Maggie’s daughter sits at the desk in her bedroom, writing a Christmas card for every child in her class. Her task will surely never be finished, since she plans to write a long and personalized message, in gold pen, to each recipient. When she remembers, Olivia dots each letter i with a heart. On a small selection she troubles herself to doodle a sprig of holly, or a careful snowflake. On even fewer, she seals the envelope with a foil Santa sticker, the code by which eight-year-old girls say, I am devoted to you.
