19 Days To Go

See this entry for an explanation of this madness.

When Elijah hits the drum with some real force behind the misshapen chopsticks sold as beaters, Billy can just about hear the dull thud from where he sits gritting his teeth in the next room.

Billy isn't quite sure why Elijah's finding such joy in the gift he thinks Sean's daughter won't now be receiving. It's just a round blue and red toy drum with a cord attached, to be hung around a child's, or Elijah's, neck.

The three other presents they bought lie neatly gift-wrapped at Elijah's feet, but the drum doesn't look to be joining them anytime soon.