But how did he hear it? His windows were rolled up, the heater blowing full blast, the radio turned up high to cut out the traffic. A woman on the side of the street watched Vic intently—the mother,though he wasn’t quite sure how he knew that. When she was certain he wouldn’t roll over her son out of spite, she raced into the street and snatched the kid up. The set of her jaw told Vic she was more scared than angry, but that didn’t stop her from scolding the child. Her lips moved and Vic heard the words in his mind—don’t you EVER do something like that again, do you hear me, Gregory? Santa might have to come take that ball back.