CRIMBLE LOVE

 

It has taken the festive season

To give me the perfect reason

To hold this sprig of mistletoe

And kiss you softly in the snow

Uncanny Christmas Tales – (047) Christmas Reboot

 

The village of Highfinch sits just on the edge of the Pepperstock Hills and the Lily Green Hollows Golf Club separates the village from the Hamlet of Lily Green, and the combination of those two and Kingfisherbridge made up the parish of St Martins and was where the Bentleys lived.

Ken and Louisa Bentley were married, though not to each other, Louisa was married to Ken’s cousin David, and they began their affair the previous Christmas and lasted until Halloween.

At first, they thought that the attraction was the naughtiness factor, the sneaking around, the guilty pleasure, but it turned out to be more than that, they actually had feelings for each other, and it was the love that was enhancing their anticipation and satisfaction.

So, it was falling in love that forced them to mutually end the affair and they had successfully avoided each other for almost two months before.

However, that all changed when the same annual Christmas gathering that brought them together came round again, and their resolve to keep out of each other’s orbits was undermined when circumstances conspired against them.

Every year the Bentley clan gathered on the middle weekend in December at the Abbottsford Regents Hotel, and they travelled from all over the Country and beyond to be there.

Normally this wasn’t a problem, but this year his wife Tamsin was up in Northchapel at her company’s corporate office until Friday afternoon after which she would be driving down alone, while Louisa’s husband was in Brussels and he was getting a midday flight,  so they insisted that Ken and Louisa drive down together on Friday morning.

 

As they left home it had just started to snow and as they drove onto the Pepperstock Expressway he said

“I don’t think we should weaken our resolve this weekend”

“I agree” Louisa said

“Good”

“It would be so easy to slip” she said,

“Very easy” he agreed

 

By the time they reached the hotel the snow was already laying quite thickly and after checking in they found that they were the only Bentley’s to have arrived and wouldn’t be joined by the rest of the clan any time soon, as they had all been held up by the snow by some degree or other.

Tamsin was still at the Doll's House in Northchapel because the major roads south had been closed and Louisa’s husband was stuck at Brussels airport.

So, they were in a quandary, should they spend an uneventful day alone in their rooms being bored or spend it together and risk giving in to their hearts.

They decided on the latter but reinforced their earlier pledge to not revisit their previous behaviours and kept themselves busy for the rest of the day, a light lunch followed by the jacuzzi and swimming, and finished with coffee and cake in the conservatory.

The pleasurable afternoon went without a hitch, and they parted after having agreed to dine together that evening.

 

The Restaurant at the Regents had a very good reputation, but neither of them had eaten there before, because the usual form was to go out to The Scented Garden in Abbottsford as it was the compromise choice because everyone in the clan liked Chinese.

So, they decided to take advantage of the situation and indulged themselves with the wonderful cuisine and a very superior wine list, however along with wine came the flirting, and the more intoxicated they became the more their true feelings came out.

So, their earlier pledge made in the cold light of day and complete sobriety seemed unlikely to hold.

When they left the restaurant, he said

“I think I should escort you to your room”

“I think you should escort me into my room” she said and kissed him

 

As they lay cuddling in the afterglow feeling very pleased with themselves Ken said 

“I’ve missed us”

“Me too” Louisa murmured

 

Although the wine had broken down their resolve, it was love that got them into each other’s arms and their night of passion was not a reboot of their affair it would prove to be a life changing night and by the following Christmas they were very definitely a couple, and when they married it was forever.

MY COMFORT AND SUCCOUR

 

Have a lovely Christmas

My companion and confident

My friend of friends,

My comfort and succour

Have a lovely Christmas

Soother of my soul

You are everything to me

Except my lover

Have a lovely Christmas

Occupant of my heart

My comfort and succour

My secret love

Uncanny Christmas Tales – (046) Christmas Reunion

 

Downshire is a relatively small English county but like a pocket battleship it packs a lot in, a short but beautiful coastline, a channel port, the Ancient forests of Dancingdean and Pepperstock, the craggy ridges and manmade lakes of the Pepperstock Hills National Park, the rolling hills of the Downshire Downs, the beautiful Finchbottom Vale and farm land as far as the eye can see from the Trotwood’s and the Grace’s in the south to the home of the Downshire Light infantry, Nettlefield, and their affluent neighbour’s, Roespring and Tipton in the north but our story begins in the East, or more precisely, 20 miles inland from Sharpington-By-Sea, equidistant between Finchbottom and Pepperstock Green, in the sprawling village of Denmead.

 

When Robert Hunter reached the Oak Park Hotel, he checked in and went up to his room and after freshening up he went down to the bar to wait for her.

As he sat in the bar waiting, he reflected on how much he was looking forward to seeing Janine Knighton again.

He had missed her terribly since they broke up, even though it had only been three months, it was the longest 12 weeks of his life.

Rob had come to realize just how lucky he was to have her in his life; but he took her for granted, and at no point did he think he would lose her, even after she gave him an ultimatum to change his ways.

Then out of the blue she called him and asked to meet in Denmead, she had moved there a few weeks after they split.

Rob jumped at the chance and made no effort to disguise his pleasure, which kind of set the tone for the rest of the call and he was left feeling very positive when the call ended.

In the week that had elapse since then his mood had swung from runaway optimism to suicidal pessimism and every possible emotion in between.

Was the meet up because she missed him as much as he did her or had she found another love and just wanted to rub his nose in it.

The longer he waited the more negative his thoughts became and the fact that she was an hour late wasn’t helping his nerves.

 

When Janine Knighton finally appeared she was wearing a grey wool dress which showed off her shape deliciously well.

“There you are” he said “I was beginning to think you weren’t coming”

“I’ve been here an hour” she said

“I didn’t see you” Rob said

“I was here nonetheless” she said and kissed his cheek “I just needed a drink first”

“Well, it’s great to see you” he said

“You too” she said and kissed his mouth

 

As they had both been drinking alone for an hour, he suggested that they should eat something, and she agreed so they went through to the restaurant, but during the meal he was still none the wiser as to why exactly she needed the Dutch courage before showing herself.

But the conversation flowed regardless with no tangible silences and then midway through coffee and liqueurs just after Jan had returned from the loo she leant down and kissed him moistly on the lips

“I really do love you Robbie,” she said

“And I really love you too” he replied

“I hope so” she said, with a slight slur, as she sat down and took his hold of his hand

“Because I want us to spend Christmas together”

“I would love that” Rob said

“Really?” Jan asked, “You’re not just saying that?”

“No, I’m not” he said earnestly “it would be the best Christmas present ever”

“You’d better take me upstairs now then” she ordered “before I change my mind, I want you so much”

A SPRIG OF MISTLETOE

There hangs a sprig of Mistletoe

The first of the season I’ve seen

Its berries glowing like pearls

Amongst the tiny leaves of green

 

And below stands sweet Emily

Where hangs the Mistletoe above

Tied with red ribbon to the beam

And I claim a kiss from the girl I love

  

Uncanny Christmas Tales – (045) Reacquaintance

 

Downshire is a relatively small English county but like a pocket battleship it packs a lot in, a short but beautiful coastline, a channel port, the Ancient forests of Dancingdean and Pepperstock, the craggy ridges and manmade lakes of the Pepperstock Hills National Park, the rolling hills of the Downshire Downs, the beautiful Finchbottom Vale and farm land as far as the eye can see from the Trotwood’s and the Grace’s in the south to the home of the Downshire Light infantry, Nettlefield, and their affluent neighbour’s, Roespring and Tipton in the north but our story begins in Pepperstock Green where Harry Ramsey was sitting in the bar of the Squirrel, where he was waiting to meet Sherry Ghavami, who he had run into by chance while he was Christmas Shopping, and they just stood staring at each other.

It had been 5 years since they had last met, and they were so pleased with their serendipitous meeting that they arranged to meet for dinner.

He had not been on a date, or anything approximating one, for over two years, so his brother Frank was very interested, and spent two days fending off questions from him, about where he was going and who he was seeing.

Harry wouldn’t say though because he feared he would pitch up on the night and ruin things before they got started, and that was a real possibility.

So, at the last minute he let slip that he was taking the mystery woman

To the Angels Tears in Sharpington when he was actually meeting her at The Squirrel in Pepperstock Green.

Sherry had employed her time, after running into Harry, getting herself date ready, facial, hair, nail, brows, and waxing.

She also treated herself to the perfect outfit, and accessories, those on view and those to be viewed. 

 

“Hi” she said “sorry I’m a little late”

“Wow, you look stunning” he said, and Sherry smiled

“Thank you, that was the reaction I was hoping for” Sherry replied

Any further exchange was prevented by the waitress calling them for their table.

 

The evening passed by so quickly, it was like an information exchange, as they found out every detail about what each of them had been doing in the five years that had elapsed.

They knew everything else about each other, music, movies, TV, travel destinations, favourite pieces of art, favourite books, and authors, they discussed everything and anything and as a result they were so absorbed in each company that they completely lost track of time, and to such an extent that they had to be asked to leave the restaurant.

“Oh, dear we seem to have overstayed our welcome and there is so much more to say” Sherry said

“Then we should perhaps consider this an adjournment, and continue it upstairs”

She nodded her ascent, and she was rather pleased with herself, it would seem that the expensive silk underwear would not go to waste.

 

When they lay beneath the duvet enjoying the afterglow with Sherry’s head resting on his chest, she sighed and said

“Well, I think it’s safe to say we’re in for a bumpy Christmas”

“I think so too” he agreed as he kissed the top of her head “But it’s worth it to finally be with the love of my life”

“At least we’ll have each other” she said and kissed him

At that moment they cared only about themselves, but they would have to break the news to his brother Frank who just happened to be  her ex-husband.

MY GIFT IS A SPECIAL LOVE

 

My gift is a special love

That lasts the whole year through

So if I had a Christmas wish

I would still wish for you

Uncanny Christmas Tales – (044) The Curate and the Verger

 Downshire is a relatively small English county but like a pocket battleship it packs a lot in, a short but beautiful coastline, a channel port, the Ancient forests of Dancingdean and Pepperstock, the craggy ridges and manmade lakes of the Pepperstock Hills National Park, the rolling hills of the Downshire Downs, the beautiful Finchbottom Vale and farm land as far as the eye can see from the Trotwood’s and the Grace’s in the south to the home of the Downshire Light infantry, Nettlefield, and their affluent neighbour’s, Roespring and Tipton in the north but our story begins in Pepperstock  Green where Finn Ewing was the Locum Curate at St Agatha’s where he and Verger Katie Ralph  had just finished tidying up the village hall after the Christmas Bazaar.

They had just locked the doors when Finn took a deep breath and said

“I was wondering, as you were so generous with your time over the past few weeks, you might allow me to repay the favour”

“There’s no need” she said

“But I couldn’t have got through the last few weeks without you” he persisted “Just dinner at the Squirrel”

“Ok” she agreed and to herself added “Good decision”

“Is Monday ok for you?” he asked

“Yes, perfect for me” she said

“Great, Monday it is” he said smiling “I’m looking forward to it”

“I’ll see you for worship in the morning” she said

 

Katie had taken a bold step in agreeing to the dinner with the Curate, she had hoped he would ask her out, and now he had she had to

make the most of it, so she had to make the most of herself, and her usual leggings and sweater weren’t going to cut it.

You don’t get a second chance to make a first impression so after the Sunday worship she went shopping for some proper, knock him dead, girl clothes.

 

They agreed to meet at the restaurant, as he had a late meeting at the church with a prospective happy couple and she lived at the same end of the village as the Squirrel, so it made more sense.

However, Finn was sat in the bar a full half an hour before he was supposed to meet Katie and he was insanely nervous, he hadn’t felt like that since he was 15 when he was waiting outside the multiplex for Cassie Harlow.

But his apprehension wasn’t just first date nerves, he had something much more important on his mind, however he was thinking it was a mistake to arrive early as his stomach was doing somersaults.

 

While Finn sat at in the bar Katie was second guessing herself as she stood in front of the mirror wearing a little black dress.

Her long brunette hair was down, instead of being tied up and her face was subtly made up.

It had been a while since she had given herself the treatment and the face, she was wearing was her third attempt to get it right.

The first one left her looking like a mortician’s subject fresh off the slab and the second one made her look like a clown.

She was much happier with the third one, but as time was running out it would have to do regardless, and all the time she was getting ready she kept say to herself

“Why on earth did I agree to do this” and “what was I thinking?”

“Because you wanted to” she said out loud to the mirror “now suck it up and go and knock him dead”

 

When Finn turned around and saw this brunette in the little black dress coming towards him, he couldn’t stop himself from saying   

“Wow”

Katie smiled and asked

“Will I Do?”

“Comme ci comme ça” he said making a gesture with his hand 

“Charming” she said and laughed, and her nerves at least melted away

“Well, I was expecting someone in a sweater and leggings” he said defensively, and she laughed again

“I can go back and change, but as I decided to make an effort” she said as she sat down

“I thought this might be more appropriate”

“Well, I am speechless, you look so stunning” he said and they both blushed

 

Katie had lived in Pepperstock Green her whole life whereas Finn had only been there a matter of weeks, as locum for the Vicar who was recovering from a broken leg, he would be in a Parish of his own by Candlemas.

They had hit it off right from the start and she had been by his side ever since, but there was still a lot they didn’t know about each other.

That didn’t last however because as soon as they sat down it was like an information exchange, and the evening passed by so quickly, as they found out every detail about each other and filed it away, their likes and dislikes.

Music, movies, TV, travel destinations, favourite pieces of art, favourite books, and authors, they discussed everything and anything and as a result they were so absorbed in each company that they completely lost track of time, and to such an extent that they had got to closing time and he still hadn’t asked her.

So outside in the carpark before they said goodnight, he stood in front of her nervously transferring his weight from one foot to the other and said

“I have to ask you something”

“Ok what would you like to know?” she asked, struggling to think of anything about her that she hadn’t already shared.

“You know that when the Vicar returns, I will be moving on?” he began

“Yes”

“Well, I’ve been offered my own Parish in Clarence” 

 “That’s wonderful” she lied “So what did you want to ask?”

“I was wondering or perhaps more accurately hoping that you would like to come with me…to Clarence” he said incoherently

“You mean as Verger?” Katie queried

“Yes, and also no” he replied

“I don’t understand” she stated

“I want you to be the Vicars…. wife”

“That is to say I’d…...” he never completed his proposal as she was already kissing him and had his answer in no uncertain terms.

MY CHRISTMAS GIFT TO YOU

 

My Christmas gift to you

Is not wrapped up in coloured paper,

Tied with ribbon and bows

And hidden beneath the tree

It’s visible for all to see

It is written on my face

Like ink on parchment

It spills out from my heart

Like boiling milk from a pan

It emanates from my every pore

And surrounds us all

My Christmas gift to you

Is my never ending love

 

PS – there are gifts under the tree as well

Uncanny Christmas Tales – (043) The Christmas Adventure

 Gary Smith and Carla Lund were staying on a camp site in the Finchbottom Vale that was once a working railway station before it fell foul of Dr Beeching and his cuts, in a place called Sharpinghead.

The two of them were staying in a converted signal box which was comfortable enough but because of the limited floor space it had bunk beds which didn’t go down well at all with Carla, she wanted a double bed and plenty of comfort and more than a little loving.

“What the hell are they?” she said when she saw the bunks

“A challenge” Gary replied flippantly but she was not impressed

“We’re not 13” she said,

It was not an insurmountable problem as far as he was concerned but she just wasn’t the adventurous type.

Although Gary could remember the time when she was, a time when she enjoyed a kiss and a cuddle in the woods back in the days when they were courting but she seemed to have forgotten just how much.

The bunk beds were bad enough, but Carla really lost it when she realized there was also no toilet or bathroom ensuite and the nearest facilities were 60 yards away.

She stormed out and left Gary to unpack and she was gone for hours, in fact Gary was already asleep in the bottom bunk when she got back.    

The next morning just after first light he had to get up to the toilet, he wasn’t going to bother dressing but trotted the 60 yards to the toilet in his pants.

When he returned to the signal box, he quietly closed the door and was just tiptoeing across the room when he spied, highlighted in the early morning light, Carla’s naked buttocks protruding from beneath her duvet and written on a post it note, stuck to one buttock was one single word “Sorry”.

And that was when he woke her in the dawn light and the adventure returned to their marriage.

 

After that first surrender to adventure Carla felt alive and tingling all over and was keen to try some more while Gary was just intent on enjoying it while it lasted.

But the new adventurous Carla didn’t leave her sexual escapades in Sharpinghead when the summer holiday was over, and they spent their spare time exhaustively finding ever more adventurous ways to satisfy her brains out.

But they were also regular visitors back to the Vale where they would revisit sights of old adventures, where he would sully her anew, as well as finding new and evermore sensual exploits.

Which was why they took every opportunity to get back to the Vale because their intimate exchanges always seemed hotter there than anywhere else.

So, they became regulars at Maxlins holiday camp in Sharpinghead as its size and range of activities gave them ever more opportunities of making nerve tingling dirty adventurous memories.

Which was why they found themselves back in Sharpinghead in December on one of the big Santa’s Grotto weekends at Maxlins holiday camp where they planned making nerve tingling dirty Christmas memories.

The Grotto was decorated with red and gold velvet drapes, adorned with tinsel and coloured lights, with a huge throne in the furthest corner surrounded by Christmas parcels and leading to the throne was a fake snow-covered path and on one side of it was a festive tableau of snowmen and reindeer and on the other side Santa’s sleigh was parked.

And when they first saw it, they looked at each other and Gary asked

“Throne of sleigh?”

“Both” she replied with a giggle

“Both it is then for my dirty little Christmas minx”

“Adventurous dirty little Christmas minx, if you don’t mind” she corrected him.

 

So, on Saturday night they sneaked past security and made their way into the grotto.

“Come on Carla, the costumes are through there” Gary said and led the way.

Carla rummaged through a rail of costumes and after a few minutes she appeared holding a Santa suit.

“This one will do for you” she said “put it on and I’ll be back in a minute”

When she returned, Santa was sitting on the throne and she was dressed as an Elf, green fitted tunic, with gold buttons, deep red tights, red and white striped knee socks and pixie boots with turned up toes.

“There’s one more customer for Santa” she said and sat on his knee.

“I’m almost certain that you’re on the naughty list” Santa said.

“I’m nice and naughty” Carla said and giggled

Then Santa discarded his beard and kissed her, and after a prolonged period of heavy petting, he gave her, her Christmas present from behind on Santa’s throne.

 

Unfortunately, the security guard interrupted their fun before he could sully her on the sleigh as well, so they had to leave the Grotto in a hurry, they took the costumes with them though and used them the following weekend when Santa mounted his Elf on Santa’s sleigh to their mutual satisfaction.

THIS IS OUR FIRST CHRISTMAS

 

This is our first Christmas

As husband and wife

The very first Christmas

Of our married life

This is our first Christmas

Together in our house

The very first Christmas

With my very own spouse

Uncanny Christmas Tales – (042) A Very Revealing Christmas

 

The Dulcets were a collection of villages and hamlets comprising of Dulcet Meadow, Dulcet-on-Willow, Dulcet Green and Dulcet-on-Brooke, to name but a few, and of course Dulcet St Mary which was where the Dulcet Garden Centre was located, and where Assistant Manager Lily Rodney was taking early retirement, thus creating a vacancy and Lily had no hesitation in recommending twenty-seven-year-old Jennifer Evans as her replacement.

 

Jenni was a pretty girl with long straw-coloured hair and stood barely five feet tall, delicate, and slender who looked like a breath of wind would blow her away, but she was as strong as an ox.

She had started at the center while she was still at school, as weekend staff and Lily took her under her wing, and they had become firm friends over the years.

Jenni was absolutely gob smacked when Lily recommended her for Assistant Manager, and in response she worked tirelessly to repay her faith in her.

This meant that she was always first in at the start of the day and very rarely went home on time in the evening which didn’t leave much time for her love life, so she didn’t have a significant other. There was a girl at the Garden Centre that she liked in that way, but she wasn’t sure if her feelings were reciprocated.

Tasha Hayle was only 20 and worked in the café, Jenni thought she was gorgeous, five-foot tall, Filipino mother, part Spanish father, brown eyes, demerara skin, round bum, narrow waist, large breasts, and a smile that melted Jenni’s heart.

But when she was within ten feet of her, her brains turned to mush.

After six months Jenni hadn’t spoken a whole sentence to Tasha until her 21st birthday, a month before Christmas, when they all went to the pub and Jenni bought her some novelty knickers with Penguins on them because she knew she had a thing about Penguins.

Tasha liked her present very much and was well aware of the effect she had on Jenni, and she really loved it, but she thought it was time for her to put her out of her misery.

 

It was Jenni’s first day off for more than a month and she wanted to go Christmas shopping in Abbottsford and spend most of the day at the Phoenix Shopping Centre.

She particularly wanted to go to Hanratty’s Department Store, the lingerie department to be precise as she needed some new undies, and Hanratty’s knickers were her favourite.

So, she had spent more than half an hour browsing and had a number of sets in her basket and was just admiring a red satin teddy when someone said

“Oooh, I like that”

Jenni turned around and saw that it was Tasha

“Er…um…er” she stuttered, and Tasha laughed

“I bet it will look lovely on” she said, and Jenni couldn’t even manage a stutter and went as red as the Teddy and Tasha walked away giggling.

Jenni had lost sight of her but Tasha had stayed close by as she paid for her scanties’ and then reappeared as she left the department before leading her on an adventure through the store until they ended up in Ladieswear and Tasha stopped by a rack of silk blouses, and after a discreet look around to make sure the coast was clear and then she turned toward Jenni and pulled the front of her leggings down, intended to show her she was wearing the Penguin pants, however she had inadvertently pulled them down as well and flashed Jenni her uncultivated lady garden.

When she saw Jenni staring at her with her eyes on stalks and mouth wide open, she laughed, but when she saw Jenni was still staring open mouthed, she was amazed by her reaction to a flash of her knickers.

So, she looked down and saw exactly what she had been flashing.

“Oh my God” she exclaimed and pulled her leggings back up and ran towards the cubicles and very excited Jennifer Evans followed her into an empty cubicle.

“You weren’t supposed to see that” Tasha said as she stood in the corner facing the wall.

“I just wanted to get your attention”

“Well, you’ve certainly got my attention, but I’ve always noticed you” Jenni said and giggled

“But I liked what I saw”

“I know you did” Tasha replied as she slowly turned around but without raising her eyes

“You were only supposed to see my Penguin pants”

“An early Christmas Present for me then” she said and putting hand gently beneath her chin, she lifted her head and kissed her, but not just a Christmas Kiss.

YOU’RE MY CHRISTMAS ANGEL

 

You’re my Christmas angel

You’re my very own Christmas delight.

Please stay with me tonight

Uncanny Christmas Tales – (041) Love in the Snow

 

Abbottsford is Downshire’s administrative capital and the seat of the Downshire government, it iss also a Cathedral City, is home to Abbottsford Town football club and benefits from the renowned Winston Churchill Hospital.

It is also a place of learning thanks to the Downshire University, which is where, long-time friends Abbie Musgrove and Sonja Prinsloo were in their first year.

Both girls had rooms on the same landing in student halls and spent all their free time together.

They were all packed ready for the trip home for Christmas but when it snowed, they quickly made a beeline for the park, and they were surprised to find that more students hadn’t had the same idea.  

After about an hour and a half they were both breathless and panting, Abbie sat on a park bench to catch her breath while Sonja scrambled around in the snow making a snowman while chatting inanely about the best technique for the perfect snowman, but Abbie was more focused on the speaker than her words.

Sonja wasn’t beautiful in the way that most people considered that Abbie was, but she thought she was only on the attractive side of beautiful by virtue of the fact that she never wore a scrap of makeup, but she thought with a little makeup on her pretty face she’d have looked gorgeous.

“More gorgeous anyway” Abbie thought

She was suddenly brought back to the moment when Sonja said

“We’d better get moving”

“What?”

Sonja pointed heavenward

Abbie looked up to see the sky had visibly darkened.

“Ok” she said “Let’s go”

They scrambled their way back through the snow and on the most exposed part of the park the moment the snow fell in earnest, big wet flakes, falling like fury.

“Quick this way” Abbie said and grabbed Sonja’s hand and they ran to the nearest large tree which offered them some protection from the snowfall, and they were giggling like schoolgirls when they reached sanctuary and squeezed up close to the trunk.

Abbie looked down at the giggling Sonja as large wet snowflakes dripped from the tip of her aquiline nose.

She giggled again and put her head back and shook it like a dog would, and that was when Abbie did it.

 

Sonja was only 5ft tall so with Abbie’s 4” height advantage over her she was in the unusual position of being able to kiss downwards on to Sonja’s inviting lips.

It was a deliciously gentle kiss to which Sonja responded to in kind.

When they had stopped Sonja looked up at Abbie and said

“I wasn’t expecting that”

Then Abbie kissed her again, a much more urgent, passion filled kiss altogether, perhaps too much so, because Sonja suddenly pushed her away.

“No, no” she said “I can’t”

Then she ran off through the snow

“Sonja!” Abbie called “Please don’t go, I’m sorry”

But she just kept going and didn’t look back.

 

Abbie traipsed home miserably through the snow, kicking her way through slushy puddles, and chastising herself for her stupidity, and her haste.

“You idiot, you stupid idiot, you’ve lost your friend now” she shouted into the snow.

 

She got back to her room in halls and silently stripped off her wet clothes and dried her hair before redressing then she switched on the kettle and got out two mugs, but she paused and put one back.

Abbie was just pouring the hot water onto a teabag when there was a gentle knock at the door, so she put the kettle down and walked to the door and when she opened it, she saw Sonja standing in the hall looking like a drowned rat.

“I don’t want to run away” she said pathetically

“You don’t have to baby” Abbie said “Come inside”

Her heart swelled as she looked at the beautiful forlorn creature dripping on the carpet, and she quickly wrapped her in dry towels.

Abbie dried Sonja’s fine dark brown hair and when she stood there wrapped in fluffy white towels with damp tousled hair, she looked at Abbie with her big brown eyes and asked

“Can you kiss me now?”

Abbie’s heart skipped a beat and she smiled at Sonja and duly obliged her.

A CHRISTMAS DREAM

 

It was just another dream

That I awoke from that morn

It was a very familiar dream

A regular one rather well worn

 

The theme was the same as usual

The dream was all about you

Just another stupid dream

That will never come true

 

But it wasn’t exactly the same

It was a variation on a theme

This time it had changed

It was a Christmas dream

 

But this time it felt so real

Will it ever come true?

This Christmas dream of mine

About spending Christmas with you

Uncanny Christmas Tales – (040) The Christmas Shop

 In the small but thriving English county of Downshire people go about the tasks of their everyday existence in ways that range from the mundane to the extraordinary as their forebears had done for centuries before, in the varied and diverse landscape, from the Ancient forests of Dancingdean and Pepperstock, the craggy ridges and manmade lakes of the Pepperstock Hills National Park, the rolling hills of the Downshire Downs, to the beautiful Finchbottom Vale and the short but beautiful coastline to the east, but it’s in the village of Clarence, a mile or so from Purplemere, where our story takes place.

Fifty percent of the village of Clarence was full of posh houses and posh people and as it was a village, everyone knew each other’s business, and at the center of village life was the Rose and Crown.

It was three weeks after Graham Lovell and Nia Farrell had first kissed beneath the mistletoe in the Rose and Crown, a kiss that led to them making love in his house later that night, which subsequently led to many more nights, evenings, mornings spent in similar vein.

Graham managed to get Nia out of bed long enough to take her into Abbottsford to do some Christmas shopping.

“I’ve never been Christmas shopping in Abbottsford before” Nia said

Graham was one of the posh people in the posh houses in the village, whereas Nia was a country girl, and she had rarely left the village.

There were several other things she had never done before because she had led a sheltered life.

 

It was only a week from the big day and Graham was unaccustomed to leaving his Christmas shopping so late.

He liked to get things done early but he had got behind because he’d been preoccupied with Nia.

It had been a long, long time since he’d had to buy presents for anyone special.

But now he did have someone special to buy for, so he took Nia into Abbottsford to the Phoenix Shopping Centre.

The Centre had been dressed for Christmas in tinsel and foil and twinkling lights almost since the beginning of October.

“My Goodness” Nia said “It’s huge”

“It is rather” Graham agreed

“Have you never been here before?”

Nia began to speak but Graham interrupted her

“That was a silly question, wasn’t it?”

Nia nodded

“So, look around and remember where you are, and we will meet back here in an hour and a half” he said

“Can’t we go around together?” she asked sounding very small

“Well not really” he said “as we’re buying for each other, they are supposed to be surprises”

“Oh yes I see what you mean” she said, she was going to add sorry but I’m new to this, but Graham took hold of her hand and kissed her which gave her strength.

“Ok then back here at 11.30” she said, and they went their separate ways.

 

Graham knew where he was going first, he knew exactly what main present to get for her, so that wasn’t a problem, it was the little extras, the stocking fillers that took the time, those little things that made Christmas morning extra special.

 

For Nia everything was new and fresh and rather wonderful, but

she didn’t know where to start, until she passed a dazzling shop window that held her entranced.

“That’s absolutely perfect” she said, and her eyes fixed on the prize.

 

Graham was first back to the meeting place and Nia trotted up about five minutes later.

“I thought I’d lost you” he said

“Sorry, I lost track of time” she said, “It’s very exciting, isn’t it?”

“Yes, it is” he replied and smiled at his little sweetheart loaded with bags.

“Once I got started, I didn’t know how to stop” Nia said and giggled

“You’re really lovely” he said and kissed her

 

They went and had Coffee and a cake in the food court and assessed their progress.

It transpired they only had to get paper and bows and a few etcetera’s, so they went off together to complete the shopping before they went home and back to bed.

I WOULD GIVE TO YOU ON CHRISTMAS MORNING

 

I would give to you

On Christmas morning

The gift of love

Contained within my heart

So I could deliver it

And to show good faith

I would wrap it in my soul

Then you would have the best of me

For with no heart and soul

I am but an empty shell

So I would give you that as well

And then you would have all of me

Uncanny Christmas Tales – (039) The Surprise Awakening

 

The village of Brocklington was situated on the River Brooke about six miles downstream from Sharping St Mary in the Finchbottom Vale, and it was in Riverside Cottage on a cold, damp and foggy December morning, where Shani Orchard

and Marian Yacoub lay naked beneath the duvet of the formers King-size bed and in its coziness, they were both silently contemplating their situation and reflecting that it was not how they had envisaged the previous night panning out.

Shani was holding Marian, who had her head on her new lover’s chest, and it was her who finally broke the silence when she said

“That was quite a surprise”

“Which part?” Shani asked

“All of it” she replied “but it was a very nice surprise”

“Which part?” Shani asked

“All of it” she replied and giggled

“I’d never done it before” She confessed, in fact she had never done anything before, with anyone, she was a virgin in every conceivable sense of the word.

Which was not that strange for a seventeen-year-old girl even in the 21st Century, but she had never been much of a sexual being, or had much of a sex drive, she hadn’t even touched herself very much, so she just thought she was frigid.

“I know sweetie” Shani said

“Do you mind?” the novice asked

“No of course not” she replied, “You do know that I’ve done it before?”

“God yes” she replied and giggled again

“But I didn’t know you were a ….”

Shani chuckled and kissed her forehead and said

“A lesbian”

“That’s right, because I automatically assumed you were into men” Marian explained.

“Well to be more accurate men are into me” Shani said

“Are you disappointed?”

“What with?” Marian replied with another question

“The fact that I’m a Lesbian” she answered

“Are you kidding? After what we did?”

They both giggled and then Marian kissed Shani with warmth and passion.

“You realize that this means you are a Lesbian too now?” 

“Really?” she asked “How exotic”

And she cuddled up closer still to her lover.

“I am confused about one thing though” she added

What’s that?”

“I didn’t think you liked me” she said

“I think you may have been mistaken in that belief” Shani pointed out

“Well, you did a very good impression of someone who didn’t like me” Marian said “Even at the restaurant last night you were very cold”

The night before was the Brocklington Broadcast International Christmas meal at the Mulberry Tree.

“That’s a defense mechanism” Shani explained, and they lay quiet again for a few minutes before Marian said sheepishly

“I do have one other question”

“What’s that sweetie?” Shani asked

“I was just wondering when we might um…” she began

“You were wondering what?” she asked suspiciously

“Well, when we could do it again?” she asked and buried her face in Shani’s chest to hide her embarrassment

“That’s very bold” she said

“I know” Marian said without lifting her head

“Well as it’s a foggy morning and we’re all cozy warm in bed already I suppose we could do it again right now”

“Oh yes” Marian purred “I really like the sound of that”

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO THE ONE I LOVE # 2

 

Though my love for Christ is boundless

On Christmas day I cannot be untrue

For my love for you is over flowing

And he must share my heart with you

Uncanny Christmas Tales – (038) Hollie’s Faith

 

The village of Brocklington was situated on the River Brooke about six miles downstream from Sharping St Mary in the Finchbottom Vale, and thirty-year-old Hollie Stanford was on her way home from work one cold December evening and had to pinch herself to make sure she wasn’t dreaming that she was happy or that she was just remembering the plot of book she once enjoyed, because she was enjoying her life and her new love so much.

She had been so lonely and unhappy for so long she hadn’t realized just how unhappy she was until it was over.

It was only six months since she moved to Brocklington, but it seemed like a lifetime and in those six short months she had begun to live and begun to love.

She never in her wildest dreams imagined she could ever be happier than she was at that moment.

It was all as a result of her taking a chance, which was something she had never done before in her life.

Hollie was doing the same job that she’d had since leaving school, which she hated, living in a dingy flat that she couldn’t really afford, in a town she really didn’t like, so when she saw a job advert online for a cook/housekeeper, for a Doctor, Stephen Williams, which came with accommodation, she applied for the job, on a whim, and to her great surprise she got an interview.

She was impressed with Brocklington the moment she stepped off the train and fell in love with St Cuthbert’s Church the moment she saw it, so she was in a good frame of mind for her interview with Dr Williams, she felt at ease with him immediately, so the interview went really well, and she was offered the job there and then.

The accommodation turned out to be a converted stable block at the end of the Doctor’s Garden which was so quaint, it made her heart skip a beat.  

 

After three months in the village her heart skipped again when she met Sam Austin a very pleasant soft-spoken widower, and at Halloween, a few weeks after that he asked her out.

It was a big step for both of them, him because it was the first time anyone had got into his heart in the five years since his wife, Karen, passed, and she hadn’t opened up to anyone since her heart was broken 3 years earlier.

Despite their misgivings they decided to take a chance, and very soon fell in love.

 

She had always had a strong Christian faith and one of the first things she did was to join the congregation of St Cuthbert’s

She was a little nervous as she walked in, she was quite self-conscious about being the newcomer, but she was made very welcome, firstly by Stephen Williams, the Doctor, and then by his sister Olivia, who took her under her wing and introduced her to some of the other congregants.

 

When she got home from work one cold December evening, she phoned Sam to say she was planning to go to the Carol Service at St Cuthbert’s and asked him if he’d go with her and his response surprised her.

“No, no” Sam said adamantly “I haven’t set foot inside a Church since Karen passed”

“But it’s only Carols” Hollie said

“No! I am still too angry with God for taking my Karen” he said

“Well, if you’re sure” she said brightly

“Quite sure”

“Ok then I’ll see you tomorrow” she said and left it at that, Hollie didn’t want to push him too hard because she didn’t want to risk upsetting him, their relationship was too important to her, and it was still new, and she didn’t want to jeopardize that.

 

As for Sam he felt guilty as he hung up the phone, and he hoped he hadn’t been too blunt with her, the last thing he wanted to do was hurt Hollie in anyway, just because he wasn’t ready to forgive God, yet.

 

Hollie went to the Carol service alone and thoroughly enjoyed it and went to the Sunday service a few days later but she didn’t ask Sam on that occasion, though she hadn’t given up on him, she would just have to bide her time.

 

On Christmas Eve, Hollie walked to St Cuthbert’s Church, she had been a regular at the Church since she’d moved there and in December alone, she had attended all four Advent services, the Christingle and the Carol service.

She had asked Sam to join her a couple of times but as he hadn’t been to Church since his wife passed, and was still angry with God for taking her, he was quite unforgiving on the subject, and was totally unmovable on the matter, for now.

Hollie thought she would probably wear him down eventually, but she didn’t want to push it.

Sam even declined on Christmas Eve but for Hollie Midnight Mass was an unmissable event, so she went alone again.

 

Hollie said a few hellos and thought to herself that there was a good-sized congregation for the service.

She always found the Midnight Mass very moving and quite atmospheric, it was possible that as it was conducted in the semi darkness it added to the magic, when at midnight the light of Christ was born into the world.

So, she took her seat and settled herself and then she bowed her head, closed her eyes and took a few moments to pray, when she opened them again, she was not alone.

“You came” Hollie said and took Sam’s hand and she cried

“Don’t cry sweetheart” he said

“But I’m so happy that you’re here” she said wiping her eyes

“I’m still angry with him for taking her” he said defiantly looking to the heavens

“But now I know he only took her so he could give me you”

Sam said and Hollie was crying again

“I love you Sam Austin” she said

“I love you too” he replied