January 2

Back at work.  Yippee.  But something is very wrong.  Crystal is not here and something has happened.  Nobody is talking about it, and I don’t want to pry.  Still, I’m concerned.

December 22

I have taken a week off at Christmas.  I’m still afraid for my job, but Linda encouraged me to take this time off.  She said things are very quiet this week, and since both my children have their birthdays as well as Christmas to celebrate this week, I needed (and wanted) to be home badly.  I keep thinking this is going to come back to bite me, though.  I don’t actually get vacation days; I’m just allowed to leave for a few days without pay.  (God bless Mrs. Scrooge, the founder of the feast!)