That was beautiful - thanks Sugar.
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| And all the Angels in Heaven shall sing (reposted) http://www.the-cbb.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=14&t=8905 |
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| Author: | Sugar [ Thu Dec 23, 2010 9:17 am ] |
| Post subject: | And all the Angels in Heaven shall sing (reposted) |
I realised this week, when I was trying to direct someone to it, that this drabble managed to get deleted but not archived or archived and eaten (most likely; TEM spreading Christmas joy anyone?) Anyway, I reposted it so it can get archived at the appropriate time. Hope you enjoy it whether you are coming to it fresh or as a festive reread! The post performance excitement was palpable, the hum of chatter, laughter and merriment as Jo looked around for the Robin and realised she wasn’t in the throng of excited girls discussing Christmas with relish. Jo slipped out of the room quietly as Frieda and Grizel were debating the merits of shoes versus stockings for present storage. Unable to find her downstairs Jo ran lightly to her sisters rooms and listened at the door. She could hear Mademoiselle and her sister discussing the arrangements for leaving in the morning so pressed on regardless of the fact she shouldn’t be wandering round the drafty Chalet as the whim took her. Pushing open the door to the dormitory where Robin slept Jo stopped as she heard Robin’s small voice singing sweetly the carol which Jo had taught her. Hearing the door creak as Jo leant on it Robin gasped momentarily then continued to sing as Jo hummed Kilpatricks simple tune. As the final notes died away Jo knelt by Robin who was stood in the window looking up at the stars expectantly. “Are you OK Robinette?” asked Jo as she swallowed the lump that had formed in her throat at Robins singing. They called the her Angelkind and she was just that small, petite and angelic. “Yes Zoey” she smiled, rubbing the fist into her eyes to dispel the tears that had formed there. “Papa told me if I missed him and Mama to find a star and know that it was Mama looking down on me. He said he would look up and see the same star as me. The song you taught me says “The stars in the bright sky looked down where He lay” so I singed it to them. I miss them. She gulped but Tante Marguerite said I must be brave.” “Yes you must be!” replied Joey hugging her close, wondering about the accuracy of Mr Humphries “everyone sees the same stars” explanation to Robin. “Next year Papa will be home for Christmas? With me?” Robin asked quietly, hopefully. “Maybe Robin, maybe.” replied Jo carefully, knowing as Robin did not that the situation in Russia was far from secure. “But you’ll have a good Christmas with us.” She added cheerfully resolving to make Christmas as special as she could for the small child. “And maybe next year Papa and you” Robin sighed. ** “Above thy deep and dreamless sleep the silent stars go by.Yet in thy dark streets shineth the everlasting Light. The hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight” Nell sighed and reached over to turn the Nine Lessons and Carols program on the wireless off. Family tradition be blowed she couldn’t listen to O little town of Bethlehem without crying. Cherry had always liked it and sang it with a childlike innocence. She really ought to go to Midnight Mass tonight as they had always done but she felt closer to her own family in their home than she would in Church. Twenty two and alone. What an awful predicament to be in at Christmas. It wasn’t as if she had been forgotten by friends, many had invited her into their homes for the festive season but Nell had been brought up that Christmas was for families to be together. She felt like an intruder, like she was looking in through an invisible window. She was better at home with her memories. Or maybe she was better in Church with the Holy Family. She didn’t know what to do for the best. Maybe next year would be different. Maybe it would be less painful. Maybe she would be a part of Christmas. Standing up to draw the curtains against the cold night she looked up at the stars. “What do you think Cherry?” she asked. The stars twinkled back at her or at least she thought they did and she made her decision. She would go to Mass and celebrate the birth of the Lord. It was the right thing to do. She just hoped they weren’t planning on playing Cherry’s hymn or “The Holy and the Ivy” as there was no guarantee what she might do in either case as one made her eye and the other made her cringe. ** “Sing all that hear in heaven God's holy word. Give to our Father glory in the Highest; O come, let us adore Him.” The young woman gripped her hymn book and looked down to try and steady herself. Taking a deep breath she opened her mouth and sang. She could do this. She could do this. She could do this. “O come, let us adore Him, O come, let us adore Him, Christ the Lord.” Just don’t look at the altar Hilda she told her self calmly. Had this been such a good idea? She wondered as the hymn ended and they sat to listen to a reading from the Gospel of St Luke. “At that time the Roman emperor, Augustus, decreed that ….” Hilda didn’t listen she didn’t need to. Her father had been the Bishop who had taken the service in this his home parish for more years than Hilda had been alive. She wasn’t hearing the current reader she was hearing her Father’s rich deep voice. She shuddered violently with the cold. She always managed to sit in the path of that blasted draft no matter where she sat it seemed to find her out. Christmas without Father wasn’t going to seem like Christmas at all. Last year it had past her by overwhelmed by grief as she had been but this year she was meant to be coping. I’m fine. Except she wasn’t. The idea of Christmas with John and his family was filling her with dread. She had come to Church to find that peace and solice she needed but instead she had found a large gaping hole that left her cold and empty. She just wanted family who loved her. She had to get out of there. Maybe next year will be different she thought as she slipped out of Church quietly, grateful for her position at the back. Looking up at the twinkling stars she smiled remembering Ruth and Naomi telling her every soul was a star in the sky when her mother had died. If not next year then maybe soon. As she stood leaning against the lynchgate the exit hymn started and she smiled. It would be OK. Someone was looking out for her. I'm going away for Christmas with the hour so I hope everyone has a lovely festive season, whether you celebrate Christmas or not! |
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| Author: | Finn [ Thu Dec 23, 2010 9:43 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: And all the Angels in Heaven shall sing (reposted) |
that was lovely, Sugar. A sideways look at Christmas. Hope you have a good Christmas yourself! |
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| Author: | ChubbyMonkey [ Thu Dec 23, 2010 9:55 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: And all the Angels in Heaven shall sing (reposted) |
That was a beautiful telling of Christmas, thankyou. And, of course, merry Christmas! |
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| Author: | cestina [ Thu Dec 23, 2010 10:37 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: And all the Angels in Heaven shall sing (reposted) |
What a lovely way to look at Christmas...thank you Sugar |
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| Author: | Alison H [ Thu Dec 23, 2010 10:39 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: And all the Angels in Heaven shall sing (reposted) |
Thank you, Sugar - have a lovely Christmas. |
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| Author: | Lesley [ Fri Dec 24, 2010 4:10 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: And all the Angels in Heaven shall sing (reposted) |
That was beautiful - thanks Sugar.
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| Author: | Elbee [ Fri Dec 24, 2010 11:03 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: And all the Angels in Heaven shall sing (reposted) |
Lovely, thank you Sugar. |
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| Author: | roversgirl [ Sat Jan 01, 2011 2:39 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: And all the Angels in Heaven shall sing (reposted) |
That was lovely, Sugar. Thank you and a belated merry christmas! 
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