Chapter 12

The face paint stretched farther than I thought it would. Caleb and I had bought one of the small water-based sets that are often used at kids’ birthday parties or community carnivals, but they worked really well. Just like at the Pagan Society’s festival, I did all the painting. Ryan and Greg just wanted simple designs across their foreheads, and Eliza had me paint holly leaves under her eyebrows so the berries could be on the outer corners of her eyes but she wouldn’t smudge it when she blinked, but Mom wanted an angel on her cheek. Eventually I convinced her that would look a little silly and we compromised with white-and-gold angel wings down the sides of her face and a halo on her forehead. All Dad wanted was a red circle on the end of his nose so he could be Rudolph. I did my best to add shading so it looked like a reindeer nose and not clown make-up. Caleb and I did each other’s face with whatever was left over. Everyone looked pretty good, if I do say so myself.