26 December 2001
To: Cary Robards
From: Astoria Greengrass
Cary,
I hope you’re having a happy Christmas, if they have Christmas where you are. I hope you aren’t sad to be spending it without your family, although I suppose if you are, that’s because you decided to go so far away.
Which reminds me, please give the owl a proper rest before sending him back.
Sincerely,
Astoria
[Enclosed: a loaf of fresh-baked gingerbread, very prettily wrapped.]