Uncanny Christmas Tales – (029) Doctor of the Vale

 

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 Turnoak-Under-Hawthorne where the participants of this particular tale live their lives, and the tale began as Christmas fast approached.

 

Doctor Charlotte Aldridge was new to Downshire having recently moved from Yorkshire.

She was a pretty brunette in her early thirties, small, stick thin, with no discernible bust line.

But although she looked small and delicate, she was like a human dynamo and more than carried her weight.

 

It was the 10th of December and although her schedule was very heavy in the morning, she made sure she got to see a very important patient

Russell Barker was her very first patient she treated after moving to Downshire six months earlier and he was dying.

The large rambling 12th century village of Turnoak-Under-Hawthorne was located about 5 miles from Purplemere.

She loved the village but knew that she wouldn’t have too many more visits to Rose Cottage 

“Hello Evelyn” she said when Mrs. Barker answered the door

“Hello Doctor” she said “I wasn’t sure if we’d see you today or not”

“How is he today?” she asked

“In good spirits” Evelyn replied “He’s in the lounge”

 

“Hello Russell” Charli said and then realized he was not alone

“Hi Doctor, this if my son Paul” He said “Captain Barker”

“Pleased to meet you Captain” she said

“Paul” he said and shook her hand and as she briefly gripped his hand, she studied his ruggedly handsome face

Charli liked him, his handshake was firm, his handsome face

“Paul” she said, “what are you a Captain of, Army, Navy or Airforce?”

“Air Ambulance” he replied

“Really?” she responded

“Now I’ll leave you two alone” Paul said “Goodbye Doctor”

 

When she had finished examining Russell, she was disappointed to find Captain Barker had left, Charli was very taken with him.

So, she said her farewell to Evelyn and got on her way because she still had her rounds to complete.

 

A few days later her schedule was lighter than usual as she had the afternoon off to get ready for the Annual Christmas Party so after her last visit Charli went home and changed before going out to have a manicure, pedicure and a facial which took most of the afternoon.

 

The annual Christmas Party at the Royal Downshire Memorial Hall was for health employees of the town and its environs.

It was always a grand affair; Dinner jackets and evening dresses were compulsory. 

Charlotte Aldridge was wearing a knee length blue dress that hugged her figure beautifully and her shoulder length brunette hair was down, so it danced around her nape as she walked.

Her beautiful blue dress was cut in such a way that it appeared she had a bust line when she had none at all, it also defined her narrow hips and boy like buttocks.

Her stunning legs were clad in black, and her shoes were blue to match her dress, however standing at five foot tall in her stocking feet, even the four-inch heels failed to make an impression on her diminutive stature.

 

As she was new to the area, she didn’t know many people and the ones she did know she didn’t know well, so Charli spent the best part of an hour mingling trying to search for someone she knew well enough to converse with when she heard a voice behind her.

“Hello” the voice said, “its Doctor Aldridge isn’t it?”

She turned around and despite the fact she had only met him the once, and briefly at that, she recognized him instantly even in a dinner suit.

“Yes” she replied “Hello Captain, its Charlotte or Charli tonight”

“Then call me Paul” he said

“No Captain’s uniform tonight, Paul?” she asked

“I’ve always loved a man in uniform”

Charli then inexplicably blushed, she never normally blushed when she was flirting, in her head she chastised herself for behaving like a schoolgirl, she was 34 for God’s sake, and thought she should start acting like it.

“Are you here with someone?” she asked

“Yes and no” he replied

Charli only heard the word yes and was very disappointed

“I’m here with the rest of my crew” he continued.

“Oh?” she asked

“Yes, we’re on duty tonight”

“Oh, I see” Charli said, and she found out she was happy to find out he was essentially “alone”

“I was sorry to have missed you at the house the other day” she said

“Yes, me too” he agreed “But I had to rush off as I had to get to the airfield”

“Oh” she said, “and when do you have to “rush off” tonight?”

“About ten thirty” Paul replied

“So soon?” she said disappointed again “Shame”

A comfortable silence settled around them and her mind drifted because Charli really liked him.

“Would you like to dance?” he asked

“Love to” she replied, and Paul took her hand and led her to the dance floor, and they danced through

“All of Me” by John Legend 

“Because You Loved Me” by Celine Dion

“I’m Not in Love” by10cc

“Come Away with Me” by Norah Jones

James Blunts “You’re Beautiful”

“My Heart Will Go On” by Celine Dion

“When I Fall in Love” by Nat King Cole

Barbara Streisand’s “The Way We Were”

“I Will Always Love You” by Whitney Houston

And Fleetwood Macs “Albatross”

And they only stopped then when Paul was tapped on the shoulder, he relinquished his hold on Charli and turned around

“Come on skip” a man said “it’s time”

“Ok Bob” he said “I’ll be right there”

Bob nodded and walked towards the door

“I’m afraid I need to go” Paul said

“I understand” she said   

“It was nice seeing you again” he said

“Perhaps I could call you?”

“Yes” Charli said “I’d like that”

And then he was gone.

THE VERY FIRST CHRISTMAS

 

Putting up the decorations

And trimming the Christmas tree

Writing all the cards

This year from you and me

 

Your presents are wrapped

Only bows and tags to do

Until this moment I didn’t know

Just how much I loved you

 

So, I will have a happy Christmas

With the love of my life

The very first Christmas

Since we became man and wife

Uncanny Christmas Tales – (028) PC Nursing

 

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 old market town of Abbeyvale where the participants of this particular tale live their lives, and the tale began as Christmas fast approached.

 

Nurse Rebecca Clarke lived in Purplemere after moving back home to live with her mother Anna the year before, after the death of her father and as she was an only child there was only the two of them.

She was 27 years old, with thick chestnut hair and a heavily freckled face, hazel eyes, and a disarming smile.

She was five foot nothing in her stocking feet, whippet thin, but despite her diminutive stature she was widely regarded as feisty , and a first-class nurse.

She worked at the Royal Downshire Hospital in Purplemere as a district nurse and as such she had a number of regular home visit, terminally ill or housebound patients which kept her very busy.

Even more so in the run up to Christmas and one of her regular patients was Mark Fiest, a PC in the Downshire Constabulary who was almost killed in a hit and run incident which left him with multiple injuries, most of which had healed, it was just one of his legs which required numerous operations, the latest of which was only a few weeks earlier.

Her job was to manage his medication, massage, dressings and try to keep his spirits raised.

During his convalescence he was staying at his parents’ house in the medieval Village of Withery, which was located between Purplemere and Finchbottom.

It was where the Monks of St Vitus Abbey grew the first grapes in the county.

The Abbey was long ago reduced to rubble and provided much of the fabric of the Village cottages surviving from 15th and 16th centuries, and Withery Grange Nursing Home was the 21st century incarnation of the Manor House, and it was in Grange Lane, in a row of Victorian cottage, where the Fiest home was located.

She parked outside the house and walked up the path, then she knocked on the door and a moment or so later Mrs. Fiest, the patient’s mother, opened it. “Hello dear” she said

“Hello Mrs. Fiest” Becky said, “How’s the patient today?”

“A bit down” she said blankly “He’s so despondent, and I don’t know how to help him”

“Just be supportive” she said

“I try, but it’s hard though dear” she said putting on her coat and going to the foot of the stairs.

“Mark! the nurse is here” she shouted up the stairs “the pretty one with the freckles”

Becky smiled and Mrs. Fiest said

“You can go up when you’re ready, I need to pop out and do some shopping”

 

Mark was one of her favourite’s, not that she was supposed to have favourite’s, but she did, and he was hers.

He was very frustrating though physically he was healing well but he was mentally fragile.

His main problem was his self-isolation he almost never ventured out of his room, and he hid from the world.

He drove his girlfriend Sara away because he thought she was only staying with him out of pity, she didn’t take much persuading, so Becky assumed she was looking for an out but didn’t know how to do it without looking like a bitch.

But over the six months she had been seeing him she had seen a great improvement, at least on his good days.

She just needed a way of getting him out of the house to get him to the next stage.

Becky walked up the stairs and found Mark lying on his bed with his eyes closed as if he’d fallen asleep in front of the TV and he never stirred even when she knocked on the door.

She knew he was awake; it was a game he played on some of her visits, pretending to be asleep and so he wouldn’t have to engage in any kind of conversation.

“Hello Mark” she said but there was no response.

“So, we’re playing that game again, are we? Very well if that’s what you want”

It had been a long tedious shift, so she was in no mood to take any shit from him.

Over the months she had been visiting him, twice a week, sometimes three times, she had got quite good at reading him and she thought she was making progress but then he started with the silent treatment again. 

She pulled back the covers roughly to expose his bandaged leg she continued to chat to him all the while she was changing his dressing even though she got no response.

When she had finished, she recovered his legs again and said

“Ok Mark I’m all done; I won’t be coming again I’ll get Sammi to take over”

When she finished her sentence Mark spoke for the first time

“No don’t do that”

“Oh, he speaks” Becky taunted “but I’m afraid it’s too late”

“No please” he begged

“You’ll like Sammi she doesn’t do small talk either” she said “so you’ll get on like a house on fire”

“But I want you” he insisted

“Why?” she said “When you lie there pretending to be asleep all the time I’m here”

“Because…”

“Because what?” she snapped

“Because I’ll miss you if you stop coming” he replied

“Well, if you keep your eyes shut you can pretend it’s me” Becky said coldly

“I’ll know” he said

“How?” she scoffed “How exactly would you know?”

“Because of your footfalls on the stairs, the sound of your breathing, your perfume and your gentle touch” he said “that’s how I’d know”

“Well, that’s an eye opener” she thought and took hold of his hand.

 

They spent the next half an hour chatting it through and she said she wouldn’t go through with her threat to hand his case on to Sammi on condition that he fully engaged with her and more importantly left the house occasionally.

He promised her that he would, and she took him at his word. 

By rights she should have reported Mark’s declaration to her superiors, and taken herself off his case, but she didn’t, and at first, she wasn’t sure why, any emotional attachment with patients was strictly a no no, but she realized that she actually had feeling for him which had nothing to do with the Nurse/patient dynamic.    

 

When Becky reached her car, she noticed Mrs. Russell coming up the lane.

“Hello Mrs. Russell” Becky said

“Are you off dear?” she asked, “How’s the boy?”

“You know, I think we may have turned a corner” she replied

“Oh, I do hope so dear” Mrs. Russell said with a sigh

“He has promised to leave the house occasionally and not just for hospital appointments” Becky said

“Really?” his mum said “That is progress”

“A bit of gentle nagging may be required” Becky said

“Oh, I think I can manage that dear” she said

“I will even come round and take him out myself if necessary” Becky said and then she inexplicably blushed 

 

Over the following weeks Mark was good to his word and he engaged fully with her, and his mental wellbeing was much improved, he had also started going to the village coffee shop twice a week.

So, he was making tremendous progress and she knew that she would have to discharge him very soon and she should have been happy about that.

 

On Christmas Eve her schedule was lighter than usual, so she was planning on spending a prolonged visit with Mark.

She was feeling very nervous as she approached the house because she had no idea how it was going to go as there was every possibility it was going to ruin Christmas for one of them or even both.

After the usual friendly greeting from Mrs. Fiest, she was about to make her way upstairs to his room when Mrs. Fiest said

“He’s in the lounge dear”

“Is he?” she retorted and gave Mrs. F a hug “great news”

She entered the lounge and found him sitting in an armchair next to the Christmas tree.

“Well look at you, sitting in the grownups room” she said mockingly

“I thought it was time” he replied

“Ok then drop your trousers, so I can have a good look” she said, and he raised his eyebrows

“Your scars”

 

As he pulled his joggers back up, she said

“You’re doing really well, so you only need to be seen once a week”

“Oh ok” he said disappointedly which did not go unnoticed

“Well, if you don’t like that then you’re definitely not going to like this” she said “I’m discharging you from the district list so you will have to go to the surgery once a week”

Her statement was met by silence as she knelt on the floor in front of him.

“Cheer up” she said putting her hand on his “If I was still your nurse you wouldn’t be able to take me to the pictures next week”

“Theatre” he muttered

“What?”

“I prefer the theatre” he said

“Well PC pedantic my point remains the same” Becky said, “Nurse Clarke can’t go with you……. but Becky can”

“So, when exactly do you stop being my Nurse?” he asked and

Becky checked her fob watch and replied

“Just about… now”

“So, I can do this” Mark said and leant forward and kissed her

“Oh yes that is permissible” she replied before returning his kiss with interest and they were still kissing when Mrs. Fiest walked into the lounge with a tea tray.

OH MY PRETTY LITTLE ELFIN FACED GIRL (PART TWO)

 

Oh my pretty little elfin faced girl

In green woolly tights and pixie shoes

Please notice me beneath the mistletoe

And kiss away my Christmas blues

 

Oh my pretty little elfin faced girl

I wish you would grant my Christmas wish

But it appears that I wish in vain

For you don’t even know that I exist

 

So I stand alone with my Christmas punch

Looking out at the fresh fallen snow

When I see your elfin face smile at me

And you’re holding a sprig of mistletoe

Uncanny Christmas Tales – (027) The early Christmas Present

 

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 old market town of Abbeyvale where the participants of this particular tale live their lives, and the tale began as Christmas fast approached.

 

Junior Nurse Sammi Green lived in Purplemere where she shared a flat with her older sister Lizzie

She was 25 years old, four years younger than her sister, with short mousy hair, which was appropriate as she was a bit of a timid mouse, unlike Lizzie who was a real “burning the candle at both ends” toxing her socks off kind of party girl, she was also taller and slimmer than her sister as Sammi was five foot two in her stocking feet, and a fuller figure than she would have liked.

She and her sister worked at the Royal Downshire Hospital in Purplemere, Lizzie in oncology and Sammi, because she was a junior was being rotated through different department to gain as much practical experience as possible, and at the beginning of December she started a short stint as a district nurse and as such she was to shadow one of the experienced Nurses who, like the rest of the team, had a number of regular home visits, terminally ill or housebound patients which kept them very busy.

The Nurse she was shadowing was Rebecca Clarke and the first patient they were going to see was Mark Fiest, a PC in the Downshire Constabulary who was almost killed in a hit and run incident which left him with multiple injuries, most of which had healed, it was just his left leg which had required numerous operations, the latest, and final of which was only a few weeks earlier.

The function of the District Nurse was to manage his medication, change his dressings and try to keep his spirits raised.

During his convalescence he was staying at his parents’ house in the medieval Village of Withery, which was located between Purplemere and Finchbottom.

It was where the Monks of St Vitus Abbey grew the first grapes in the county.

The Abbey was long ago reduced to rubble and provided much of the fabric of the Village cottages surviving from 15th and 16th centuries, and Withery Grange Nursing Home was the 21st century incarnation of the Manor House, and it was in Grange Lane, in a row of Victorian cottage, where the Fiest home was located.

They parked outside the house and Sammi asked nervously

“What do you want me do when we go in Rebecca?”

“Well first of all you can call me Becky, only my mum calls me Rebecca, and only when I’m naughty”

“Sorry”

“That’s ok, now until we get in there, we won’t know which patient we’re going to find” she explained “he’s had a lot of surgeries and his mood swings from stoicism to despondency”

“Oh” she exclaimed “So what should I do?”

“Well, be bright, be cheerful and be confident” Becky said and opened the car door and walked up the path, then Becky knocked on the door and a moment or so later Mrs. Fiest, the patient’s mother, opened it.

“Good morning” she said to Mrs. Fiest

“Hello dear” she said “my word its busy this morning”

“Yes?” Becky said

“Oh yes dear” she confirmed “We have a real house full”

“Well, I’m afraid I’m adding another one to the throng, this is Nurse Green” she said

“Oh, hello dear” Mrs. Fiest said “Welcome to the mad house”

“How is he today?” Sammi asked

“He’s having a good day today” she replied

When they went inside, they found the lounge was full of Police Officers and they got a very rousing welcome, and it was obviously having his friends visit that had perked him up.

 

“Morning Mark” Becky said brightly and then realized he was not alone, there was someone else in the room who had also caught Sammi’s attention.

“This is….” Mark Began

“Steve Briggs” Sammi exclaimed

She hadn’t seen Steve for five years which was when her sister Lizzie dumped him.

Sammi was heartbroken because she had it bad for him, but she was too timid to let him know.

“Sammi!” Steve said “Wow it’s great to see you again”

“For the benefit of those who haven’t met before”

Mark said “PC Steve Briggs, Nurse Becky Clarke”

“Pleased to meet you” Steve said

“Likewise,” she responded and shook his hand “But now Nurse Green and I need to attend to our patient”

 

When they had finished, they made their way down the stairs where the crowd of Police Officers had largely dispersed, those remaining Becky assumed were the ones who hadn’t yet seen Mark.

After saying goodbye to Mrs. Fiest, they left the house and walked down the path towards the car, but then they heard the door open behind them.

“Sammi!” a voice called, and she recognized it immediately as it was like honey on her ears, so she stopped and turned to face Steve Briggs.

“Yes” she squeaked

“I was wondering if you might like to go to the Purplemere Christmas Ball”

“Me?” she asked in surprise

“Yes, if you’re free” he said

 

The conversation wasn’t really progressing as fast as Becky would have liked as they still had a number of calls to get through, so she interceded.

“Unlock your phone and give it to me” she instructed Steve

“Um ok” he responded hesitantly but handed it over anyway because he thought she had the look of someone you didn’t say no to.

Becky took the phone and handed it to Sammi

“Put your number in there”

Sammi said nothing but did as she was asked and handed it back, Becky then gave the phone to Steve and said

“Right now, you have her number, call her tonight, after 7”

 

They got back in the car and Sammi gave Steve a wave as they drove off.

“So, tell me all about Steve” Becky demanded “Particularly why he makes your voice go squeaky”

OH MY PRETTY LITTLE ELFIN FACED GIRL (PART ONE)

 

Oh, my pretty little elfin faced girl

In green woolly tights and pixie shoes

I’ve admired you from a distance

Where your smile melts away my blues

 

I watched you bloom in the spring

And bask in the warm summer glow

Then dressed in russet colours of autumn

And all the year I’ve felt my love grow

 

Now winter is here, and Christmas is near

Oh, how I long to kiss your sweet lips so

Oh, my pretty little elfin faced girl

I pray I meet you beneath the mistletoe

Uncanny Christmas Tales – (026) Morella’s Spanish Eyes

 

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 old market town of Abbeyvale where the participants of this particular tale live their lives, and the tale began as Christmas fast approached.

 

Morella Garcia sat alone drinking black coffee in Labuschagne’s Coffee House, just killing some time, and she noticed her instantly as she entered, Yolanda Torres, and she was powerless to resist the movement of her eyes, as like magnets they were drawn towards the striking young woman and her stunning beauty.

Her eyes were glued on Yolanda’s form as she removed her coat. At first her hair appeared black as a raven's wing as it caressed the dark caramel skin of her shoulders, but with the sun shining through the fine strands they betrayed its true brunette nature.

But out of the sun her hairs dark lustre framed the simple beauty of her face, which Morella studied as she took another sip.
Firstly her full moist lips which broadened into a smile, the delicate curve of her small nose and the hypnotic depth of her dark brown eyes which looked back at her and held her gaze, and as if reading Morella’s thoughts they burned through her and touched her soul.
Yolanda was distracted momentarily so her eyes wandered the soft brown nakedness of her neck and shoulders until reaching her bountiful breasts, where white lace fringed their fullness, she met her eyes again and her smile broadened and her cheeks flushed as if she could feel the tingling of her loins.

Yolanda turned away and she continued her lustful journey, the cloth of her trousers fitted her firm buttocks like a second skin hugging her contours as Morella longed to do.

As she sat down at an adjacent table and her gaze once more returned to the plumpness of her fine young breasts as they rearranged themselves within their lacy confines.

And then their eyes met again, and she smiled, knowing her thoughts, and reveling in them.

The blushing Spanish maiden had to look away and fumbled in her bag while she regained her composure as the embers’ glowed within her of what could become an unquenchable fire.

She took out a cigarette in her slender fingers and Morella noticed her hand tremble for a moment before placing it between her luscious lips and she envied its intimacy with her mouth.

Morella reached across and the void between their tables and offered her a light.

Yolanda smiled as she lit it and then joined her where she bought her coffee and they talked and laughed, then drank more coffee and talked and laughed some more.

Her eyes still took every opportunity to peruse her fine young body as she was held captive by her Spanish eyes, but as she looked upon her sweet face, they were only biding their time until the moment when Yolanda would use her to quell the fire uncontrollably burning inside her and Morella would look into her Spanish eyes as her pretty face contorted in orgasmic bliss.