CHAPTER 62
He wasn’t putting it on as I would with Tony (mmmmm), or as he would with me, but casually, carefully, as a friendly thing. I was proud of my uncle at that point, proud of my entire family.

Half a league onward.

That morning Irina picks me up at Tanner’s place. I’m in another one of the skirt suits and before we leave, Irina does my makeup and hair.

“Your hair isn’t perfect, but then you are going to see a judge not do a photo shoot so a few imperfections are permitted. Be certain you have your male ID with you. I'm so proud of you, Schatzi”

CHAPTER 59
Catching up. That is always the thing that can delight or appal you, as you work through the mail and the gossip that has piled up on the doorstep.

Yes, Santa Claus... by Andrea Lena DiMaggio

To:
Justin Winter, Editor-in-Chief
Elfin Gazette
136 Thankful Ave. North Pole, Arctic Circle

From:
Santa Claus, President & C.E.O. ClausInc.
115 Grateful Way, North Pole, Arctic Circle
December 1, 2010

CHAPTER 56
Cheeky Alice had even managed to squeeze Margaret onto the reception guest list without me noticing, so she was sitting smiling fondly with the old tart as more speeches came and went.

I was going to save this till tomorrow, but hey....

Half a league, half a league

With two of the three shoots finished we break for lunch and I wind up eating more rabbit food. This time I know better about the meat and order a small steak for the protein since we are going to be doing a shoot with me a bit later..

CHAPTER 53
It is odd when you have a large task to complete. You look at it at the start, and there is no way it can be done, it’s just too big, but you get on with it because you have no choice. For what seems like an aeon, nothing happens. No matter how much you beaver away, there is no progress, until one day you see a hint of movement. Gradually, you spot the changes, and finally you can actually see the end off in the distance.

CHAPTER 52
That was a relief. Neither of the two men was exactly backward in using his fists, and the last thing I wanted was a set to. It would be my day, my guests, my music, my hangover. I might let Tony have a look-in, though.

CHAPTER 51
Tony was on lates, so I didn’t see him till gone eleven thirty, when a pair of cold thighs slithered into our bed. He asked the obvious questions, I told him the well-worn story, and he seemed satisfied. He promised to contact Steph to find out about Hywel Powell and her.

CHAPTER 50
The beer flowed, and folk relaxed. About eight thirty, we were joined by Aunty Gwen’s two, Karen and Elspeth. Ellie was straight to the point.

CHAPTER 49
Mam was back on the phone the next day.

CHAPTER 48
Invitations, guest lists, it’s so much easier for a young girl to get married, she isn’t running a bloody household and someone else does the planning. My parents, for a start, needed reminding. I rang them

CHAPTER 47
That left us caught between two stools: whether to celebrate the arrival of Enid, or to explore Alice’s problems further. She steered us neatly away from that one with a seemingly flippant comment about water under the bridge, and we got on to planning the disposal of a sizeable proportion of her worldly goods.

CHAPTER 46
I took Alice to the first meeting, at her local bank branch, where we produced the deed poll and letter from her quack, and it all went rather smoothly. That was why I was so surprised when, as we exited, I realised she was trembling.

CHAPTER 42
Alice drove us home, and I had to remember to be careful going in the front door, as a black and white furball mugged me, whimpering and yelping with excitement.