“When we entered the apartment, none of us had to ask about the food basket. From the look on Dad's face, we had received a ham. We always prayed for a turkey. It put him in a better mood.” PovertyChristmasEmotional AbuseAlcoholismShort Story CollectionFood Baskets Book:Thomas Hardy was an Optimist: A Collection of Short Stories From the Plague Years. Source: Thomas Hardy was an Optimist: A Collection of Short Stories From the Plague Years.