Sian, the last two years have been extremely hard for you, I know, so I thought a special Christmas story just might help re-dress the balance a little. Enjoy!
NB I did start posting this in St Therese but apparently, if a drabble has a CBBer in, it has to be in St Clare. Please don't expect zany humour or anything
as it isn't that sort of drabble at all. A Christmas Wish Come True
Mary drove through the imposing gates, dawdled along the narrow road through the park so she and Sian could enjoy the sun shining aslant through the trees, and finally came to rest in the great house’s car park. She looked around in some surprise.
“Hmm! Very quiet for such a lovely summer’s day. Where is everybody?”
“Left it all for the ducks and us to enjoy in peace,” remarked Sian with a chuckle, indicating the small lake that lay between them and the National Trust house they had come to visit.
Mary slung her bag over her shoulder and locked the car doors. “So let’s make the most of the peace while we have it. The place looks so empty we can imagine we’re the long-dead owners and disport ourselves accordingly.”
“Dressed in lace and stays, no doubt,” giggled Sian. “No thanks! I prefer my modern fol-de-rols – much more comfortable and far easier to keep clean!”
Mary tucked her arm through her friend’s. “You’re impossible! Come on!”
They meandered along the track past the lake and watched the ducks hurtle over with loud quacks in the hope of some crumbs. Shrugging their shoulders and shouting “Sorry!” the two women continued on their way, leaving the ducks swimming round in angry circles and squawking indignantly after them.
Reaching the large front entrance, they found the door closed and no ticket office available. Strange! They pushed the stout, wooden door but it didn’t move. Sian searched the door for some sign of a bell and noticed a curious brass knocker set into the dark wood.
“A fir tree! With a star on top! Weird!” she muttered.
Mary shrugged. “Never mind – let’s give it a whirl!”
Sian cautiously lifted the brass tree, let it fall and was astonished at the loud boom which seemed to reverberate through the air. Nothing happened, however, and she had lifted her hand to do it again when the door opened with an abruptness that nearly toppled her over the threshold.
Steadying herself, she peered inside, but could see nothing, at first, against the brightness of the sun. Putting her hand up to shade her eyes, she saw two tall women slowly take shape in the dimness of the interior. They were both smartly dressed, although their clothes seemed somewhat out of date, if far more elegant, than her own light summer skirt and blouse. But why were they dressed for winter, when it was hot as could be outside?
“I’m so sorry for keeping you standing there,” said a most beautiful, mellow voice. “Do come in out of the cold!”
Cold? Startled out of her skin, and feeling strangely nervous, Sian looked round for Mary, but she was nowhere to be seen. Sian’s eyes searched everywhere frantically. Where had Mary gone? She turned back to the two women and licked her lips in sudden fright.
“I…I… seem to have lost my friend,” she stuttered “Maybe I should….”
The sturdier of the two women took matters into her own hands. She stepped forward and hauled the unwilling Sian over the threshold, while the other woman closed the door, shutting out the bright sunshine. Sian shivered uneasily. What on earth should she do?
“Please don’t be scared,” said the woman who had drawn her inside. “Mary brought you here as a surprise. She knows how fond of us you are and she thought you might enjoy a visit. Regard it as a sort of Christmas present from her.”
Sian gasped. “But it’s not Christmas! It’s the middle of summer out there…..”
Her voice trailed away. She was becoming more accustomed to the dim light now and she stared in utter disbelief. She knew these two women! Or at least something about the sturdier woman seemed familiar, though she was sure they had never met before.....
However it would seem that that this does not really fit St Clare's -
more St Scholastika's if it has to be moved - that's the one that's for 
but the plain fact of the matter is that it's true!!! 