The Christmas Story Challenge

[Gemini]

Time we had a new challenge!
Ladies, your stories please, on any kind of Christmas theme. Long or short, as many stories as you like. Let your imaginations run free!

[Oma]

Twas the night before Christmas , where all through the house , Not a creature was stirring not even a mouse.

Well NOT in my house was that happening !!!
I sat at the kitchen table surrounded by half prepared veg, a Turkey so big I was afraid I would have to hack it's legs off to get in the oven .
Joe was sitting on ,no lounging on the sofa a bowl of nuts and a can of beer by his side watching telly , cracking the nuts and not bothering where they were going ,
The kids were running riot so hyped up I knew it would be a fight to get them to bed .
Karen aged 10 going on 16 was in a strop because I wouldn't let her put nail varnish on the dogs nails ,
Chester 8 was hanging upside down from the bannister saying he felt sick doing that , then stop it I said , to a look of scorn from said child ,
Conner 6 was being Superman jumping from chair to chair ,I just knew at some point he was going to get hurt , sure enough a cry came from his direction as he tumbled backwards off the back of the
chair ,
Molly my baby of 2 was in the cat tunnel and she was naked yet again , why that child couldn't keep clothes on was a mystery to me .
The Dog was cowering under the table hoping I would protect him from the mayhem, Lord knows where the cat was , I have a feeling Molly may be trapping him in the tunnel ,
With a huge effort I pushed back my chair and declared it was bed time , my god you would think I was making them go into the poor house for Christmas , But it's only 9 o'clock !!said Karen yes and I have lots to do and anyway Santa won't call till your all asleep ,
Mother please I'm 10 I know there ..... with a withering look from me she stopped what she was about to say in front of the smaller ones , at the same time I registered my shock , when did my eldest stop believing in Santa ????
I still had Presents to wrap the table to set , the bird to force into the oven and a million other jobs , so I needed the kids in bed
rounding them up ,dressing Molly in her PJ,s again I managed to get them kicking and screaming up the stairs ,
Karen went to her room slamming the door declaring it was shocking at her age she had to go to bed this early , Lord I dreaded her becoming a Teenager ,
The boys decided to make a den and have a trampoline competition on their beds, fine as long as you don't break a arm or a leg and don't come out till morning ,
Putting Molly in her cot was a doddle she was the only one of my 4 that loved her sleep.
All this time Joe hadn't moved from in front of the TV, he seemed oblivious to the noise and commotion going on around him ,Sitting back down at the kitchen table I started on the rest of the veg, we had 12 for lunch I think I had enough ,well I hoped I had enough , after that I set the table , taking care not to put Aunty Joan anywhere next to Uncle Bob who she said ate too loudly so would constantly shout at him if they were next to each other, how they had reached 54 years of marriage was a mystery to us all.
at 11.30 I finally sat down with a glass of wine , the presents still had to be brought out of the loft and wrapped but I was having 5 minutes to myself , I had been quietly seething about Joe, he hadn't moved or lifted a finger to help all day , he just sat there watching telly eating nuts drinking beer and making a mess, I looked around the room it had been cleaned this morning but now looked like the local tip .
Joe looked up from his programme and said you don't have time to sit drinking you have too much to do ...
I really don't know what come over me but I rose from the sofa tipped the wine over him grabbed my coat and walked out , with a parting comment . The presents need wrapping the Turkey is in the oven don't forget to pick your Mother up at 10 tomorrow have a lovely Christmas .
I had no intention of staying away but I needed to shock him , I went to my friend and cried on her shoulder and drank some more wine had a laugh and a good old moan , then at 3 am she drove me home . As I walked through the door Joe was sitting on the floor wrapping the last present not well done but done all the same , the living room had been cleared and hoovered and all the veg in the pans ready to go , Joe looked up with relief , you are staying arnt you , He asked , I'm sorry love I shouldn't have left you to do everything I just thought you liked to do it all your way.
In a way your right Joe but I'm not Wonder woman I need help .
Holding me close he said "To me your always Wonder woman ". We stood like that for all of 5 minutes then we heard movement up stairs I turned to go and usher them all back to bed , no love you go to bed I will see to them and finish off hear he said .
I didn't have to be told twice I was asleep before I hit the pillow but as I drifted off I'm sure I heard a Ho Ho Ho and the sound of bells . Maybe there was a Santa and his present to me had been giving Joe a kick up the bum 😊 That would be the best Christmas present ever

[Nanto2girls]

love the story Oma, and i bet that's true in some cases.

[Gemini]

I love it Oma - and I know your lovely hubby is nothing like Joe

[Oma]

Yes Gem totally opposite , I had LOADS more in my head but thought it might be too long , I could have done several pages 😊

[Gemini]

I don't mind how long it is, one of my stories on here was in danger of becoming a novel

[Clover]

Gosh Oma you wrote that quickly. It's wonderful. Well done.

[Daisy]

Oma - that's brilliant. You painted such a true-to-life picture, I was in there with you, getting ready to bash Joe over the head with the turkey!!! Loved it.


By the way - the longer version deserves to see light of day as well.

[Gemini]

I agree with daisy Oma, your characters draw us into the story straight away.

[Daisy]

A CHRISTMAS STORY

“Hello”,

“Hi, Mum, it’s Hugh”

“Oh! How are you Hugh - I hope you’re eating properly and keeping warm this awful cold weather”.

“Mum, don’t fuss. I’m fine. How are you and Dad, and Nan?”

“Dad and I are ok apart from the usual. Nan’s not too good these days though. I go round every day and make sure she’s keeping warm and eating properly, and Mrs Anderson, you know, the Scottish lady across from Nans, the one who ….”

Hugh interrupted. “Sorry Mum, I’ve only got a couple of minutes. Look - you know I was coming over on Christmas Eve for a couple of days? Well, I can’t make it. Really sorry and all that, but things have cropped up.”

“H-h-hugh!” Serena was unable to stop the catch of disappointment in her voice. ‘W-w-what things? We’re all looking forward to seeing you, especially your Nan” Her voice wobbled again. “I-I-I- don’t know….. I don’t know ….. it might be … well, you know, love, she is nearly 97 and …” Her voice petered out on a sigh.

“Look, Mum, I AM sorry. It’s just one of those things. I’ll send all your pressies so you can put them under the tree. I’ve got to go, now, but I’ll be in touch.”

Gerry wound a tanned sinuous arm round his neck. “There” she purred, “It wasn’t that wasn’t hard was it. Now we’re free to do whatever we want without having to do the dreary round of boring relatives.”

“They’re not boring …” Hugh replied, but seeing the look on Gerry’s beautiful face he realised his words were falling on deaf ears. She wound her other arm round his back and let her fingers run down his spine. Snuggling closer, Hugh was overwhelmed with his longing for her, but Gerry was in party mood.

“Come on, let’s get going. The gang’ll wonder where we’ve got to. Drinks, skating and then dinner. The table’s booked for 9.30. I can’t wait to see …..” Hugh, sighed, comparing Gerry’s excited chatter to his Mum’s tearful reaction. Gerry had burst into his life like an exotic butterfly - beautiful, vibrant and most wonderful of all, lighting up like a beacon on a dark night every time she turned her melting brown eyes on him. Him! Hugh Jones, bright but dull, a plodder in life’s race. What had he done to earn the adoration of this amazing girl.

He followed her out of the flat and onto the pavement, just as a black cab cruised past. Gerry waved it down. “Come on, sweetie pie, we’re already late, let’s splash out”, seeing his alarmed expression, she added “it’s not that far - £20 should do it. If you like, I’ll pay you back tomorrow when I draw some cash out.” Hugh followed her into the cab and sank into the seat.

The next day, he took an extended lunch break and rushed round the crowded, Christmassy stores choosing presents for his parents, his Nan, Tom, his 15 year old brother, Betsy, his sister and her husband Tony. He realised he’d have to get something for Ned, their six month old son, his nephew. What on earth did babies play with. He had no idea, and realised that he had only seen Ned shortly after he was born - a shrivelled mite with lungs like a sergeant major. He texted Gerry - she’d know, women know about such things. The text pinged back “Sorry sweetie pie. I don’t do kids. No idea. x”

He had to get something for Ned, it was his very first Christmas. The voice of his conscience whispered “and it might be Nan’s last”. He pushed the thought away. The Department Store toy section! That’s it! They’ll suggest something. He emerged 20 minutes later with a brightly coloured toy that had flashing lights, bits that spun round, bits that rattled and the motherly assistant had assured him it was perfect for a baby of Ned’s age. Back in the staff rest room he parcelled everything up and dashed out again to the Post Office. ‘It’s too late to post parcels in time for Christmas” the bored man behind the counter grunted.

“S**t”, Hugh muttered under his breath. What to do now? “You could courier it” the man added. “It’ll cost a fortune, but that’s what happens to all you people who leave things till the last minute.”

Back at work he pondered on what to do. He had to get the presents to his family. What if it was Nan’s …He pushed the thought away again. Ping! It was Gerry again. “Hi sweetie pie. Party tonight at Alesha’s and Simon’s new place. Pick me up at 9. See you later, Tiger. x” Hugh sighed. Another party, another crowd of people he didn’t know, and probably wouldn’t like much. Still if Gerry wanted to go he’d put a good face on it, she was so adorable. Tomorrow was Christmas Eve and he’d booked a day’s leave, so at least he didn’t have to get up for work.

The party was every bit as bad as he’d feared. The apartment was like a warehouse. Dark wooden floorboards everywhere, bare brick walls adorned with enormous abstract pictures. Nowhere to sit. Loud music with too much bass booming from expensive speakers. The sound reverberated in his head as he tried to lose himself in dancing closer and closer with Gerry. She danced away, teasing, laughing at him. “Come on, sweetie pie, don’t be such a bore. Let’s have fun.” She spun round to a switch in the music and a tall, well built swarthy man with too much chest hair on show cut in. “Hey, beautiful, you need a real man, dance this-a-way”. Gerry laughed, glancing back at Hugh. “Yay! Just one dance. Back in a mo, sweetie pie.”

Sweetie pie watched silently. What happened to the fun he was supposed to be having this Christmas. Suddenly it didn’t feel like fun any more. He turned away, grabbed his jacket and without waiting for the lift ran down the 5 floors to the pavement below. He drew in lungfuls of the cold, icy air.

He glanced at his watch. It was almost 3 am. If he went and picked up his presents and an overnight bag he could be at the station for the first train north. Suddenly energised, he ran all the way back to his tiny flat, hastily packed a few things and left a note for his flatmate. He gulped down a couple of cups of strong black coffee. Dashing back into the street, he slipped on the icy pavement, just regaining his balance, but as he strode out towards the station the snow started to fall. Christmas Eve - and it was going to be a white Christmas.

By the time he got to the station there was a good 2 inches of snow on the ground. There were a lot of people milling around the station for that early hour in the morning. Then he saw the information board: “All trains north cancelled due to adverse weather conditions.” He tried to ignore the thought that a taxi all the way home would leave him broke for about 2 months, but the queue at the taxi rank was so long and there wasn’t a taxi to be seen. He’d never make it in time for Christmas Day.

By now, it was starting to get light and he decided to start walking. When he got out of the city he might be able to hitch a lift. He hadn’t hitch-hiked since his student days, but it was his only chance. After about 2 hours of slipping and stumbling in the ever-deepening snow the houses started to peter out and he was in open country. There was hardly any traffic on the quiet road. He trudged on, cold, weary and finding his rucksack heavier by the minute. His feet were soaked, if he could be feel them for the cold. The lack of sleep was making him drowsy. How he longed to be home, in the warmth with his Mum fussing round. Just then he turned to see an old Austin 7 trundling slowly towards him. He stuck his thumb in the air and smiled what he hoped was a reassuring message that he wasn’t an axe murderer, just a foolish young man who had thought his family didn’t matter to him any more.

The elderly gent at the wheel leaned over and pushed the door open. “You want a lift”. It was a statement not a question. “Yes please, sir” said Hugh. He climbed into the tiny old car and sank into the seat besides the old man. “Thank you so much”, he said. “You’re welcome, sonny. But I’d like to concentrate on my driving, so please excuse me for not chatting.” He passed Hugh a cosy plaid travel rug from the back seat, which Hugh gratefully wrapped round his cold legs.

Tiredness, the warmth from the blanket and emotion overcame Hugh and he drifted off to sleep.

Some time later, the old man gently shook him awake. “You’re home, Hugh. Have a good Christmas my boy.”

Hugh stumbled out of the old car, rubbing his eyes with one hand and grabbing his rucksack with the other. “Thank you so much, sir”. He looked around - he was at the end of his parents’ road. He turned back to ask the old man how he had know where he lived, but he was nowhere to be seen. He looked down at the road. There were no tyre marks. Another thought struck him - how did the old gent know his name!

His Mum flung open the door in answer to his knock. “Hugh! How wonderful. I knew you’d make it. I just knew you would.”

A large plate of bacon and eggs and three cups of his Mum’s strong tea later, he sat back in his chair. “Mum. I can’t tell you how sorry I am for thinking I didn’t want to be here with you all at Christmas. I was such an idiot. But if it hadn’t been for that kind old gent in his Austin 7 I wouldn’t have made it.”

“An Austin 7, dear? What a co-incidence. That’s what your grandfather drove all his life. It was the only car he ever had, and he loved driving it. He was very particular though. There were always plaid travel rugs on the back seat, in case his passengers got cold, and he always said not to talk to him because he wanted to concentrate on his driving.”

[Oma]

Oh I did like that story , hairs on the back of my neck stood on end 😊

[Clover]

Daisy that was wonderful.You ladies are so clever. It's getting an idea to start with that's my problem.Once I get going I'm usually okay

[Gemini]

Wonderful story Daisy!! It brought a tear to my eye, and gripped me all the way though.
I love reading what everyone writes.
Clover, your stories are really worth reading.
I too often struggle with the idea, once I go going I'm fine.

[Daisy]

I love your stories, too, Clover. I have to confess that my story was prompted by the thread about sons not keeping in touch.

[Oma]

I have lots of ideas but I'm afraid of rambling on and boring everyone so I tend to cut them short quickly when I realise how much I'm writing 😯😐