peace for ten seconds; then, "I wonder where those boyscan be," she said. "I hope they bring some pickles along. I asked tohave some sent, but I'm accustomed to having no attention paid to what Iwant."
"There's a surprise coming for you, Phyllis," James could not helptelling her again, hoping to arouse some semblance of interest."Something I know you'll love.... And for you, too," he said courteouslyto Magnolia.
"You mean the same surprise for both, or a surprise apiece?" the treeasked.
"Oh, one for each, of course."
"I see the lights of the 'copter now!" Phyllis cried and, running outinto the middle of the lawn, began waving her handkerchief. He hadn'tseen her so pleasantly excited for a long time.
"I don't suppose I'll need to turn on the landing lights," he said toMagnolia. "You should do the trick."
"Am I all finished?" she rustled anxiously. "I do wish I could seemyself. How do I look?"
"Splendid. I've never had as beautiful a Christmas tree as you, Maggie,"he told her with complete honesty. "Not even on Earth."
"I'm glad, Jim, but I still wish I could be more to you than just aChristmas tree."
"Shh. The others might hear."
For the helicopter had landed and the visitors were pouring out, withshouts of admiration. Not only the bachelors had come--and in fullforce--but some of the older men from Base, who apparently felt theycould manage to do without their wives for twelve hours, even if thosehours included Christmas Eve. He wondered where he and Phyllis could putthem all, but some could sleep outside, if need be, for it was nevercold on Elysium. The winds were gentle and the rains light and fragrant.
* * * * *
While the visitors were crowding around Phyllis and the tree, Jamesrooted eagerly through the packages they had brought, until he foundwhat he wanted. Then he rushed over to the group. "I know I should waituntil tomorrow, but I want to give the girls their presents now." Theother men smiled sympathetically, almost as joyful as he. "MerryChristmas, Magnolia!" He hoped Phyllis would understand that it wasetiquette which dictated that the alien life-form should get her giftfirst.
"Thank you," the tree said. "I am deeply touched. I don't believe anyoneever gave me a present before. What is it?"
"Liquid plant food--vitamins and minerals, you know. For you to drink."
"What fun!" she exclaimed in pretty excitement. "Pour some over me rightnow!"
"Not so fast, Jim, boy!" Dr. Cutler, the biologist, snatched the jugfrom James' hand. "First you-all better let me take a sample of thishere stuff back to Base to test on a lower life-form, so's I can makesure it won't do anything bad to Miss Magnolia. Might have iron in itand I have a theory that iron may not be beneficial for the localvegetation."
"Oh, thank you!" the tree rustled. "It's so very thoughtful of you,Doctor, but I'm sure Jim would never give me anything that would injureme."
"I'm sure he isn't fixing to do a thing like that, ma'am, but he's nobotanist."
"And for you, Phyllis...." James handed his wife the awkward bundle tounwrap for herself.
She tore the papers off slowly. "Oh, Jim, darling, it's--it's--"
"You wanted a bit of green, so I ordered a plant from Earth. You likeit? I hope you do."
"Oh, _Jim_!" She embraced him and the pot simultaneously. "More than_anything_!"
"It won't stay green," Magnolia observed. "Either it'll turn blue orit'll die. Puny-looking specimen, isn't it?"
"Well," said James, "it's only a youngster. I guess this Christmas istoo early, but next Christmas there ought to be berries. It's a hollyplant, Phyl."
"Holly," she repeated, her voice shaking a little. "_Holly._" She andDr. Cutler exchanged glances.
"I told you, Miz Phyllis, ma'am--he may know the first thing aboutbotany, but he doesn't know anything after that."
"Jim," Phyllis said, linking her free arm through his, "I misjudged you.Dr. Cutler is right. You don't know so very much about botany, afterall."
* * * * *
He looked at her blankly. Her voice was trembling, and not with tearsthis time. "I love this little plant; it's just what I wanted ... butthere aren't ever going to be any berries, because, to have berries, youhave to have two plants. And the right two. Holly's di--dio--it's justlike us."
"Oh," James said, feeling thoroughly inadequate. "I'm sorry."
"But you mustn't be sorry. I'm going to plant it here on Elysium, and Ihope it will stay green in spite of what she says, and it'll haveblossoms anyway ... and it was very, very sweet of you, dear."
She kissed his cheek.
"Is this one a boy or a girl?" Magnolia asked.
"You-all can't tell till it blooms, Miss Magnolia, ma'am," Dr. Cutlerinformed her.
"Maybe I can. Hand it up here, please."
Phyllis paused for an irresolute moment, then, smiling nervously at herguests, obliged.
"It's a boy," Magnolia announced, after a minute. "A boy." She gave backthe pot reluctantly. "Phyllis," she said, "you and I have never beenfriends and I admit that it's been my fault just as much as yours."
"As much as mine?" Phyllis echoed. "I like that--" and was going to goon when she obviously recollected that they had company, and stopped.
"So I know it's presumptuous of me to ask you a favor."
"Yes, Magnolia?" Phyllis said, her fine cornsilk eyebrows arched atrifle. "What is this favor?"
"When you plant the little fellow--you said you were going to,anyhow--would you plant him near me?"
Phyllis looked down at the plant she held cradled in her arms and thenup at the tree. "Of course, Magnolia," she said, frowning slightly. "Ididn't realize...." Her voice began to tremble. "I _have_ been prettyrotten, haven't I?" She looked toward James, but he turned his glanceaway.
"Just because you were a plant," Phyllis continued, "didn't mean I hadto be a b-b-beast. It must have been awful for you, seeing me like this,practically crowing over you, and knowing that you yourself would neverhave the chance to be a m-m-m-mother."
"'Full many a flower is born to blush unseen,'" Magnolia said sadly,"'and waste its sweetness on the desert air.'"
* * * * *
Phyllis was crying unashamedly now. "I'll plant him right next toyou--Maggie. I want you to have him. He can be your baby."
"Thank you, Phyl," Maggie said softly. "That's very ... blue of you."
"Although I think that's a jim-dandy idea," the biologist said, "and Isure wouldn't want to do anything to discourage it, being realinterested in the results of an experiment like that my own self, Idon't think you ought to feel so mean about it, Miz Phyllis. If all shewanted--begging your pardon, Miss Magnolia, ma'am--was a baby, whydidn't she take an interest in the holly until she found out it was amale? Why wouldn't a little old girl holly have done as well?"
"Why--why, you scheming vegetable!" Phyllis exploded at Magnolia,clutching the holly plant to her protective bosom. "He's much too youngfor you, and I'm going to plant him far away, where he can't possiblyfall into your clutches."
"Now, Miss Phyllis, we-all mustn't look at things out of their properperspective."
"Then why did you take your hat off when you were introduced to MissMagnolia, Cutler?" Dr. Lakin asked interestedly.
"Sir, where I come from, we respect femininity, whether it be animal,vegetable or mineral. Nonetheless, we-all got to remember, though MissMagnolia is unquestionably a lady, she is not a woman."
Phyllis began to laugh hysterically. "You're right!" she gasped. "I hadalmost forgotten _she_ was only a tree. And that _it_ is only a littleChristmas holly plant that's probably going to die, anyway--they almostalways do."
"That's cruel, Phyllis," James said, "and you know it is."
"Do you really think I'm cruel? Are you going to tell the Society forthe Prevention of Cruelty to Vegetables on me? But why am I cruel? I'mgiving her the holly. That's what she wants, isn't it? Do you hear that,Miss Magnolia, ma'am? _He_'s all yours. We'll plant _him_ nex
t toyou--right away. And I hope _he_ doesn't die. I hope _he_ grows up tomake you a good husband."
* * * *