The Toast Maker – Episode 21: The Wooden Star

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Last time: Tom came home through the first snow with a Norwegian spruce, and Iris finally told him about Mary's second card. This morning, the tree is still undecorated in its corner, and there is somewhere to be.

There are pipe-cleaner tentacles, hand-drawn suckers, a tin of ginger biscuits, and Mr Pritchard in a hat he has owned since 1974. Eight people will undulate on command before the morning is over.

In Rose's kitchen afterwards, something quieter — a button finally pressed, and what it costs to say it out loud.

Thanks for keeping this open for all of us. Sweet dreams.

— Ian & Alex