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Advent Drabbles: December18th (part 3: 22:25)

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#1: Advent Drabbles: December18th (part 3: 22:25) Author: Advent Drabblers,

Posted: Tue Dec 18, 2007 6:24 am
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It was Christmas Eve, and Claire de Mabillon was far too excited to sleep. She had spent the day helping to put up the decorations, dressing the tree and arranging greenery around the room. The last thing to go out was the lovely nativity scene, sitting in pride of place on the mantelshelf. At the moment the manger was empty, but tomorrow, when she came downstairs, the Baby would be there, she knew. It has snowed hard all day, so that there had been no going out for anyone, but the previous day had been fine, and all the Maynard clan had joined together to make an enormous snowman. He was twice her height and very fat. All she had managed at the end was to press little stones into his tummy for buttons. The other Maynard children had given him a long carrot for his nose, big stones for his eyes, and a line of little ones for his mouth. He wore a battered old hat, and had a bright red scarf wound round his neck. Claire thought him very smart indeed.
The bedroom door opend and Jo Maynard came into the room.
“Still awake?” she asked. “Christmas won’t come any quicker for you lying awake waiting for It, you know.”
Claire smiled. “I know. I just couldn’t sleep,” she said.
“I can bring you some hot milk if you like.”
“No, thank you! I don’t like that at all!” said Claire, pulling a face.
“I should settle down then,” said Jo. “Or it will have to be the milk.”
Once Jo had left the room, Claire lay there quietly, wondering if it had finally stopped snowing. After a while, unable to stop herself, she got out of bed very quietly and went to the window. To her delight the sky had cleared, and the garden was flooded with moonlight. The snowman was looking quite shaggy with his coat of fresh snow hiding the firm outline they had made.
As Claire watched, the figure seemed to shake slightly, and the fresh snow fell away. Then the Snowman looked up at her bedroom window and waved at her. Claire waved back, not sure that she really believed what she was seeing. The Snowman beckoned to her, and her eyes lit up with excitement. This was more fun than trying to go to sleep. She struggled into some warm clothes, keeping an ear open for any movement outside the bedroom. Then she opened the window and looked down. The Snowman was standing right below her, ready to catch her. Claire swung her legs over the sill and let herself frop into his waiting arms.

Last edited by Advent Drabblers on Tue Dec 18, 2007 10:29 pm; edited 3 times in total

#2: Author: Fiona Mc, Location: Bendigo, Australia

Posted: Tue Dec 18, 2007 6:50 am
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I like the sound of this. Thanks

#3: Author: Travellers Joy, Location: Middle of Nowhere

Posted: Tue Dec 18, 2007 8:34 am
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Ooh, nice! Shocked

#4: Author: Liz K, Location: Bedfordshire

Posted: Tue Dec 18, 2007 9:00 am
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Oooooooooohhhhhhhhhhh this does sound good.

#5: Author: Dawn, Location: Leeds, West Yorks

Posted: Tue Dec 18, 2007 2:52 pm
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Ooooooooohhh! fabulous

#6: Author: Advent Drabblers,

Posted: Tue Dec 18, 2007 4:04 pm
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Father Christmas was having a difficult time this year. He knew what to pack for Nell's stocking, that had been prepared for a long time, ever since he found Robbie's new Joke Catalogue, which had been slipped him by Shane. Hilda however was much harder. He read the lists, and checked them twice, in fact he had even checked his checking twice, but there was no way around it. She was on the good list despite the little incident. In fact despite several 'little incidents'. When she was good, she was very very good, despite the fact that when she was bad she was horrid. He had scratched his head, scratched his beard, sneezed three times and looked in the toy sack, but still had no idea what to give Hilda.

The trouble was she had so many personalities. There was the traditional Hilda, that hardworking, wise, knowledgable Headmistress who shaped the lives of so many girls; then there was the Fun Hilda, the secret lover, drinker, gambler, vice queen, beloved of so many for the complete contrast; the Glasses Wearing Hilda was very much like the traditional Hilda, but with a weakness that hinted at the possibility of her being slightly human; then Modern Hilda embraced both her past and the current ways of thinking and doing things, living life to the full while maintaining her own standards. There were other Hildas too, some more obvious than others, but each so different. How was he to decide what kind of present she would really like. The one present that was suitable above all else.

Of course he could give her a multitude of gifts, but that would be cheating. It would also put the world out of balance, he could only give a finite number of gifts after all, there had to be enough to go around and it was hard enough getting them all delivered without weiging the sleigh down with extra gifts for multiple personalities of headmistresses. He had read the physics books and the science fiction books and then the fantasy books and knew which he thought was bearest the truth. Father Christmas firmly believed that if he over loaded the sleigh and delivered too many presents then the world going out of balance would mean a wobble on the time axis and a ripple in the reality cortex of the universe. This could have consequences that disturbed even his traditional January nap.

So, back to the story, Father Christmas, Hilda, Presents, Decisions. Wolrd. Time. Reality. Buck to be passed.

#7: Author: PaulineS, Location: West Midlands

Posted: Tue Dec 18, 2007 7:40 pm
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O my!!! Poor Father Christmas!

#8: Author: abbeybufo, Location: Romsey, Hampshire - UK

Posted: Tue Dec 18, 2007 8:35 pm
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Ho Ho Ho indeed Laughing

#9: Author: Advent Drabblers,

Posted: Tue Dec 18, 2007 10:25 pm
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Claire expected the Snowman to be cold and wet, so was surprised to be held inside a warm, cosy cocoon; she looked up, trustingly into the round smily face. Then, at his signal, scrambled up to sit on his shoulders. The Snowman quickly looked round and then leapt into the air, his arms outstretched, Claire on his back shouting wildly. They shot up into the moonlit sky, leaving the snowy world of the Platz far below them. Claire could feel the wind in her face but was too excited to feel cold, instead, shouting in the Snowman's ear she urged him to go faster still, up and down, up and down until she could feel weightlessness on the downward journeys. The Snowman did not speak but Claire could understand him when he looked over her shoulder, she thought for a moment then called out,

"Toward India, Auntie Madge tells me about it sometimes."

The Snowman smiled and headed East, further and further they flew, faster and faster, across snowy hills and mountains, across silent black seas. Then, in the distance, were mountains so high even the Snowman had to pause, these mountains not only touched, they pierced the sky.

"You can do it," Claire said encouragingly.

Tha Snowman took a figurative deep breath and rose higher and higher, Claire shouting encouragement all the time, she grew short of breath but kept urging him on, they were almost to the top, almost there...almost there...almost.............

CLANG!!!!

There was a terrible collision in mid-air! Claire saw the Snowman flatten against the underside of a huge sleigh and she was thrown from his back to land...on the back of a reindeer! She looked over to see a huge man, with a brilliant white beard and dressed in red furs with black boots.

"You?" The question came from both Claire and the man at the same time, before either could say anything the sleigh rocked as the Snowman disintegrated, Claire screamed and the man quickly reached down beneath the sleigh and grabbed the Snowman's head, he threw it across toward the reindeer next to Claire and, as it reached there it was suddenly whole once more and sitting on the reindeer's back. He looked across at Claire and grinned.

"What are you doing here, Claire de Mabillon?" Claire looked back at the big man as he was speaking, "You should be fast asleep in your bed - I'll be over Switzerland in just a few hours."

"Father Christmas?" Claire gulped, "I'm so sorry, Mr Snowman and me..."

"Mr Snowman and I, child," Father Christmas corrected with a smile, "what would your Auntie Hilda say?"

Claire giggled, "She'd be all upset, Father Christmas - she's forever telling me to speak properly."

"I know, my dear, it's the one thing for which she is renowned in all her incarna....that's it!" he said excitedly, he looked across at Claire, "we're going to take a small detour Claire, both you and the Snowman should hold on tight."

Claire turned round and flung her arms round the reindeer's neck, "Are we going to go faster?"

"Not exactly," the man said distractedly, "we're going back in time a few hours - I've got to get back to Australia and I've already delivered there!"

...

Christmas morning at the Head's cottage saw them opening presents, Nell's joke compendium had already managed to catch out Hilda twice, Robbie three times and Cherry once. Robbie had already knocked over the tree once trying to drive his go-cart indoors and everyone had managed a mince pie and bucks fizz.

"You didn't tell me what Santa had brought you, Hilda?" Nell asked. They had left most of the presents until after breakfast but had all opened the one in their stocking.

"Oh, he left me a book, Nell," Hilda said with a smile, she passed it across and Nell was able to read the title Eats, Shoots and Leaves.

#10: re. Author: roversgirl, Location: France

Posted: Tue Dec 18, 2007 10:30 pm
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brilliant Smile

that book always makes me think of her. thanks so much!

#11: Author: Elder in Ontario, Location: Ontario, Canada

Posted: Tue Dec 18, 2007 10:57 pm
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I'll bet that gift made Hilda's day!!

And I loved Claire's whirlwind trip 'faster than fairies, faster than witches' (sorry, can't remember who wrote it, but I think it's RL Stevenson!)

Thanks, Advent Drabblers

#12: Author: Tara, Location: Malvern, Worcestershire

Posted: Tue Dec 18, 2007 11:46 pm
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Very Happy

Of course! It couldn't be anything else! Loved Nell's joke compendium, too - and Hilda's multiple personalities. Claire and the snowman were lovely.

#13: Author: Fiona Mc, Location: Bendigo, Australia

Posted: Tue Dec 18, 2007 11:54 pm
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Im confused

. What is the book Eat, Shoots and Leaves about?

Thanks Lesley

#14: Author: Fi, Location: Somerset

Posted: Wed Dec 19, 2007 12:33 am
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Eats, Shoots and Leaves is a non-fiction book about the correct and incorrect use of punctuation in the English language. The book talks about the history of punctuation and how it is used today. The author also makes a case against the increasing amount of netspeak/ textspeak. The book also has examples of phrases, signs etc. that may be read in a way other than the one intended because the punctuation is incorrect.
E.g. "Eats, Shoots and Leaves". Does the Giant Panda eat the shoots and leaves of a plant or does he partake of food, fire a weapon and then depart (A comma can make such a difference).

It is a very good book if you can get hold of a copy.

Edited: because I should have paid more attention when I read this book Embarassed

#15: Author: Sugar, Location: second star to the right!

Posted: Wed Dec 19, 2007 2:31 am
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Wonderful ty

#16: Author: Cath V-P, Location: Newcastle NSW

Posted: Wed Dec 19, 2007 7:22 am
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Great fun! Thank you Drabblers.

#17: Author: Rosalin, Location: Swansea

Posted: Wed Dec 19, 2007 8:34 pm
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Loved Claire's journey and Hilda's present.

Thanks ADs.

#18: Author: Vikki, Location: Sitting on an iceberg, freezing to death!!!

Posted: Wed Dec 19, 2007 10:04 pm
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Oh!!! That was inspired!
Thank you!!

#19: Author: Sal, Location: Walsall / Aberystwyth

Posted: Thu Dec 20, 2007 12:11 am
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That was great thanks AD's

#20: Author: Dawn, Location: Leeds, West Yorks

Posted: Thu Dec 20, 2007 12:24 am
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That was utterly fabulous - well done all the ADers

#21: Author: Vick, Location: Leeds, Yorkshire

Posted: Fri Dec 21, 2007 11:35 am
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That was good, Thanks ADs

#22: Author: Susan, Location: Carlisle

Posted: Thu Dec 27, 2007 11:18 pm
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Brilliant thank you. And no Snowman song in the background.

#23: Author: Chair, Location: Rochester, Kent

Posted: Wed Jan 02, 2008 6:23 pm
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Thanks, Advent Drabblers. It was great to read about the Snowman and Father Christmas.

#24: Author: Kathy_S, Location: midwestern US

Posted: Sat Jan 05, 2008 1:29 am
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Inspired gifts. Smile

Glad to see the snowman could reassemble. (Though this is probably old news to people familiar with the crossover.)

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