Chapter 3

She doesn’t. Instead, she’s drawn to a small cabin set against the side of the mountain. A small crowd of children has gathered in front of the cabin, their parents a short distance away. The cabin has a sign on the front that says, Beary Christmas, Y’all!On the cabin’s porch are four animatoronic bears dressed in parkas and snowsuits playing musical instruments.

The bears are as old as the mountain—the closer we get, the more I notice wear and tear the animals have suffered over the years. The flocking on the bears’ ears and noses is worn through in spots, their movements are stilted, and their clothing and instruments are dated. Still, the kids seem to love them, and Jenna pushes her way right up to the front of the crowd and presses against the handrail to get a good look. “Daddy!” she cries.

I wave, distracted. “Yes, I see.”