Our Christmas Stories

[Gemini]

This is a collection of Christmas stories, written by our members over the last few years. Their originals are in Story Corner, but are also copied here, for those who don't visit Story Corner.

This years Christmas Story Challenge is up and running here https://gransrus.com/forum/creative-...challenge-2019

If you enjoy reading these stories, why not have a go at one of your own?!

[Gemini]

Every Christmas, for as long as she could remember Sarah had wished for one thing. It was such a special thing she never ever mentioned it. No one but Father Christmas knew what Sarah's wish was.
She was a very lucky little girl. Her parents and all her grandparents adored her. She had wonderful toys, beautiful clothes, lots of friends. She was always taken on lovely holidays. She was a happy child. But still she wished for that one gift ,each Christmas.

She got lovely presents each year, and so many of them. But so far never the one she secretly asked Santa for.
Just after Christmas Sarah would be 9 years old. As she had been asking Father Christmas for the gift since she was 3, she sadly came to the conclusion that she would never get it.
Mummy and Daddy always told her that Santa did his best, but that no child gets everything they asked for. In fact they told her that the children who had the shortest lists, got the most surprises!
Sarah's list was always short, and she did indeed get lots of surprises. She knew she was lucky, but couldn't help feeling a little sad on Christmas morning, when it seemed that once again her main present would be absent.
'Happy Christmas, darling' smiled her mum hugging her daughter. Look at all these presents under the tree for you! Sarah smiled at her parents and settled down excitedly to open her presents.There were so many colourful parcels! She had books, clothes CDs and DVDs, paints, craft sets, heely trainers, chocolate santas - all sorts of wonderful things. It took a long time to open them all and admire everything.

Then her mother drew Sarahs attention to an envelope hanging on the tree. Another present! It was decorated with holly and reindeers, and in beautiful writing was written.

'To Sarah,
A very merry Christmas
From Father Christmas'

Sarah looked at her Mum wondering what it could be. Sometimes she had been given tickets to a show as a present, so she wondered if that could be what the envelope contained, and what the show would be!
Sarah carefully opened the envelope, she didn't want to tear the tickets. Something fluttered out and landed on Sarah's knee. She picked it up, and she could hardly believe her eyes. She looked up at her parents her eyes shining.
Sarah flew into her mothers arms, the scan photo dropping to the floor. 'That's right Sarah', said her Mum happily. 'Your wish has finally come true. That is the first photo of your baby sister!'

[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

[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.”

[Daisy]

Since I'm such a grump about Christmas, I thought I should write about something nice - how a little boy regains his belief in Santa Claus.



TOMMY’S CHRISTMAS

Tommy was a smart kid. He knew a few things. He kept his eyes and ears open, especially when the grown ups were talking, so when his Gran said if he wasn’t a good boy Santa Claus wouldn’t bring him any presents he just laughed. “Don’t be silly, Gran. There’s no such thing as Santa Claus. It’s Mum and Dad who put the presents under the tree. I’ve heard them talking about it. “

In a cold northern clime far, far away, Jenni Elf was on listening duty. She was a good Elf listener and Santa Claus trusted her to find the children who thought he was their mums and dads. “Santa”, she reported back to him. “We have a problem with young Tommy in England. He thinks …” she drew in a deep breath, she hated even saying the words, “…he thinks you’re his Mum and Dad.”

Santa sighed. It was happening all the time, and this year it seemed worse then ever. Children with computers, tablets, phones and all sorts of electronic games thought they knew things, things they didn’t understand at all. “Well done, Jenni Elf”, he said patting her on the shoulder. “I’ll put Ernie Elf on the case. Would you brief him, please.”

“Yes, of course, Santa, right away”. Ernie Elf’s wrinkled brow furrowed deeply as Jenni Elf told him about Tommy. “He’s a good boy, really” Ernie Elf mused, his brow wrinkling even more. “In all the modern rush of life, he’s forgotten about magic. I’ll try and remind him.”

Tommy enjoyed school. Best of all he enjoyed playtimes when they could go outside and run round, laughing and shouting to each other. But today, Tommy was thoughtful. What if there really, really was a Santa and he didn’t get any presents. That would be … Tommy couldn’t think of a word to match the horror of waking up on Christmas morning and not seeing piles of brightly wrapped gifts under the tree. He decided he ask Darren what he thought. Darren was one of his very best mates. They were balancing with their arms outstretched along a wall dividing the hard playground from the garden part where they grew vegetables. “Daz” Tommy called out, “Do you believvvvvvve …. “ Tommy nearly toppled off the fence as he was distracted by the sight of what looked like a tiny old man, a bit like his Gran’s garden gnome, running behind the tool shed. In the effort to keep his balance the sentence died on the wind, and the whistle blew for lessons.

Mr Merryweather, was a bit like his name. Always smiling (unless you were very naughty) and lots of fun. Everyone wanted to have Mr M as their teacher. “Right”, said Mr M. “Today we are going to draw and paint a map. Imagine you are Santa Claus flying over your road looking for your house or flat. Give him as much help as you can with lots of detail, and make it nice and colourful.” “But, Sir”, Tommy’s hand shot up, “There is no …” Something stopped him. Just a strange feeling. He finished lamely …. “green paint on our table.” Mr M laughed. “Look again Tommy, it’s right next to Emily.” Tommy felt foolish, but cross with himself for not asking Mr M about Santa Claus.

He was still wondering how he could find out for sure when he got home. “Mum, can I go and call for Henry?” Henry lived two doors away and was in Year 6 - he would be sure to know. Tommy rang the bell at Henry’s and Henry and his little brother Simon answered the door. “Yay, Tommy” said Henry. “Come in. Si and me, we’re just finishing our letters to Santa Claus so we can post them to the North Pole tonight.” Tommy stopped with one foot over the doorstep. “Errrr….. no thanks. I’ve just remembered something …. see ya”.

He couldn’t risk it! He just couldn’t! He sat down with a sheet of his mum’s special writing paper. It smelt a bit funny, but he didn’t think Santa would mind too much. “Dear Santa Clors, I have been a very good boy and this is my Crismas list. I live here and we have got 2 chimnys you can youse.” He wrote his list in his very best handwriting, with a capital letter for each item. He even remembered to put a full stop at the end of each item. He drew a picture of a reindeer on the other side, and then remembered to turn it over again and put his name at the bottom. Twice, just to made sure Santa could read it.

His mum admired his beautiful letter and went with him to the letter box at the end of the road to post it to the North Pole. Tommy slept well that night despite torrential rain. His mind was at rest. The next morning we was woken by mum shouting to dad. “We’ve had a fall of soot in the dining room, Bob. Can you give me a hand to clear it up, please?” Tommy stood at the doorway and looked at the wet black mess all over the hearth. ‘What’s that, Dad?” Dad smiled. “Oh, it’s probably Santa’s elves checking out the chimney’s ok for Santa to come down on Christmas Eve.” Tommy didn’t see Dad wink at Mum.

Erni Elf ducked down below the window sill and made his way out of the garden. Everything was working out nicely.

The next day Gran picked Tommy up from school. “Had a good day, dear?” she asked. “Yeah,” replied Tommy. Gran tried again. “What did you do today then?” “Nothing much. We finished our maps so Santa can find our houses.” “Ah”, said Gran opening the car door for him. “So there is a Santa?” “Oh yes! Of course there is”. Gran smiled to herself and Tommy didn’t see her wink knowingly at Ernie Elf as he quietly slipped away back to the North Pole - another job well done.

[Gemini]

White Christmas

'What is a white Christmas?' Hannah asked her mother, catching the words of the song on the radio in the background. Her mother, Stephanie, looked up from the ironing. Oh, that means snow at Christmas' she replied, keeping her eye on the tricky collar that she was trying to get straight.
'It will be a white Christmas this year, won't it?' The little girl asked. 'Oh I don't know Hannah. It's a while away yet. It doesn't usually snow at Christmas you know, even though the Christmas cards tell us it does!'

Hannah was six years old. Old enough to remember past Christmases, but not to remember all the details. In her mind it did snow at Christmas. Of course it did. Children made snowmen, postboxes were always covered in snow and had robins sitting on top of them, and of course Father Christmas and his reindeers always arrived in the snow!

Mummy was usually right, but Hannah didn't think she was right about this.

She jumped down from the table where she had been drawing, and went to her bedroom. She looked though the books on her shelves and found three Christmas books. Yes, she knew she was right. One was about Father Christmas coming to a child on Christmas Eve. One was about woodland animals waiting for Christmas morning, and one about a family going out walking on Christmas Day. In every story there was snow. 'I knew it' thought Hannah. 'It always snows at Christmas, so we will have a white Christmas!

As the weeks went by, Hannah talked a lot about Christmas as all children do. She also talked a lot about the snowman she and daddy would make, and the sledging she would do on Christmas Day with mummy, daddy and her little brother Ben.

One December afternoon over coffee with her mum, watching 2 year old Ben playing with his trains, Stephanie said 'Has Hannah mentioned a white Christmas to you mum?'. 'Oh yes!' laughed Marian, 'all the time, she's determined we will have one!'. 'Yes she is agreed Stephanie, and I'm a bit worried that she will be so disappointed if it doesn't snow that it will spoil Christmas'. Marian looked concerned. 'Oh I hope not. Surely not, she has enjoyed every Christmas so far with no snow!'. 'Hmmmm, this year seems to be different' her daughter replied.
Hannah came home from school that afternoon with a lovely painting of their house decorated for Christmas, with of course, snow falling outside and a snowman in the garden. 'Our house at Christmas' she beamed showing her grandmother. 'That's lovely darling!' she exclaimed . 'It might not actually snow though'. Hannah just smiled.
Grandma didn't always know everything either.


On the morning of Christmas Eve, Marian arrived with Hannah and Bens presents. The children had gone to the cinema with their dad, to give their mum a chance to get on with things. As Marian helped her daughter hide the presents in the locked cupboard in the garage she said. 'Have you seen the forecast?'. 'I'm afraid so, no chance of snow over Christmas, not a flake'. 'I know it's not the same, but I bought this' said Marian, handing her daughter a canister of fake snow, and a foot stencil. 'You sprinkle it on the stairs and in the hallway, to make footprints anywhere that Santa might have walked. I saw it and thought it might help with Hannah. Hopefully she will believe it has snowed, but it melted quickly'. Thanks Mum! 'Said Stephanie, hugging her mother. That's a kind thought'.
Stephanie knew a little fake snow wasn't what her little girl had wished for and was expecting. Even the most loving parent or grandparent can't influence the weather however.

Eventually that night two small excited children fell asleep. Their stockings hung, Santas mince pie and milk waiting plus of course a large carrot for the reindeer.
Adam put his arm around his wife as she stood at the window looking into the clear sky. 'We will have lovely Christmas. Snow or no snow. When Hannah sees her presents, she won't even think about snow.' Stephanie hoped he was right. Somehow she couldn't believe it.

On Christmas morning Marian and John opened the door of their daughter's house. Wonderful smells greeted them, as did two very excited children both clamouring to tell them about what Father Christmas had brought.
Hannah gave her Granddad a lovely hug. 'I'm so happy Grandad!' the little girl said'. 'So am I' her grandfather replied. 'But just let me get these boots off. I am treading all this snow all over the floor!'

Hannah smiled. Mummy and Grandma weren't always right after all

[Gemini]

A different style of Christmas

Edith could remember happy Christmases.
As an only child, Christmas had been very special. She had lovely presents, everything she ever asked for and more. She always had a beautiful new Christmas dress to wear, and the best seats at the pantomime. She spent happy Christmas Days with her parents at home and Boxing Day with her cousins. She had all the privileges of an only child with parents who adored her, with the bonus of cousins for company, who she didn't have to share those parents with. Edith loved Christmas in those days.

Later, as a married woman, followed a year later by motherhood with the arrival of baby Alexander, Christmas was still enjoyable, in a different way. It did of course sadden her that her parents, who produced her late in life, were no longer around to enjoy their grandson. She felt this especially at Alexander's first Christmas. She missed them terribly then.
Christmases throughout her sons childhood were happy however. Edith adored her son and lavished as much love, attention and as many material goods on her him as her parents had on her. Unlike his mother Alexander had no cousins. Edith was of course an only child, and her husbands brother was childless. Edith felt rather guilty that as Alex had no cousins, he was often lonely with no siblings. When their son was 18 months old they had decided to 'try for another baby'. Nothing happened however, and eventually Edith stopped even thinking about having another child, and concentrated all her love and attention on her son.

Time passed, as time does. Alexander left school, went to university, graduated and got his first job many miles from home. Edith always hoped that eventually he would move closer to home. This wasn't to be. At work he met Josie, a beautiful Australian girl, fell in love and in no time married her and moved to Australia.

Once their son was settled into university life, his father told his mother that he was leaving her to live with the woman he had been having an affair with for 5 years! They had a 3 year old daughter. Edith was amazed and shocked, but she wasn't devastated or even particularly upset. She had known that they had been drifting apart for several years, and only Alex's presence at home served as the glue to hold them together.
She didn't really miss her husband at all. She wished him well in his new life, and he was certainly generous to her in the divorce settlement.

Alex too had a new life in Australia. New friends, new job, and Josie's large and friendly family. Edith loved him fiercely and always would, but didn't feel he was hers any more. He phoned or emailed his mother most weeks, when he had time, and they occasionally Skyped, but Edith didn't really feel she was any part of her sons life.

She felt this at Christmas more than ever. They sent her very nice presents (chosen she was sure by her daughter in law) They spoke on the phone on Christmas Day, but that was it.

Edith had tried several methods of coping with Christmas over the past few years.
She had holidayed aboard alone in the sun. She had gone to a Lake District hotel for a Christmas break with a single colleague, something neither of them wished to repeat. She had gone to various friends for Christmas dinner. One year she joined two of her friends, a female couple, on a walking holiday. None of these things made her enjoy Christmas, but rather endure it.
Edith suspected that it was that way for many people. She supposed she was lucky in having the memory of so many happy Christmases. In some ways though she felt this made it worse.

Each November friends started to ask the usual questions.

'What are your doing for Christmas?' - How she hated that question!

'Will you be seeing Alexander and your daughter in law?' - No, of course she wouldn't !

'Would you like to spend Christmas Day with us?' - No she wouldn't, but how to refuse such kindness!

This year she decided to take control. To try to arrange Christmas the way she chose before others, well meaning as they were, railroaded her into doing something she didn't really want to do.
The holiday in the sun hadn't worked. Christmas was still there, and she was still aware of being alone. The rest of the year she was perfectly happy being single and living alone. She loved her life, her home, her friends. For some reason Christmas was a different matter.

Hotels at home or away were not the answer. She would have to think of something else. Edith would in fact have been happy to stay at home, but none of her friends would hear of that. Even if she managed to persuade her friends that she wasn't going to be home alone, her dear friend and neighbour Rosie would know and insist she went over there. Rosie lived directly opposite Edith. With her boring husband and smelly dog. Christmas also included her elderly deaf mother for who's benefit everyone shouted, and her 3 grandchildren, all under 5. Edith had nothing against dogs, small children, or the elderly. She simply preferred not to spend Christmas Day with someone else's!
She booked a country cottage from December 24th to 28th. She considered herself lucky to find anywhere so nice in November. A cancellation, unlucky for someone else, was her good fortune.
There she could have as much Christmas as she wanted and no more. Enjoy the TV Christmas specials and films, some wine, Baileys and other treats, but not do anything she didn't want to just because it was Christmas and it was expected. Stocked with nice food and drink, DVDs and her Kindle loaded with good reading, she set off.
As far as friends and neighbours were concerned, she was spending Christmas with an old school friend.

The cottage was beautiful. A tiny tastefully decorated one bedroomed property. The owners had converted one cottage into a pair of small semi detached ones, perfect for couples or single holidaymakers, like Edith. Warm and cosy, with a holly wreath on the front door and inside a small Christmas tree in a red pot, lit and decorated.
Edith arranged her Christmas cards around the living room and piled her presents under the tree. She changed into her warm fleecy dressing gown, and with a contented smile settled down to watch TV in front of the log burning stove, with a large glass of merlot in hand.



*********************************************


To alexh739@hotmail.com from edithhall@gmail.com

Hi Alex,

Happy New Year!

Sorry I haven't been available to talk recently. Christmas was most unusual and unexpected! My neighbour in the adjoining holiday cottage had a plumbing crisis and came knocking at my door early on Christmas morning . He had no heating or water, and no plumbers will come out on December 25th, not without kings ransom anyway! George, a lovely man ended up coming to me to share the warmth of my cottage . He slept on the sofa that night. We spent the rest of Christmas getting to know each other.
He is divorced and has found Christmases alone hard. We have lots in common. I'm having fun, talk to you when I have more time, not sure when that will be!
Love to Josie

Love you, your Mum! xx

THE END

[Gemini]

Just a short one!

Holly's Christmas

Christmas was just another day for Holly. Despite her name she had never known any joy at Christmastime. This Christmas Day was no different. She ate her breakfast, and wandered out for a walk. The day was bright and the light covering of snow shone crisply in the sunshine.

Ahead she saw two of her friends, Jack and Sam. Out with their family. She noticed that they each wore a new warm coat. They will be cosy in those, thought Holly. As they reached the park, the boys raced ahead, playing with the ball, another Christmas gift no doubt.
Holly had no gifts, but she had never had any, so she didn't miss them and certainly didn't resent anyone else lucky enough to have some.

She walked a little further and there was her friend Betsy, with the beautiful long hair. Betsy was wearing something new and sparkly, which must have been a Christmas present that she wanted to show off. The friends greeted each other, and watched the world go by for a while.

Then Betsy skipped off home, hoping that some turkey would be coming her way sooner rather than later! Holly walked a little further, looking at the brightly lit houses with beautifully decorated Christmas trees. Happy families filled most of those homes. It was beginning to get dark so Holly turned around. Passing Betsy's house she saw her relaxing on the padded windowseat, playing with one of her new toys.
As she passed Jack and Sams house she could hear their excitement, as Christmas dinner was being served.

There was no Christmas dinner at Hollys house. Her family were away for Christmas, as always. They saw she was looked after in their absence, but they never even said goodbye to her, let alone left any presents!
She knew dinner wouldn't be delivered for some time, so she bypassed her own house and walked across the fields. There she came to a small house set a little apart from the neighbouring ones. Something drew her to this house, and she walked into the front garden. Jumping up she could see through the window. A tidy room, a small sparkling Christmas tree, an inviting log fire in the grate. In an armchair sat a lady reading a book. Holly thought she looked kind, and lonely. Across the room she spotted a table set for one.

The lady stood and crossed the room to close the curtains against the growing darkness. As Holly was about to run away, the lady spotted something, peered through the window and smiled when she saw her.
The front door slowly opened and the lady, around five feet tall, and 70 years of age, with a lovely smile, came out. 'Hello darling!' she said. 'It's so cold out here now, you should be at home'. Holly just looked at her, and didn't move. 'Well, would you like to come in for a while to warm up?' Holly didn't need to be asked again. She dashed into the house. Mmmm, it smelled lovely, roast chicken maybe, and a sweet smell, like mince pies.
Holly followed the lady into the living room. She sat down, and the two looked at each other. 'I will be having my Christmas dinner in while' she said. 'It would be so nice to have company, would you care to join me?'

After a lovely meal, and the washing up done, the lady settled back into her armchair in front of the fire, with a small sherry. On her lap Holly purred stretched and looked up adoringly at the lady.
So this was Christmas! Holly didn't think she would bother crossing back over those fields in any hurry!

[Gemini]

Daisy, Poppy, Lily and Rose.

The four flower fairy dolls were the stars of the Christmas tree. Every year the four of them proudly hung there, amongst the stars, baubles, Santas and reindeer.
Each year , waiting in their box, they wondered who would be nearest the top. None of them was on the top of the tree, a silver star had that privileged position. The sisters, for these dolls were sisters, all wanted that prime position at the front of the tree not far from the top.
'You were there last year Daisy!' Rose moaned, 'and before that Lily was there for two years in a row! It's really not fair. It will definitely be me this year'. 'Or Poppy', said Daisy, standing up for the much quieter sister.
'Oh, I don't mind, In a way I quite like being lower down and not right in front' Poppy whispered.
'Evie will choose'. said Lily. 'As she gets older I hope she will remember who was where last year, and give us our fair turns!'. 'I hope so!' said Rose her cheeks as pink as her dress ' and I hope she chooses me this time!'
The other 3 dolls looked at each other. They were used to Roses bossy ways!

Daisy in her yellow dress, Rose in her pink, Poppy in red and Lily in white, each was equally beautiful. They had the sweetest faces and pretty curly long hair. Each had a tiny circlet of her own flowers on her head, and each dress was adorned with tiny shimmering sequins.
Evie loved the dolls and would have chosen to keep them in her bedroom and play with them all year round, were it up to her! Her mum told her they were delicate and special. Given to her one Christmas when she was a little girl, a special present from her Grandmother. They had been a feature on every Christmas tree in Evie's mums life since she was 6 years old.
Evie was 8 years old. Since she was 3 her mum had let her choose which doll went where on the tree. Little did she know how important this was to the fairies!

The dolls were now out of their box. Evie had been allowed to help her mum to gently wipe their faces with a soft cloth, and arrange their clothes and hair neatly. The four dolls stood proudly on the coffee table, knowing they looked their best. They could see the Christmas tree standing in the corner. It looked lovely, with many tiny lights and colourful decorations, the silver star on top. Daisy looked at her sisters 'I wonder if there is room for us on the tree this year?' she asked in a rather worried voice. 'I think they will have to move that robin to make room for me near the top' Rose replied.
Just then Evie and her mum came into the room. Mum set a large cardboard box down on the coffee table. Evie jumped up and down. 'Mummy, I'm so excited, I can't wait to see what Grandma sent me!'. 'I think you will like it' smiled her mum. 'It's perfect.'

Ten minutes later Daisy, Poppy, Lily and Rose each stood proudly on top of her own tiny tree! Evies Grandma had sent her four small trees, just right for a fairy doll each.
'Where shall we put them?' Asked Evies mum. 'In the window!' Evie pleaded '. ' I think the fairies will like to look out, and everyone passing will see them!'
All that Christmas season passers by admired the beautiful flower fairy dolls on the miniature trees, on the window sill, lit by tiny lights. Four dolls were the happiest they had ever been.
Daisy, Poppy, Lily and Rose!

[Gemini]

A Proper Family Christmas

"Bah Humbug!" Ellie muttered to herself.
After a long day at work with some very difficult clients to deal with, the last thing she felt like doing was writing Christmas cards.
The box of cards had sat on the dining room table for weeks now. It had been moved off last week when they had friends round to dinner, then back again,
Tomorrow was the final day for first class posting, and several needed giving out at work and posting though letterboxes locally, but nothing had been written.

It wasn't that Ellie didn't enjoy Christmas itself. She did. Time off work, good food, plenty of booze, lazing around in new Christmas pyjamas watching Netflix, what was there to not like? With both sets of parents doing their own thing this year - Ellie's on a cruise with friends, and Phil's visiting his sister and family in France, they truly could do their own thing, which basically would be chill out, eat, drink and do very little!
With a glass of red wine beside her, Ellie sat down to get the job done, she couldn't put it off any longer. Address book and pen ready, she read through the list.
Amanda and John, Tick. Kate and Adam, Tick. Mark and Ryan, Tick. Lucy, Paul, Josh and Phoeobe, Tick. As Ellie chose each card, wrote inside, then ticked it off the list, she felt better. "I don't know why I didn't do this sooner!" she thought to herself.

The following day Phil came home with a Christmas tree, and they decorated it together after work. Ellie moved almost all the decorations around later on. Phil knew she would, and said nothing. A Christmas tradition! The white star shaped lights draped over the mirror, extra Christmas scented candles around the room, presents beneath the tree, and the job was done,

On Christmas Eve, after finishing at lunch time, Ellie went to the Red Lion next door to the office, for a glass of mulled wine with Vicky and Fiona from work, another tradition.
"Just a very small one" said Vicky. "With three kids to collect from the childminders and keep from bouncing off the walls with excitement until bedtime, and my in-laws due early evening, I need a clear head!"
Fiona and Miles were heading off to Shropshire to stay with her parents. "Miles packed the car this morning, so not much to do but get changed and head off. It's great to see everyone, of course it is" Ellie sensed a But coming on. "With 3 little nephews there for Christmas, and this year a new baby niece, it's far from peaceful at mum and dads!"
"Nice though" Vicky chipped in "A proper family Christmas" Fiona smiled. A polite smile.
Ellie got the impression that a part of both friends envied her simple, no family, do-as-you please, Christmas.

After kissing her friends goodbye and all wishing each other a Happy Christmas, Ellie set off on the short walk home. She was glad of her scarf and gloves, it was a very cold, crisp afternoon.
Outdoor lights twinkling, festive music heard through shop doorways, Christmas trees shining out through windows, people hurrying home to be with loved ones. She felt she was catching the Christmas spirit at last!

She hung up her coat and put on her slippers. She lit the fairy lights, and a couple of the scented candles, and put on a Christmas carols CD to really set the Christmas mood.
Phil came in an hour later, kissed his wife then headed for the shower. Ellie opened the fridge door. Was it too early for a glass of Prosecco? She decided perhaps it was, as her mulled wine had been a large one!
On the shelves were the chicken , ready made gravy and prepared veg ready for tomorrows meal. On the shelf above was the delicious buffet food which they were going to eat tonight, by the fire, with Prosecco . All courtesy of M & S. In the cupboard was a Christmas pudding, shortbread biscuits and a few other goodies.
Ellie smiled to herself. This was going to be a good Christmas. Apart from a walk on Boxing Day to shake off the cobwebs followed by a meal with friends at their favourite country pub, it would be just Ellie, Phil, peace and relaxation in their cosy Christmassy home.

Just as she settled onto the sofa, glass of Prosecco in one hand, remote in the other, Ellie heard knock at the door.
She got there just before Phil, who was coming down the stairs, smelling deliciously of posh shower gel and looking adorable in his soft blue fleece and jeans.
Ellie opened the door to be met by the sight of her sister Fay, baby in her arms. Beside her was two year old Oscar, clinging onto the decidedly grubby looking blanket which he seemed to take everywhere.
Ellie remembered this blanket well. They had been on a never-to-be-repeated weekend in a cottage with Fay, Richard and the children in September. The nights were punctuated with the baby crying (which was to be expected, he was only a few weeks old) and Oscar plaintively and loudly wailing "Want Blankie!!!" whenever he awoke and couldn't find the damned thing!
Fay thrust the baby into her sister's arms. "Take Inigo, will you, I'll help Richard bring the rest of our stuff in" Ellie was nonplussed. The rest of their stuff? Had she entered a parallel universe? One where she would think inviting her sister, brother in law and two very small children to share their quiet Christmas would be a good idea?
She looked at the baby. His little cheeks were very red, and he sucked furiously at his blue dummy. Even Ellie with little experience of babies, recognised the signs of teething when she saw them.
"Go to Uncle Phil!" she said with false brightness and passed the baby over to a confused Phil.
By now Fay, Richard and various bags and boxes were in the house, and the front door closed.
Ellie looked expectantly at her sister, who flopped down into the armchair.
"What a carry on!" she exclaimed "Christmas Eve afternoon, and our heating packed up. No one will come out to it until the 27th. We couldn't stay there, not with Oscar and the baby. Mum and Dad aren't an option, as you know. Most selfish of them to swan off like that and miss their youngest grandsons first Christmas, if you ask me"
"Well it had been planned for some time,and is to celebrate their oldest friends anniversary" Ellie interrupted.
"Well, whatever, anyway" Fay continued "We knew you two were on your own, and bored, so what better surprise for you than a Proper Family Christmas?!"
Ellie could think of several.
"We boxed all our food, told Santa the boys would be here", she said with a wink " and here we are!"

Richard settled Oscar on the cream sofa with Blankie, a carton of sticky apple juice and bag of crunchy organic carrot snacks, and Paw Patrol on the TV.
Fay rubbed teething gel onto Inigo's gums, before rifling though his bag, depositing many toys onto the floor, searching for a rusk.
Ellie and Phil met in the kitchen. Phil poured his wife a very large glass of Merlot.
"Happy Christmas?" he said wearily.

THE END

[Oma]

Mary was up at 6 on Christmas day , she wanted it to go smoothly this year not like last ,
Last Christmas day started ok then went down hill fast ,

Firstly Bubble, Karl & Peter's hamster got out of his cage and was running loose in the house ,
They tried to keep it quiet as Douglas and the kids frantically searched for it before Aunty Babs turned up , two hours later still no sign of it ,that was until Aunty Babs was in and sitting on the sofa and the little devil run over her foot

ALL hell broke out with Aunty Babs standing on a dining room chair screaming blue murder ,Uncle Colin shouting at her to shut up meaning she sulked all day and wouldn't speak to him ,
Then the dog decided to help himself to some sprouts and had to be put in the garden till after lunch .
With everything going on Mary forgot the Turkey and it was rather dark brown and dry , Her father wasn't pleased he liked the Turkey leg and grumbled all through lunch because it was burnt ,
Douglas's Mother almost chocked on a pea and had to be slapped on the back till it shot out of her mouth at high speed straight into the gravy ,

So this year Mary had cooked the Turkey the night before it was safely wrapped in tin foil on a high shelf in the larder so not even the dog could reach it ,

Snowy The Mouse who had replaced Bubble( who sadly died in April ) was safely out of reach on top of the wardrobe with strong straps tied around the cage making sure there was no chance of escape .

11am everyone started to arrive , Aunty Babs & Uncle Colin , Doug's Parents ,Her Parents ,
There Daughter Fay had arrived last night with her current boyfriend , a rather odd hippy type but nice enough boy , who dropped in that he was a vegetarian at 10pm last night so Mary had to frantically sort through her recipe books to make a alternative for him , luckily she had lots to make a nut roast and Veggie gravy ,

1pm and Christmas lunch was ready to serve , everyone took there seats even the twins who all morning had been glued to the TV playing some awful game on there new Play station , at the age of 10 that's all they were interested in
Molly there 14 year old Goth was at the age of thinking everything was boring so was plugged into her phone and reluctantly put it down when Mary gave her the look .

Two hours later Mary stood in the doorway surveying the scene of chaos , her lovely set table looked like a plague of locust had hit it , the Dog was happily clearing the floor of any food that had dropped there ,
In the sitting room Doug's Father and her Father were talking about football and it was getting quite heated ,
Marys mother was sitting with her knitting and trying to not look drunk ,
Doug's Mother was curled up in the corner of the Sofa asleep her teeth slowly slipping out and Doug had just saved them being plucked out by the twins who were giggling behind the sofa now ,

Molly had retreated to her room as she hated old people and everything about Christmas apparently ,

Aunty Babs and Uncle Colin were squabbling over the TV Times and who had ate more of the Purple sweets from the Quality street tin ,
Fay and her Boyfriend Craig were playing Chess well trying to as Fay had never played before ,,Craig was patiently going over and over the moves with her but she wasn't taking it in at all ,

Doug came behind her , Go sit down love ill make Coffee , Shall I make sandwiches do you think ? What after all that food Mary said , I don't think anyone will want any ,
She spoke too soon , Doug's Dad said did I hear you say sandwiches ? I wouldn't mind one and within minutes everyone was wanting one even His Mother had woke at the sound of food

That night after everyone had gone or were asleep , Mary and Doug were lying in bed talking softly so as not to disturb anyone ,
Doug said its been a good day love well done no major dramas today ,
Mary smiled apart from the Dog throwing up in the hall you mean ,
What a family we have a rag bag bunch not a sane one amongst us .

Doug pulled her too him snuggled in and whispered ,yes but they are our rag bag bunch
Smiling Mary agreed , drifted off to sleep thinking how lucky they really were ,
The End

[Gemini]

Holly Cottage

When Julia and Ray Palmer moved into Holly Cottage three days before Christmas, everyone remarked how lucky that was.
Julia had no idea why they said this, but five years later, she had seen little evidence to support the statement.
The cottage itself was lovely. They had done a lot of work on it, transforming a tiny run down house with draughty windows and no central heating, to a larger and very smart and comfortable home.The holly bush to match the name of the house still thrived in the front garden.

Their home excepted,everything seemed to have gone wrong during those five years.
The company that Ray worked for went bust. He found another job eventually, but for some time it was hard, with all the expenses of the renovations to the cottage.
Julia's credit card was cloned, which caused much distress and inconvenience.
Then things got even worse. Ray's mother died suddenly of a heart attack. Three weeks later Julia had her first miscarriage.
That summer, feeling the need of a healing break after the losses, Julia and Ray booked a holiday in the Maldives.
The holiday wasn't quite as wonderful as the brochures suggested. Then the airline lost their luggage.
Life just didn't seem to allow the couple to breath or relax for long before something else happened.

It had been almost three years since that first miscarriage, and in that time they had lost two more babies.
They spent a lot of time in clinics and seeing obstetricians and fertility experts.. The sad conclusion was that Julia would never be able to carry a pregnancy to term.
Whenever one of her friends announced a pregnancy, or showed off a new baby Julia was always happy for them. Part of her died a little each time though, just wishing it could be her turn.
In time Julia had to come to terms with the fact that she would never carry or give birth to a baby. She wasn't happy about it, she didn't think it was fair, but she had to accept it, for her own sanity.
She was healthy, and loved, and had a lovely home and most things that she wanted, so, although never forgetting her lost babies, she moved on.

Throughout the following summer, Julia began to feel happier and more at peace with the world.

By autumn, she felt more positive and more settled than she had for a very long time. With December her thoughts turned to Christmas. 'This one will be a good one' she decided.
'We will make the cottage look fabulous, inside and out. We will socialise and celebrate, and just throw ourselves into this festive season. Time to look forward, not back!!'

On the morning of December 23rd Julia picked up the Christmas mail from the doormat. The number of envelopes had really slowed down now that Christmas was almost here. Ignoring the two Christmas cards and the camping holiday brochure, she seized the other envelope.

That evening Ray came home from work, and kissed his wife. 'You look happy darling! Good day?'
'Excellent day', Julia replied and pointed to the Christmas tree, a huge smile on her face. 'What?' laughed Ray.
'The present'
'Yes, I see lots of presents'
'That one on it's own, at the front. That's an early one. I want you to open it now'
Feeling slightly bemused, Ray reached down for the box and unwrapped the large red parcel with gold stars on it. Inside was a smaller white box.
'Open it! Julia urged.
Ray did so, and inside he found an envelope. 'It's like Pass The Parcel!' he joked.
Seeing the look on his wife's face, he hurried to open the envelope.
A huge grin lit up Rays face.
Yippee!' he cried
'Just in time for Christmas', said Julia 'What perfect timing! Our daughters adoption certificate will be the best Christmas present'.
'Indeed it will' smiled Ray, pulling both Julia, and baby Grace who was smiling up at him from her mothers arms, into a loving hug.

[Oma]

It was Christmas eve , Charlotte had had a very busy day in the shop , everyone looking for that last present ,
Judith one of her assistants had been at the wrapping station all day her fingers sore from several paper cuts , was Now putting everything back in its place ,
Jimmy the delivery boy and Reg the Driver were sweeping up the stock room both singing along to the Christmas songs on the radio .

This year had been good for business not like the last few years when at several points she thought she might have to shut up shop and let her staff go ,
Shall I put the kettle on Boss? said Judith Yes please said Charlotte we will have a quick cupper before we cash up .

Just then the shop door opened and a tall striking looking man in his mid 30s came in , Smiling Charlotte asked if she could help him with anything
No Mam he said in a deep southern drawl I'm just browsing for now if that's ok with you ,
Yes of course please feel free

Judith was making dramatic swooning impressions behind his back and Charlotte was trying hard not to laugh

OMG said Judith all my Christmases have came at once he's gorgeous ,
Does he remind you of anyone asked Charlotte I have a feeling I have seen him before !!
You got to be kidding me said Judith I wouldn't forget him if I had seen him before , be still my beating heart ,
Laughing she went to put the kettle on but kept peeking out to look at him ,

After some time he asked for her help choosing a silk scarf , Is it for a special lady ? asked Charlotte

Kind of he said I'm hoping to visit with someone my Father got to know a long time ago when he worked in England , He passed on last year and made me promise to contact her ,
Oh I'm sorry for your loss I hope you get to see her over the holidays and your meeting is enjoyable ,
With that Charlotte wrapped the scarf in a pretty box and he left thanking her .

She locked the shop door behind him and put the closed sign up , Judith and the men had Coffee and some special cakes Charlotte had bought ,
Judith chatted on about who he could be and who was he visiting , Charlotte was only half listening she couldn't get it out of her head that she had seen him before .

Two hours later Charlotte was in the kitchen helping her Mum with the Sprouts and all of the rest of the trimmings ready for Christmas dinner tomorrow , Toby her husband was setting the table and there Daughter and the cat were curled up on the sofa reading a book together , well the poor cat had no choice he was being held down by their 4 year old but he was quite patient and didn't kick up a fuss .

Charlotte always loved being in this house it had been hers and Mums home since she was a little girl , She was a only child and her Step father had died when she was very small , she could hardly remember him , it hadn't been a good marriage for her Mother but he did leave her with enough money to keep living in this house so her mother was thankful for that , she never talked about her real father and Charlotte never asked

On the dresser in the hall were several photos in silver frames of family and friends ,as Charlotte passed by on her way up stairs she glanced at them and stopped dead ,
No it cant be , she now realised who the man in the shop reminded her of , Amongst the photos was a group Photo of her Mother and 3 friends in her youth , her mother cherished this photo .

Just then the door bell rang Charlotte knew who it was instantly ,
Hello Charlotte he said , he knew her name !! Mum charlotte managed to call out as she showed him into the front room . the room kept for special occasions ,

What is it love her mother said coming out of the kitchen drying her hands on her apron
Looking up she stopped dead she was looking into the same eyes as the man she had loved and lost all those years ago ,
Hello Travis she said , so you know about me asked Travis ,
Oh yes ive always known about you , Charlotte could you give us a moment please said her Mum .

Going into the kitchen she told Toby what had transpired throughout the day ending with , hes in the front room with Mum now , who can he be ?

Well we will find out soon enough said toby ,
30 minutes went by then her Mum called her into the room ,

Charlotte I want you to meet your Brother Travis

MY what squealed Charlotte looking from her mother to Travis then Toby

Its a long story but putting it briefly , before I married Dad I met Michael Travis's father and had a love affair , he was working over hear but had a wife back home , we loved each other but he loved her too and Travis .
He had to go back we both knew that , then I found out I was Pregnant with you , he provided for you secretly for years , your Dad found out and that's what started all the trouble although by then our Marriage had hit the rocks I should never have married him anyway but that's another story to be told another time ,

Charlotte was stunned , why didn't you tell me I had a brother she asked ,

Why come now Charlotte asked looking at Travis ?
Because before my father passed he made me promise to come and see your mother and it had to be on the Eve of your 30th Birthday , That's when he intended coming over to finally introduce himself to you in person so that's why I'm hear

He didn't know me So why now ?

Pulling a small photo album from his pocket he handed it to her , looking at it Charlotte gasped and started to cry
Each page had a photograph of her sitting on Santa's knee she must have been 4 until she turned 10 when she no longer believed ,
She remembered each one , Santa would call at the house each Christmas time and stay a long time chatting and playing games with her asking what she wanted for Christmas .

It has been her Father all along ,
It was the only way he could see you without you knowing who he was , you didn't know anyone else but Dad as your father and we didn't want you to be confused , said Mum
He loved you said Travis , my mother knew about you and your mother but forgave him and understood his reasons for coming each year to see you , he always called you his Christmas baby ,

This was one hell of a Christmas Charlotte thought and a surprise for her30th Birthday tomorrow Christmas day , no doubt there was more to the story but it was just too much to take in at the moment

Lets have tea said Toby and get to know each other , Travis looked at Charlotte , is that ok sis he asked ,
Sis he called her sis !! she quite liked that wait till Judith hears about this she thought with a smile

Its Christmas said Mum squeezing her hand time for Family , what do you say love ? lets have Travis come for Christmas dinner and to celebrate your Birthday see how it goes

Ok Mum but we have a lot of talking to do ,

Good said Toby , now Travis come and meet your niece , Dazed Charlotte followed them into the kitchen passing the photo in the hall on the way
Merry Christmas Dad she heard herself saying , she was sure she heard him say Merry Christmas my Christmas baby back to her

[Clover]

Lovely stories ladies.Your heads must be full of ideas

Here is my contribution.A story in poem form.
More for the .little ones and those young in heart


Brown Mouse’s Christmas Adventure


Twas the night before Christmas and in the still house
Something was stirring ,a little brown mouse.
He’d heard an old story of a man dressed in red
Who came down the chimney when all were in bed.
It was only one night of the year that he came
So seeing this person was mousey’s main aim.
He crept from his nest down under the stair
Leaving his family sleeping there.
In a far corner he could just see
Covered in sparkle, a green forest tree.
On a small table standing nearby
Was a glass of fresh milk and a crispy mince pie.
Although it was wrong, the temptation was great
And little mouse jumped right on to the plate!
He nibbled the pastry so crumbly and sweet
Then tasted the filling of homemade mincemeat
All of a sudden a noise made him stop,
Something fell from the chimney with a loud plop!
Mouse scampered away to hide under the tree
Wondering what this strange object could possibly be
Getting up from the hearth was a man dressed in red
“Wow” said brown mouse “like that old story said!”
The old man put parcels under the tree
Then looked at the plate and said “Goodness me,
Someone has nibbled my Christmas mince pie!”
Though he spoke with a chuckle and a smile in his eye.
Then he caught site of brown mouse hiding under the tree.
And said “Come out little mouse, don’t be frightened of me
I love nice mince pies but I’ve had one or two,
My tummy’s quite full so this one’s for you”
And then he was gone in the blink of an eye
Leaving brown mousey all alone with the pie.
So mouse took the pie back into his nest
Saying “This thing they call Christmas is really the best!”

[Daisy]

Phew, finally finished!


CHRISTMAS TRADITIONS

It was the morning of Christmas Eve and I stood in the hallway, and looked round at the twinkling Christmas tree with a prettily dressed angel right at the top. Looking through into the lounge I could see all the festive decorations, and the angel of my childhood Christmas’s, now rather battered but having pride of place on the mantlepiece.

The house was quiet, waiting, ready for …. for what? The Big Day, of course. The dogs snored gently by the fire, any minute now they’d get up panting and find somewhere cooler to sleep off their morning walk.

I picked up a card, all glittery and traditional with its frosted snow scene. It was from Auntie Silvia, Dad’s sister, who had emigrated to Canada many years ago. I didn’t need to re-read the letter she had sent with it - I knew it off by heart …. “it will be a different Christmas for you this year, dear, as it will be for me. But it will be what you make it, and you will keep some of your old traditions, but it’s important that you start to make some new ones as well.”

I felt my eyes fill wit hot tears. Pulling a tissue out of my pocket I sat down on the stairs and started to sob. I couldn’t stop, great heaving sobs that left me gasping for breath. Jeff, my parent’s little Jack Russell, came and climbed on my knee, anxiously licking me. He knew as well - it wouldn’t, couldn’t be the same. Roxy our lazy labrador, carried on gently snoring.

Christmas was a time for families, a time to be together, to press the pause button on everyday life and follow the age old Christmas traditions. The preparations for the Big Day were each eagerly anticipated, talked about endlessly and enjoyed for what they were - a step closer to the Day itself.

At school we made decorations out of paper chains and cut out lanterns to decorate our classrooms, and in the Hall there would be the tree, covered in more decorations.

At home, Dad would take my three brothers out to buy the Christmas tree while Mum and I made mince pies and a big trifle. My two oldest brothers, Peter and Derek, would hold the tree while Dad buried the trunk in a big bucket of sand, covered with red crepe paper. Then my little brother, Timmy helped me to put on the decorations. The same ones every year. It was like greeting old friends, and we’d say “where did we put that last year” or “let’s put that one at the front, it’s so sparkly”. Then Dad would lift Timmy right up to the ceiling so he could put the angel right at the top. We always argued about whether our angel was a boy or a girl, but I knew definitely it was a girl!

Eventually, it was Christmas Eve. Mum would be busy in the kitchen, preparing for our huge Christmas Dinner. In the afternoon we hung up our stockings along the mantlepiece in the front room. Dad promised not to light a fire until Santa had been, and we put a glass of sherry and 2 mince pies out for Santa and some carrots for Rudolph and the other reindeers.

As we got older, we were allowed to go to Midnight Mass with our Mum and Dad. We’d leave home about 10.30, still taking casual glances up into the sky, just in case, even though we’d long stopped believing in a portly gent in a red coat. The church would be lit with hundreds of candles and we’d greet our friends, all wondering what would be in our stockings the next day. We sang the well-known carols at the top of our voices - and willingly put half our week’s pocket money in the collection plate. Then there was the walk home, our legs tired, and one last check of our stockings before tumbling into bed.

Eventually of course, one by one we left home, but each year plans would start early to make sure we were all home by Christmas Eve. Mum would make an enormous fish pie and we would sit down at the kitchen table to eat, chat and laugh. Then at 10.30 we would wrap up warm and walk to the Church for Midnight Mass. It was the only time I went to Church, but somehow it seemed right. It was joyous, peaceful and grounding. Many things change, even the words of the service were ‘modernised’, but it was still my family’s official start to Christmas. It was a special, magical family time. Over the years we were joined by girl and boy friends, eventually wives and for me my husband, Stephen. Babies arrived, as they do, and they grew into children and in the blink of an eye it seemed, teenagers.

We gathered at Mum and Dad’s on Christmas Eve and we celebrated our traditional Christmas as we’d always done. Sometimes someone would be missing, but most years we all made it to Mum and Dad’s for our family Christmas.

But this year nothing at all would be the same. It felt as though I’d been tossed into a deep dark ocean and I felt lonely, frightened and very sad. In just a few short months my dear Mum had passed away with double pneumonia. She had been fine one minute, and the next she was in hospital, in intensive care and then one morning as I sat holding her hand, with Dad holding her other, she gently sighed and was gone. Dad tried to be strong, as he’d always been, for all of us, and we begged him to sell up the old family home and come and live with us. He was determined to keep his independence, and carry on without his wife of nearly 60 years at his side, but I am sure the sudden and devastating stroke he suffered just 7 weeks later was a loving heart, breaking. In less than two months my brothers and I had lost the very foundations of our lives. We sadly sold up their home, and tried to be thankful that both parents had had long and healthy lives right up to the end. It didn’t work, of course - how could I be thankful that the pillars of my whole life had gone so suddenly.

And then it was Christmas. My oldest brother, Peter was in the Army and his family were overseas on a posting, My second brother, Derek, was a senior engineer, had drawn the short straw and was on call over Christmas, meaning he had to be within half an hour of his office. Timmy, the youngest, had taken a sabbatical and was in America. His wife, Sandi, was expecting their third baby and couldn’t fly. It was just going to be me, Stephen and our children, the twins, Dawn and Andrea and son Christopher, all at university but, thankfully, home for the holidays.

How could we make a good Christmas amid such sadness and loss!

Stephen, hearing my sobs, came and sat with me on the stairs.

“Love, come on, I know it’s awful, but we’ve still got to think about the kids, big as they are”.

“I don’t think I can do it. I can’t do Christmas. I just can’t. They’re all going to a party Christmas Eve. We’ll be on our own.”

“Well is that so bad?” asked Stephen, putting his arm round me. “Look” he said, “I’ve been thinking and I’ve talked to the kids and we think it’s time to do something different.”

“But I don’t want to …. to, to doing something different, I want our proper Christmas.” He passed me his nice big clean hankie and I snuffled into it, trying to stem the sobs.

“Let’s have a nice quiet evening in front of the fire. We can even watch ‘Miracle on 34th Street’ on DVD if you want to, and tomorrow the kids have said they’ll get up early with us and we’ll go to the early morning service at church, come home, open presents and have a late Christmas Dinner.”

Stephen gently kissed me, and with a twinkle in his eye, asked where the mistletoe was. I gave a tearful smile and putting my arms round him gave him a grateful hug. “What would I do without you! I’m sorry for being such a misery.”

A new pattern was forming. A quiet night in for us, the children out partying as young people will.

Christmas Day dawned, bright and sunny, and quite mild, so we walked with our lovely, caring and very nearly grown up children to Church. A different church, of course, and one I was nowhere near as familiar with as the one close to our old family home. The candles were electric and the vicar and people doing the readings all used microphones. But the choir sang with that beautiful unearthly quality that sends tingles down my back.

Afterwards, we stepped out into the unseasonable warmth and sunshine. As we walked down the path to the gate I caught a waft of scent from a beautiful Daphne bush, and as I paused to enjoy the perfume a bright brimstone butterfly fluttered its yellow wings and landed gently, and briefly on my arm, before disappearing over the hedge.

“Thank you Mum and Dad”, I whispered. “I can build some new traditions for Christmas, but I will never forget all those wonderful, magical years.”


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