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SEC. C — PAGE 10 The Newberry Sun, Newberry, S. C., Thursday, December 22, 1966 1^5 New Year Reunion By J ames Michel The morning after Christ mas brings to most of us the realization that time in fleeting and the arrival of a New Year is upon us. Joe Brown is no exception. Christmas for the Brown family held been exactly what you might expect for a family in cluding five lively boys, ages two to ten. Joe dreamed of spending a week at a nice, quiet, isolated oasis in the Sahara and he wished there were some way to beg, borrow, or fashion an excuse plausible enough to es cape an annual obligation — the year-end reunion at the old Brown farm in Connecticut. It was, of course, a great time for the grandparents. Two sons and two daughters, with ever-increasing broods, came each holiday season, in a tradi tion now more than a dozer years old. Periodically, the brothers and sisters would secretly agree that it was just "too much." They scattered visits through out the year, hinting to the grandparents that they "j ust might not be able to make it for the New Year reunion." But, they always did. "1 do have this big deal working with the Fettex Com pany," Joe said to Sarah on the morning after Christmas. "And, you have until Feb ruary to work it out," Sarah responded. Joe had expected no sym pathy. Sarah's parents were dead, killed several years ago in an automobile accident. To her, the family reunion was something of an obligation, and she didn't mind using this particular word to express her attitude on the subject. that Tom was after. Grandfather Brow n enjoyed the children, but he spent most of his time in the rockingchair, a gray shawl wrapped around his slender shoulders. The past year had not been too kind to him. Jack observed. When departure time came, grandfather, ignoring the com ments of his dutiful wife about "exposing himself to the weath er, walked out to the car. " Fm glad you came. Joe." he said. "So am I,“ Joe responded "We’ll be back soon." Hemeant it. He also intended to have a word or two with his brother and sisters about the merits of the Brown family reunion. MERRY CHRISTMAS! "But, what about the kids?" Joe asked. "You know they’ve been passing colds back and forth for weeks now.'’ "Maybe they’ll pass them on to some of your relatives,” Sarah countered. She was not necessarily fond of all of her in-laws, although no one but Joe had ever had the slightest reason to suspect such feelings. It was snowing when Joe eased the car down the lane and parked beside the ancient frame house. Grandmother was beside the car before anyone had an opportunity to alight. Through the big front window, grandfather Brown waved a greeting. Grandmother’s greeting to five boys took several minutes. Some felt they w r ere too old to be kissed; the others, perhaps by set example, ran or dodged until they were cornered. Joe Brown put his arm around his mother’s shoulder. "No one else here, yet?” For just a moment, he thought he saw a distant gleam in his mother’s eye. "Jack has called. Two ofthekids are down with something or other and they can’t come.” "What about Susan and Patricia?” "Patricia called. They’re snowbound, she says. Some of the roads have been closed and they don’t know if they will be open to travel or nok” (It w as the quietest reunion at the Brow-n farm for some years.) Susan called and grandmother explained only that Susan would not come, something to do with a newjob OdingsofJim^ May your holidays be enriched with the happy harmony of love, abundance, and renewed friendships! CLAMP'S 1402 Main Street City Filling Station Telephone 276-4395 Newberry, S. C. Friend Street