The CBB :: View topic - White Christmas

#1: White Christmas Author: CBB Secret Santa,

Posted: Wed Dec 15, 2004 4:19 pm

Merry Christmas Ellie!!! Santa

“No white Christmas this year,” Jo Maynard said sadly, peering out of the frosting window and glaring at the clear sky with such determination that it almost seemed as though the clouds darkened in response. Joey had learnt that stare from the best – her school Matron, one Gwynneth Lloyd – and it was intimidating, to say the least. She loved Guernsey’s favourable weather, but in winter, Jo wanted snow, and by Jove, if it was possible, she was going to have it.

Joey’s adopted sister, fourteen year old Robin Humphries, turned away from the window out of which she had been staring. “It sha’n’t seem like Christmas without snow,” she said plaintively. Though considered rather too delicate for the vigorous snow fights in which Jo revelled, Robin was as imaginative as her sister and loved the sight of their Tiernsee in winter. The world slowed for snow, seeming to pause to remember the unending beauty of nature before throwing itself wholeheartedly into the new life of spring. Yet that had been the Tiernsee; and this was Guernsey. Last year had been 1937, full of promise and innocence; now it was 1938, and the only promise seemed to be of more war.

Madge Russell paused in the doorway of her lounge, noting the thoughtful faces of her younger sister and ward. Having heard Joey on the topic of winter earlier that morning, she could make a guess as to where their thoughts lay, and her lips narrowed in determination. Since neither had seen her yet, Madge stepped back from the door, pulling it closed gently, and made her way up to the nursery.

In the large nursery of Bonne Maison, Madge found exactly what she’d been expecting – seven very bored children. Twelve year old Daisy Venables, as the eldest, was valiantly attempting to amuse her younger sister and her cousins with a story, but she lacked the imaginations of both Jo and Robin and was finding it difficult. Her expression as her aunt arrived was delighted.

“Auntie Madge!” Daisy exclaimed. “Come and tell us a story – do! It’s too cold to go outside,” she complained, with a glance at the more delicate members of the party, her six year old sister Primula, and little Peggy Bettany, who was just seven.

Madge seated herself in the armchair, and pulled her young daughter, Sybil, one of the ‘babies’ of the nursery along with Jacky Bettany, onto her lap. “I can tell you a story if you want,” she smiled at Daisy. “I came to ask if you wanted to do something else, though.” Seeing eager eyes upon her, she proceeded to explain.

***

At the sound of wild giggling, Joey turned to the lounge door in time to see a white envelope pushed under the door. Exchanging a bewildered glance with Robin, who was cuddling Madge’s youngest daughter, baby Josette, Joey crossed the room and stooped to pick up and open the envelope. She broke into delighted laughter as she read it, holding the piece of paper out to her sister. On it, in Daisy’s most careful handwriting, was written:

Auntie Joey and Robin,
Please come to the salon. We are having a pajant.

The door opened suddenly to admit Rosa, Madge’s maid, who silently relieved Robin of Josette before ushering the two in the direction of the salon. Before they could enter, however, they were interrupted by the sound of Rix, Peggy’s twin, running down the hallway.

“Auntie Jo! Robin! You mustn’t go in yet!”

“Rix, don’t run in the house, please,” Joey reminded him gently.

“Sorry, Auntie Jo,” Rix apologised cheerfully. “But you can’t go in yet. We’re still prep-a-ring,” he explained with great dignity, carefully pronouncing the last word. “You came very quick,” he added accusingly. “We ‘spected you to spend ages getting here.”

Robin looked properly apologetic, seeing that Joey was biting back giggles that she knew would hurt the little boy’s feelings. “Do you want us to go back to the lounge, and you can come and get us when you’re ready?” she asked, pinching her sister lightly.

Rix shook his head. “No – you can come in,” he said grandly, after sticking his head around the door and hearing Daisy’s giggling affirmation that they were ready. Joey resisted the urge to remind him of the use of ‘can’ and ‘may’, remembering that he was just a little boy, and pushed the door open. Rix darted in front of her to hold the door open, and pointed them in the direction of two chairs set at the back of the room. Margot Venables, the mother of Daisy and Primula, was already seated in her invalid chair and talking quietly to Rosa.

“Hello, Margot!” Joey greeted the elder woman warmly, taking a seat beside her. “I say!” she beamed at the small fry huddled at the back of the room. “Isn’t this a treat?”

“It most certainly is,” Margot agreed with a smile. “Just look at what they’ve done, Joey!”

Turning to see the scene in front of them, Joey couldn’t help but gasp at the ingenuity of her nieces and nephews. Two white sheets that the nursery folk used for dressing up had been spread across the floor, presumably indicating snow. The big doll’s houses which stood in the nursery had been brought downstairs and stood further back and to the side. Also, attached to the far wall of the salon was one of the huge sheets of paper that Madge had procured for various artistic efforts of the nursery – finger painting was a favourite activity. On this sheet, however, the inside picture of a barn had been painted. Below the painting was a smaller yellow sheet, also from the dressing-up box, with various toy animals placed on it – most dedicated from Peggy and Primula, since Jo recognised several of them as her own gifts. Cows, sheep, and a horse were placed in various positions – as well as, more bizarrely, a stuffed toy cat – and, judging by Rix’s scowl as he noticed it, this was a recent addition. The doll’s cot also stood at the front of the scene. The arrangement was clearly recognisable as the setting for a nativity play.

Robin laughed quietly. “Whatever you say about them, you can’t deny their creativity,” she murmured. Jo nodded in response, but was distracted by the small fry exiting the room via the end door.

Daisy reappeared only a moment later, dressed in her best dress. “Welcome to our pageant,” she said cheerfully. “We’re showing the story of the birth of baby Jesus. Please save all applause until the end,” she added, glaring severely. “Otherwise you’ll wake baby Josette, an’ then she’ll cry. An’ there’s nothing in the story about baby Jesus crying.” Joey bit back a splutter at this last comment, wondering if Madge knew what role her youngest daughter was playing. “Now,” Daisy added grandly, “we will begin.”

The pageant itself was, to borrow a popular phrase “short and sweet”. Daisy narrated, whilst Peggy and Rix played Mary and Joseph, with Primula, Sybil and Jacky as the innkeepers who said no – Sybil in particular gave a very defiant “Go ‘way!”. David was an excellent kind innkeeper, and the three youngest members were once again used for the three wise men. Since the ages of the younger nursery folk ranged between three and seven, their lines were very basic, and the majority of the dialogue was from Daisy who was reading from a children’s nativity book that she had been given last Christmas. Yet every line showed each child’s wholehearted belief in the story, and the innocence in which they trusted very nearly brought tears to sensitive Joey’s eyes. The past few months had been easy for no-one, but to her utter relief the children were as youthful as they had ever been.

So wrapped up in the story was Jo that she failed to see Madge rise from her seat and make her way to the piano against the far wall. As Peggy very carefully took baby Josette from Rosa and placed her in the little cot, Daisy’s sweet voice rose in the traditional “Stille Nacht, Heilige Nacht”.

The salon was silent for several minutes once Daisy had finished, each adult remembering nights of carols in the Tiernsee, a lifetime ago. Then Rosa, still watching baby Josette carefully, clapped her hands together in applause, and the spell was broken.

Still beaming from the round of applause that had followed, Daisy moved towards her aunt and grabbed Joey’s hands. “Auntie Joey, sing us Stille Nacht! I can’t sing it as well as you can.”

Joey protested at Daisy’s claim, but eventually gave in, and sat at the piano. Touching the keys gently, then striking a chord, her own soulful voice rose in the English version, this time. Tentatively, Daisy joined in, urged by Madge, and the small fry added their own sweet voices to the best of their ability. The song was a favourite; even little Sybil and Jacky knew the words.

Sleep in heavenly peace.

Outside the window, unnoticed by the cheerful and festive family, a single snowflake fell.

#2: Author: Chelsea, Location: Your Imagination

Posted: Wed Dec 15, 2004 4:47 pm

That was very beautiful Santa.

And I am sure that there was a cat at the first Christmas - they just forgot the write him into the Bible

#3: Author: patmac, Location: Yorkshire England

Posted: Wed Dec 15, 2004 5:21 pm

That was really lovely. The true spirit of Christmas. Thank you Santa.

Chelsea wrote:

And I am sure that there was a cat at the first Christmas - they just forgot the write him into the Bible

Of course there was! Can you imagine a barn or stable without a cat?

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

Posted: Wed Dec 15, 2004 5:26 pm

patmac wrote:

Chelsea wrote:

And I am sure that there was a cat at the first Christmas - they just forgot the write him into the Bible

Of course there was! Can you imagine a barn or stable without a cat?

can you imagine the mice? or worse, rats?

thank you, santa - that was truly beautiful

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

Posted: Wed Dec 15, 2004 6:36 pm

Thank you Santa - lucky Ellie.

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

Posted: Wed Dec 15, 2004 7:32 pm

Thank you Santa, that was lovely!

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

Posted: Wed Dec 15, 2004 8:16 pm

That was so lovely Santa, thank you Very Happy

#8: Author: KB, Location: Melbourne, Australia

Posted: Wed Dec 15, 2004 8:46 pm

Just lovely, Santa! I do like the hopeful note at the end - and was the stuffed cat a link to Bride's future hobby?

#9: Author: Ellie, Location: Lincolnshire

Posted: Wed Dec 15, 2004 9:17 pm

Thank you Santa, I am indeed lucky, what a lovely story. Thanks so much.

#10: Author: Josie, Location: London

Posted: Wed Dec 15, 2004 10:59 pm

Lovely fuzzy Christmassy feeling Very Happy

Thanks Santa, that was perfect - lucky Ellie.

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

Posted: Thu Dec 16, 2004 10:24 am

Lovely - thank you Santa!

Feeling all christmassy now!

#12: Author: Rachael,

Posted: Thu Dec 16, 2004 10:31 am

Absolutely beautiful ...

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

Posted: Thu Dec 16, 2004 12:58 pm

That was lovely. Made me smile and go all tingly. Thanks.

#14: Author: LizB, Location: Oxon, England

Posted: Thu Dec 16, 2004 6:37 pm

That was lovely Santa

Liz

#15: Author: Kathye, Location: Laleham

Posted: Thu Dec 16, 2004 7:10 pm

That was really nice, reminded me of EBD very much in style.

#16: Author: Rosie, Location: Huntingdonshire/Bangor

Posted: Thu Dec 16, 2004 8:34 pm

Awww, that was lovely!
*hoping for snow tomorrow as I leave Bangor on Saturday!*
And as for cats in the stable, here is a carol / song we used to sing in primary school....
http://sniff.numachi.com/~rickheit/dtrad/pages/tiCATCAROL.html

#17: Author: Steph, Location: Blackpool, Lancashire

Posted: Sat Dec 18, 2004 12:30 am

Aww that was beautiful, thank you Secret Santa!

*feels very Christmassy*

#18: Author: Susan, Location: Carlisle

Posted: Sat Dec 18, 2004 1:21 am

Thank you Santa that was a lovely story.

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