He nodded slowly and forced a small smile.
“Yes I am fine,” he replied. “Let us leave it for now and eat breakfast.”
She helped him stand and he walked slowly toward the bathroom to wash his hands before sitting down at the kitchen table.
“The pension still has not arrived,” he sighed heavily while rubbing his temples. “Christmas will come before the payment reaches us.”
Diana sat across from him while holding a small notebook where she recorded their expenses.
“I only have three hundred dollars left,” she said with quiet worry. “Today is the twenty ninth and we still have half a month until my pension arrives.”
Russell looked at her calmly although his eyes showed concern.
“We will manage somehow,” he replied. “Buy the grandchildren some chocolate bars and maybe one for our daughter because she loves them.”
“A decent chocolate bar costs almost one hundred dollars these days,” Diana answered while standing to wash the dishes.
Russell glanced toward the small wooden cross hanging above the kitchen doorway.
“Lord please help us overcome these difficult days,” he murmured while making the sign of the cross.