted for his aversion to school and his affection for holidays . `` And we 're going to have turkey for dinner , '' declared Teddy , getting up off the floor and rushing to secure his share of bread and molasses , `` and cranb ` ry sauce and -- and -- pound cake ! Ai n't we , Ma ? '' `` No , you are not , '' said Mrs. Grant desperately , dropping the dishcloth and snatching the baby on her knee to wipe the crust of cinders and molasses from the chubby pink-and-white face . `` You may as well know it now , children , I 've kept it from you so far in hopes that something would turn up , but nothing has . We ca n't have any Christmas dinner tomorrow -- we ca n't afford it . I 've pinched and saved every way I could for the last month , hoping that I 'd be able to get a turkey for you anyhow , but you 'll have to do without it . There 's that doctor 's bill to pay and a dozen other bills coming in -- and people say they ca n't wait . I suppose they ca n't , but it 's kind of hard , I must say . '' The little Grants stood with open mouths and horrified eyes . No turkey for Christmas ! Was the world coming to an end ? Would n't the government interfere if anyone ventured to dispense with a Christmas celebration ? The gluttonous Teddy stuffed his fists into his eyes and lifted up his voice . Keith , who understood better than the others the look on his mother 's face , took his blubbering young brother by the collar and marched him into the porch . The twins , seeing the summary proceeding , swallowed the outcries they had intended to make , although they could n't keep a few big tears from running down their fat cheeks . Mrs. Grant looked pityingly at the disappointed faces about her . `` Do n't cry , children , you make me feel worse . We are not the only ones who will have to do without a Christmas turkey .
We ought XXXXX be very thankful that we have anything to eat at all .
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