The Daily Dormouse. (aka Bike, est. 2007) Part 2240 by Angharad Copyright © 2013 Angharad All Rights Reserved.

As we were eating dinner, bacon, scrambled eggs, sausages and anything else I could fry, there was a crash from the lounge and one small cat was seen fleeing up the stairs. Simon went to look and found the Christmas tree on its side. I suspect cats were vandals long before humans were, and ours is a natural at it. I picked up a cushion the other day and was covered by a blizzard of kapok, the culprit skitted away but she’d left her paw prints at the scene so I knew who was responsible.

“How did she knock that over? It takes two of us to move it,” Simon pondered.

“I have no idea, things just happen when she’s about.”

“Ah, that explains it,” he said triumphantly.

“Explains what?” I asked knowing I wasn’t going to like the answer.

“She takes after my wife, things just happen round her.”

I ignored the comment and asked if Maureen had done the fence.

“Yes, with Tom and my help. Took us two bloody hours, just for two panels.”

“I’ll bet they were done properly though, weren’t they?”

“Natch, I was on the case,” Simon beamed, sometimes I think he’s living in a different reality to the rest of us.

I finished eating and cleared up while the kettle boiled. “Two of my favourite meals on consecutive days, maybe we should sack that cook fellah and employ you.”

I got your antacid tablets,” was all I said.

“Oh that was a joke, babes.”

“Ha ha.” I continued loading the dishwasher while Julie made the tea.

“Don’t be like that.”

“Like what?”

“You know...”

“Simon, I am tired and stressed and have things to do. I don’t have time for silly schoolboy games with you.”

He went off to sulk but I stopped him, “You could check the Christmas tree is okay, it will probably need watering.” He went off to sulk with the tree. Norway spruce are renowned for sulking–no–that’s right, they pine.

I surreptitiously carried in my presents and locked them in the study. I had about two miles of wrapping paper and tags and sticky tape and Uncle Tom Cobbley and all. What I needed was some time to do it. The children were like bottles of pop, fizzing away.

Danni said what she thought she would like for Christmas and Julie riposted, “Wossat then, a vibrator?”

“Is that what you want?” Danni shouted back.

I intervened before they came to blows. “Mummy, can Cindy come for Christmas?”

“Sorry, lovely, we’re a bit full and if David is still sick, which looks most likely, I’ll have to cook the dinner–and you lot will have to help me.”

“I’m recovering from an operation–I can’t do anything.”

“If you’re not careful you’ll spend Christmas sitting atop the Christmas tree.”

“Nice one,” Julie sniggered as she went past.

“You’ll have a few things to do tomorrow, too, young lady.”

“What–I’m on holiday.”

“So am I.”

“Yeah, but you’re responsible for the house.”

“I take it you’d like to live somewhere else for Christmas.” This was ceasing to be funny.

“Oh don’t be like that, Mummy. You know I’ll help.”

“You better had or there’ll be no dinner.”

She looked aghast at that and scooted off before I found her something to do.

Tom is brilliant with the girls. He read them their story and tucked them in. Simon had to repair the lights and put a reward on the cat’s head. Knowing her, she’d enjoy the notoriety.

I managed to wrap everything I had to do, and carried most of it into the lounge and placed it under the tree. The lovely thing about having a houseful of young women, is they’re easy to buy for–especially little stuff. They all got things like nail varnish and panties, earrings and toiletries. Boys would be much harder–had been. I thought of Billy and Danny when they first came here–how their lives had changed or ended.

“Are ye alricht?” Tom caught me looking at the tree and sniffing.

“Yes, Daddy, I was just thinking of this time a few years ago.”

“Aye, I ken whit ye mean. She’s safe now, ye ken that.”

“I know, Daddy, but I still miss her.”

“Aye we a’ dae.”

“Are you going to the cemetery tomorrow?”

“I am.”

“May I come with you?”

“I wis expectin’ ye tae.”

“I’ve got some flowers in the car.”

“Aye, I thocht ye wid.”

He gave me a little hug and I went back to the kitchen. It was eleven o’clock and I was pooped. “I’m going to bed, darling,” I said giving Si a peck on the cheek.

“Yeah, okay–why’s the study locked?”

“I left some presents in there.” I blushed. “Why?”

“I wanted to borrow your Chambers.”

“Eh?”

“Dictionary–had a word I’d never come across before in the crossword.”

“What was that?”

“Repetiteur or something like that.”

“Yeah, a singing coach in the opera, isn’t it?”

“How the hell did you know that?”

“Crosswords I expect. I must go to bed, I’ve got a headache I’m so tired.”

“I’ll be up in a minute.”

I’d gone as he was saying this. I cleaned my teeth, stripped off, weed and pulled on my pyjamas and was asleep within minutes.

I slept quite well and woke early. I went down after dressing and started on sorting the turkey. Tom was just returning with Kiki who was playing with Bramble as they came up the drive. I made him some coffee and myself some tea. While the kettle was boiling I shoved some bread in the toaster and the bread mix and water in the breadmaker. It was churning away while I ate my toast. It was only six when I’d finished dressing the turkey and making the stuffing, which I cook separately.

I shoved the bird in the oven on a lowish heat and nodded to Tom. He rose, dumped his mug on the draining board and pulled on his coat. On the way out I got the flowers from the boot of my car. They were for all the occupants of the grave and included a small sprig of holly and mistletoe–well it’s Christmas.

On the way back from the cemetery, he chuckled, “They wis a’ amused by yer Christmas touch.”

“I’m glad,” I said pulling myself into him. I felt cold despite my thick coat and woolly hat. We were back at seven and just had time for another hot drink before Simon descended followed by Julie. I couldn’t believe my eyes.

“You’re up early, sweetheart?”

“I couldn’t sleep, thinking about all you have to do, so here I am. What’s first?”

I hugged and kissed her. “Breakfast, then it’s vegetables.”

“What can I smell?” she said.

“The turkey, I started it early. It’s going to need several more hours yet.”

“Wow–I didn’t think it would take that long.”

“I’m slow cooking it.”

“Is that like gonna kill all the germs an’ things?”

“Yes.”

“Oh, all right, I get my breakfast.”

Simon made more teas and helped me carry in a large bag of potatoes. “Peel, all of them?” squealed Julie.

“Uh huh.”

“Geez, next time I’ll kick my conscience out of bed an’ stay there myself.”

“No you won’t because you’ve grown up. You know what responsibility is and you deal with it. I’m proud of you, kiddo.”

“Oh, thanks, Mummy, I really appreciate it, but I’m staying in bed next year.”

“Who knows where we’ll all be next year.”

“That sounds ominous.”

“No–I just don’t take things for granted anymore.”