The CBB :: View topic - Tom's Christmas gift.

#1: Tom's Christmas gift. Author: ali, Location: medway, kent

Posted: Sun Dec 12, 2004 9:05 pm

Tom’s Christmas Gift.

It was the week before the Christmas holidays were due to begin and all was silent in the big house as Tom crept silently up the stairs to her room. This was the second time in her school career that she had disobeyed the lights-out rule and left her cubicle after hours. The first time, a few years before, she had managed to lock burglars, intent on stealing their sale goods, in the cupboard, or so she still believed. The head had felt it better not to enlighten the girl about the real identities of those she had captured for it had been the most illustrious gathering of school staff and they had been stuck in there for hours. Now as she quickly hung her dressing gown carefully onto its hook and snuggled under her covers, she gave an inward chuckle at the thought of everyone’s surprised faces the next morning when they saw the result of her midnight escapade.

She was one of the first downstairs despite her lack of sleep and sat at her desk, to all observers completing her maths prep from the night before. In reality she was waiting for a sign that her activities had been discovered. She didn’t have long to wait. A shrill scream came from the direction of the entrance hall and before long many voices could be heard exclaiming loudly. Tom made her way slowly out to see everyone’s reactions.

“Girls, what is all of this fuss about?” came a rich clear voice, and Tom knew that Miss Annersley was about to get quite a surprise. She stood quietly at the back of the crowd and waited to see what the response would be. “You should all be in your form rooms at this time, now no more noise and off you go.” The noise immediately hushed but nobody moved and Miss Annersley made her way to the front of the gathered children. A small exclamation was heard and she bent down over a beautiful wooden Nativity scene. It had a stable at the centre, a star on top, with the mother father and child inside. Outside were arranged shepherds, wise men and a selection of animals, all delicately carved. Straightening up she glanced around the room, scanning the beaming faces in front of her for a sign of who had placed it there. Then she met Tom’s eyes. Tom had the grace to blush and then turned away hoping to escape before she was denounced before all.
“Tom Gay, come out here please.” It was too late so Tom boldly strode over to her headmistress. “Am I to believe you know something about where this came from?” she was asked gently.
“Yes, I put it there.” There seemed to be nothing to add but Miss Annersley just looked at her until she felt she must speak to fill up the endless silence. “I thought the school should have a nativity for everyone to see so that when we are enjoying the end of term treats we all remember why we have them. I got the idea last year at Pater’s church. He always sets one up to remind his parishoners about the true meaning of Christmas. I just thought we should have one too.” She wound down; by now a puce colour and heartily wishing she had chosen a different manner of bestowing her gift. She’d done it this way because she wanted it to be a secret, but she should have known Miss Annersley would be onto her straight away. She should have stayed in the form room or just taken it to the heads in the first place.
Eventually Miss Annersley replied. “A thoughtful idea Tom, it’s something we will have every year now you have gifted us with such a wonderful set. But if you wanted a Nativity, you only had to ask, you know. I quite agree that we should remember the Christ Childs birth as we carry on with our every day tasks, and this is a beautiful way to do it that will be understood by all, from the youngest junior to the oldest member of staff. However we would have bought it from school funds, not from your own pocket. You must come and see Miss Dene and we will reimburse you for it.” Tom, by now, could not get any redder. She just shook her head not knowing what to say, she didn’t want everyone to know the truth. Her wish was not to be granted as a silvery voice piped up from the crowd that seemed to be made up of the entire school.
“She made it herself; Tom’s a wizard at making things from wood, just look at the dolls houses.” Tom sighed, there would be no keeping it a secret now, Verity Anne had well and truly let the cat out of the bag.
As the truth dawned on Miss Annersley she turned to her pupil and shook her hand.
“Why Tom, it really is an object of wonder, you honour our school to make such a gift to us, it must have taken a long time and shows real skill. You make us proud to have you at our school and you show us all that giving is the real gift at any time of year.
With that the school let out a cheer and many people could be heard saying that Tom Gay was a real gentleman.

#2: Author: Lesley, Location: Rochester, Kent

Posted: Sun Dec 12, 2004 9:10 pm

Awwww, that's lovely Ali - just the sort of thing that Tom would do.

*Warm and fuzzy feeling*

#3: Author: Ann, Location: Newcastle upon Tyne, England

Posted: Sun Dec 12, 2004 9:10 pm

What a lovely story! Thank you Ali, that was really sweet!

#4: Author: Carolyn P, Location: Lancaster, England

Posted: Sun Dec 12, 2004 9:18 pm

Thank you Ali. That was a lovely story, and so very Tom, both in her action of making and giving the gift, but also in her reaction to the attention. Beautiful.

#5: Author: Helen P, Location: Cheshire

Posted: Sun Dec 12, 2004 9:19 pm

That's lovely Ali - rings very true to Tom's character.

I feel all Christmassy now!

#6: Author: Mihiri, Location: surrey england

Posted: Sun Dec 12, 2004 9:35 pm

That's lovely Ali, thank you

*echoes Helen in feeling christmassy*

#7: Author: Sugarplum, Location: second star to the right!

Posted: Sun Dec 12, 2004 11:08 pm

aww that was lovely Smile

just like Tom too.

#8: Author: francesn, Location: away with the faeries

Posted: Mon Dec 13, 2004 12:41 am

awwww that's such a lovely story

i love the way tom wanted to keep it all a secret and verity-anne gave it away!

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

Posted: Mon Dec 13, 2004 1:07 am

Ali, that was beautiful! Thank you!

#10: Author: Ellie, Location: Lincolnshire

Posted: Mon Dec 13, 2004 1:39 am

What a lovely story, and so in character for Tom. Thank you Ali.

#11: Author: Chelsea, Location: Your Imagination

Posted: Mon Dec 13, 2004 4:32 am

So beautiful. Yay for Tom.

So, you have your baby in the Navity from the 'get go'? I ask because we only put him in on Christmas Eve. Everyone else in the scene is waiting for him until then - at least I think that is the idea.

#12: Author: patmac, Location: Yorkshire England

Posted: Mon Dec 13, 2004 7:24 am

How lovely! I like the girls saying

Quote:

that Tom Gay was a real gentleman

#13: Author: Sarah_K, Location: St Albans/Leicester

Posted: Mon Dec 13, 2004 11:44 am

It's very Tom-like to want to keep it a secret, and a beautiful idea too. I lvoe that it was Verity with her "silvery vocie" who gave her away though.
Thanks Ali

#14: Author: Ally, Location: Jack Maynard's Dressing Room!!

Posted: Mon Dec 13, 2004 1:35 pm

Lovely Ali, thank you. It was just like Tom and so Christmassy as well Very Happy

#15: Author: Rachael,

Posted: Mon Dec 13, 2004 4:05 pm

Beautiful, Ali - thank you

So Christmassy and reminding us of the true nature of Christmas ...

Trust Tom! Very Happy

#16: Author: Josie, Location: London

Posted: Mon Dec 13, 2004 4:28 pm

Feeling very fuzzy and festive now.

Thanks Ali. Very Happy

#17: Author: Nell, Location: London, England

Posted: Mon Dec 13, 2004 5:31 pm

Lovely, thank you Ali!

#18: Author: claire, Location: South Wales

Posted: Mon Dec 13, 2004 7:42 pm

aww that was lovely - all festive now

#19: Author: Robin, Location: London

Posted: Tue Dec 14, 2004 1:55 pm

that could so easily have been something that happened - just like Tom not to want people to know that she made it.

lovely
thanks Ali

#20: Author: Susan, Location: Carlisle

Posted: Tue Dec 14, 2004 3:01 pm

Lovely Christmas story and very Tom like.

Chelsea wrote:

So beautiful.

So, you have your baby in the Navity from the 'get go'? I ask because we only put him in on Christmas Eve. Everyone else in the scene is waiting for him until then - at least I think that is the idea.

Depends where the Nativity scene is. Those on display in shopping centres have all the characters from the start. Some places (especially churches) begin with a few characters and the baby is added as part of the service on Christmas Eve.

#21: Author: Kathy_S, Location: midwestern US

Posted: Tue Dec 14, 2004 3:19 pm

Lovely story, Ali!

Yes, we also used to put the baby in on Christmas Eve. Also the wise men properly wandered around the house until Epiphany. Poor things! They ultimately had heads held on with creek clay & toothpicks, and a camel who had to be propped up against the stable.

#22: Author: Emily, Location: Land of White Coats and Stethoscopes.

Posted: Tue Dec 14, 2004 6:13 pm

We do that as well! Only the camels are all chained together, and the chains are too short and they constantly fall over.

Lovely story Ali, thank you.

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

Posted: Wed Dec 15, 2004 11:09 am

Our nativity set is very wobbly and tatty - Jess made it from cardboard tubes, cotton wool, felt & glittter, for her Brownie craft badge when she was 7. But it's wonderful and it just wouldn't be Christmas without it and the very squshed pipe cleaner halos. Baby Jesus is firmly glued in so he is there from the start!

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