A Cranberry Christmas
“Oh dear, Rose! What on Earth is the matter? I’ve never seen you look so worried. We aren’t having a surprise inspection just before Christmas are we?” asked a concerned Margot.
“No it’s much worse I’m afraid, Taylor is poorly in bed and so now we don’t have a Father Christmas to come and bring the babies’ presents at the nursery Christmas party!” “Oh but surely someone else can do it instead? I know Taylor’s very good at it but I’m sure someone else could manage it this year,” suggested Margot helpfully. “Yes I suppose,” mused Rose, “But the costume would only fit a big bear." After a busy day Rose rushed home to check on her poorly husband. Taylor had spent the day worrying about disappointing the babies and was trying to pretend that he didn’t have a fever and hardly any voice. Rose took one look at him and knew that a last minute miraculous recovery wasn’t likely to save the day.
“Oh what are we going to do?” she wailed. “Margot says she’ll give it some thought but there just is no one big enough available.” “Mum, I think I might know of someone who could do it. I’ll pop out now and ask him.”
“Oh thank you Birch,” sighed a relieved Rose. “Do you want to take the outfit with you for him to try on?” “No thanks Mum. I’ve a feeling this bear won’t be needing a costume. Certainly not the fake beard anyway!” He chuckled to himself. Then he was off leaving a confused Rose and Taylor behind. A few miles away, Birch had reached his destination and was approaching the cave entrance. The strange bear was sitting outside the cave filling a sack with presents. If Birch had had doubts before, he was fairly sure now.
“You’ll be wanting my help I suppose?” continued the strange bear.
“Well yes, actually I do. But how…..?” before Birch could finish the strange bear interrupted “I see and know more than you might think lad.” “Of course I will lad. What did you think I was filling my sack for?” he chuckled “You go back and tell your mother that she’ll have a Father Christmas at her party.”
Maurice opened the door with a welcoming smile which quickly turned to horror as he saw who was there. He rubbed his eyes certain he must be hallucinating but soon realised that this was wishful thinking when the all too real bear reached out his hands and in a progressively louder and higher voice exclaimed, “Jolly, jolly, Jolly!”
Turning away from the visitor on the doorstep he exclaimed, “What is he doing here? Oh, Margot please don’t tell me you’re behind this. How can we hope to maintain our reputation in town if people know your brother is Christmas crazy all year round? I can’t have everyone in Vandykeville and Waddlingtown knowing I’m related to someone so ridiculous!”
Everyone ignored Maurice’s panic and jumped up to welcome their jolly relatives. Nicholas gave his sister, Margot a big hug while the children got reacquainted with their cousins Noel and Natalie. Before Rose could speak and explain that her son might also have found a potential candidate for the role, Nicholas stepped forward.
“Jolly, jolly, JOLLY! I love your tree. Oh this is so exciting!” Rose knew her son’s love of mystery and adventure so ceased asking anymore questions. Even if the mysterious stranger failed to appear, they had Nicholas Cranberry and she was sure the children would love his enthusiasm and energy. Gradually all the babies arrived and were soon busy enjoying their favourite activities. They had no idea that this was to be a truly special day.
|
"Forrest will be too busy driving the bus to and from Waddlingtown and Vandykville at this time of year and Bertie is always run off his feet at the windmill supplying both towns with enough flour and we couldn’t possibly ask Dr Murdoch. I don’t suppose Maurice would do it would he?” Rose asked hopefully. This suggestion caused Margot to laugh wildly as she pictured her pompous husband in a red suit!
“I would love to see that, but there is absolutely no way Maurice would ever agree to help us. He doesn’t really like Christmas. He says it is far too garish and full of chaos! Let me have a think about it tonight and I’ll see if the children have any ideas.” A memory from one of his many adventures looking for flints and arrow heads stirred in Birch’s thoughts. He’d been up in the hills high above Vandykeville exploring the many caves up there when he’d spied a curious looking bear and there was just something about him that had made Birch wonder at the time if he could be…..but no that wasn’t possible surely. Well whoever he was, he was big and he’d certainly look the part.
Meanwhile back in the country manor Margot had had a brainwave. She had suddenly thought of the perfect person to help out. She quickly grabbed the phone but paused before dialling, “Ottilee, darling do you know where your father is?”
“Oh he’s out, Mum. Why, who are you calling?” “Your Uncle Nicholas” replied Margot with a smirk. “Wow, Mum you’re brave. Don’t you remember what happened last time we saw Uncle Nicholas? It took Dad months to recover from all the jollity!” “I know your father banished him from the house for being too silly and immature about Christmas and we haven’t seen him since. But this is an emergency, desperate times call for desperate measures!” She dialled the number with determination and made all the arrangements while Ottilee chuckled at the thought of the coming confrontation. Just as Margot was hanging up, Maurice arrived home. “Anyone important on the phone, dear?” he enquired. “Oh no one as important as you dear!” his wife replied with a grin. “Hello,” he called out as a greeting.
“Oh hello, young bear,” the strange bear replied, “I wondered whether I’d be seeing you up here again.” Birch hid his surprise. He hadn’t realised that he’d been seen on his last visit. “Well I’m not sure you even need me to say what it is we want help with but I’ll ask anyway. We need someone to play the part of Father Christmas at the nursery Christmas party. Will you do it?”
Later that day most of the Marmalades were relaxing in front of the tv when the doorbell rang. Margot was going to jump up and answer it but was beaten by Maurice who was just descending the stairs.
“Stay where you are, dear. I’ll see who it is.” Joy was enjoying meeting her youngest niece for the first time.
Maurice realised he had lost this battle and gloomily started to ascend the stairs. It wasn’t that he was a Grinch; he could join in with the Christmas spirit and had even been known to wear a paper hat from a cracker for more than five minutes in the past. What he could not understand or support was the wearing of festive attire every day of the year and the unnecessary catchphrase that announced his brother-in-law wherever he went! The next day, Rose had set up the nursery in Waddlingtown and was rocking Burl as they waited for everyone else. She was still a little anxious in case Birch’s plan didn’t work.
“Morning, Rose. Good news!” proclaimed Margot as she entered. “I’ve solved our problem. Let me introduce my brother, Nicholas Cranberry. He is the biggest fan of Christmas and can’t wait to be a Father Christmas today.” Once again Rose tried to tell Margot they might be double booked when Birch burst through the doors.
“I’ve done it Mum, you’ll never believe who I’ve found to help today.” “Who, Birch?” “Well it’s a bit of a surprise, I can’t really say.” |
Rose was busy supervising when she heard a noise at the door. Could this be Birch’s surprise guest. She looked through the window and sighed when she saw Buster Slydale! She vividly remembered his days as a cub and had breathed a sigh of relief when it was time for him to move onto school! “What are you doing here, Buster?” she demanded.
“Oh...erm...well,” stuttered Buster trying to think up an excuse, “I thought you might need some help and I wouldn’t expect to be paid, but I’d be happy to take away any spare presents that might be lying around...” Rose smothered a smile. Of course, Buster had heard the rumours about what was happening at the nursery and in true foxy style was hoping to get something for himself. “What a kind offer, but I already have Mr Cranberry visiting today. Now off you pop, I’m sure you’ve got other more important things to be doing.” Buster slunk away but he wasn’t giving up yet. He was determined to get back in somehow. Peace once again descended on the nursery and everyone was happy and busy. The silence was broken by Nicholas. He looked in a daze as if he was meeting his hero. “Wow, it’s you,” he gasped.
Squeals of excitement filled the room in answer and Rose soon had all the babies in a line queued up to receive their present from Father Christmas while Nicholas looked on in awe and wonder.
|
Suddenly the doors flew open and there was the bear Birch had found in the mountains, although now his red suit was complete and he had a festive hat perched on his head. Everyone was speechless. The babies gazed in wide eyed wonder and quickly rushed to the stranger. Neither Rose nor Margot knew what to say. They couldn’t quite believe their eyes. Who could this be?
“Of course it’s me,” chuckled the stranger, “ May I come in? I have a very full sack here and I was wondering if any of you little ones would like to see what is in it.”
“I do feel bad that Taylor is feeling so poorly but I think this has worked out perfectly. You had a reason to bring your brother and his family back to Waddlingtown and thanks to Birch, we’ve ended up with the most convincing Father Christmas that I’ve ever seen.”
“Yes, I should have ignored Maurice’s snobbery years ago and invited the Cranberrys back before now. Everyone needs a bit of all year round jollity. Maurice will just need to learn to cope with what he calls an “unfavourable” connection because I think they’re here to stay.” The ladies were so engrossed in their conversation that they hadn’t seen Buster sneak in and join the queue of babies, hiding himself behind the Babblebrooks long ears.
“Hee hee,” he chortled, “I can trick that silly old bear into thinking I’m a baby. He’s bound to give me a present.” Little did he know that the strange old bear in the corner was already fully aware of who he was and Buster may have been slightly less optimistic about leaving with a present if he’d known all that was in the old bear’s mind. After celebrating Christmas with the Marmalades, the Cranberrys have now made Waddlingtown their home much to Maurice’s dismay and Margot’s delight. Maurice is doing his best to keep them away from Vandykeville so that at least his reputation of being a serious, important bear is untainted in one of the towns. And as for the role of Father Christmas at the annual nursery Christmas party, it remains to be seen whether Taylor will ever get to play the role again. The end |