The Lotterys More or LessBy Emma Donoghue
In many ways the Lotterys are the ideal family. There are two moms, two dads and seven kids. Some kids were born as Lotterys, some were adopted. The Lottery children are all home-schooled and learn by doing. The Lotterys are lucky — they won the lottery, and now the parents can stay home full-time with their kids.
In this second installment of The Lotterys series, it’s Christmastime, and 9-year-old Sumac is making sure that the family follows every Christmas tradition that they have established over the years. She wants to attend the Nutcracker, go to the Polar Pear Plunge, decorate the tree, etc.
But things are a little different this year. For one thing, PapaDum and Sic, Sumac’s oldest brother, have gone to India and won’t be back until December 23rd. For another thing, the Lotterys have a “couchsurfer” this year. Luis is from Brazil and is staying with the Lotterys throughout December.
Still, they should be able to do all the things that Sumac loves to do. Until something incredible happens – there’s an ice storm in Toronto! Everything is covered with ice! The city stops functioning and the power goes out. And it’s really, really, cold. Not only that, but no flights can land at the Toronto airport, so PapaDum and Sic can’t come home for Christmas. Even Luis, who was supposed to continue his travels, gets stuck at the Lottery house for Christmas.
Sumac is miserable. At the most special family time of the year, nothing is quite right. Can she and the Lotterys adjust their traditions and rescue Christmas?