Wuthering Dormice (aka Bike) Part 854 by Angharad

That night we worked damned hard after getting the kids to bed. The boys were messing about and the girls wanted another story–a Christmassy one. I did the girls and made up some tale about a dormouse who couldn’t sleep so didn’t hibernate–you know the sort of stuff. Eventually they quietened down.

Simon went up to sort out the boys, after I put the drops in Danny’s eye–it was improving but still rather bloodshot, but at least he didn’t need to cover it. I’m not sure what he did–Simon that is–but he was with them equally as long as I was with the girls.

We had a cuppa and checked on our charges, they were all asleep. Then it was getting the presents put out by the tree but far enough away from the fire to stop them being damaged by the heat.

They each had an MP3 player and some CDs courtesy of Tom, Simon and I gave the girls a lap top each, and Mima had a bike instead, as did the boys. Plus loads of little things like soft toys and balls, puzzles and books, some chocolate and a small bottle of drink.

I’d had the double delight of getting something from the girls for Simon, I knew he wanted a new leather belt, so Trish gave him that, Livvie gave him a new ball pen and Meems a digital tyre pressure gauge. They all clubbed together to give Tom a new printer for his computer, and I gave Tom a new cardigan with suede bits in the front of it.

As for Simon, well he wanted some new shirts–so I had some made for him: don’t ask what they cost, but it was more than one of the boy’s bikes. Everything except the bikes had been wrapped, they had been labelled and deposited around the Christmas tree. We were at it until after eleven, when I decided I’d had enough and went to bed, Simon and Tom were watching the end of a film–they’d helped–for a few minutes.

Stella decided to turn in about the same time, I’d got her a new nightdress and peignoir, I hoped she liked them, and Puddin’ had some new clothes and a few toys. I’d tried to be careful, but had still spent a fortune.

I was asleep before Simon came up to bed and I hardly stirred when he did, I was so tired. I did wake once in the night needing a wee, but I went straight off again–Simon was snoring like a lawnmower, a sharp elbow in the ribs stopped him and he turned over on his side and I went back to sleep.

The first we knew of Christmas was the invasion by the aliens–why do they all have cold feet on the planet Zog? And, do they all have cold hands too? I know that two pairs of both were held against my body until I awoke, despite my resistance.

“Mewwy Chwistmas, Mummy,” said a cold handed alien whose voice seemed familiar. A cold nose accompanied a very wet kiss which for a moment I thought might be the blessed dog. It wasn’t.

I had asked Simon and Tom to shut and lock the lounge door last night in the hope I could get the children to eat some breakfast before they opened their presents. Of course they forgot and I had to intercept Livvie, who was about to go into the lounge as it’s the room with the chimney and fireplace.

I wanted the children to have a good breakfast before they started on the Christmas day festivities, I also had loads to do with the dinner, which we were going to have at about one pm. The boys must have heard the girls about, because they were down within moments of us being up. (That sounds total gobbledygook, but I expect you know what I mean–if not get Mima to translate).

Simon, who normally stays in bed until after the breakfast máªlée, actually got up when I asked him, so he supervised–sort of–the breakfasting of the children, while I got a twenty pound turkey prepared for the oven. I won’t bore you with the details but it involved slices of bacon, garlic, and sausage meat. Tom was insistent on the latter–he nearly got stuffed himself as my stress levels began to rise.

Trish was going to help me make the chestnut stuffing and Livvie and Danny were going to do the potatoes, while Mima washed the cabbage–okay broccoli, and a few sprouts–Simon loves them, it’s me who nearly gets gassed in bed!

Billy was going to help Simon light the fire and carry in the wood from the woodshed, and Tom was going to make his coffee and stay ‘oot a ma way’ or he would get stuffed!

I managed a few cornflakes and a banana for my breakfast before getting back into the dinner preparations. We did the stuffing, the veg got prepared and the fire was lit–Billy was left stacking wood in the shed and not allowed into the lounge until everyone was ready.

I’d laid up the table as much as I could the night before, so the dining room should have been clean and tidy. I checked–it was. Simon had lit the fire and was standing in front of the lounge door keeping out invaders.
We had now been up over an hour, and the breakfast crocks were in the dishwasher. I nodded to Simon, who opened the lounge door and they kids all dashed in. They were all gobsmacked at the sight before them. Then they all squealed and talked at the same time and fell upon the presents.

It’s impossible to describe the scene, of excitement and disbelief–the boys couldn’t believe they each had a bike–and a decent one. The girls were ripping paper off like wild animals and squealing with delight at each new revelation. I’d spent hours wrapping things, which they tore into like maniacs.

Simon and I stood by the door, watching the excitement, his arm around my shoulder, and mine around his waist. We squeezed each other, “Merry Christmas, Lady Cameron,” he said and kissed me.

“Merry Christmas, your Lordship,” I replied and kissed him back.

We watched the pandemonium for a bit longer when he said, “You know, I haven’t seen so much madness since it was rumoured one of the boys on my dormitory had pictures of the headmaster’s daughter with no clothes on.”

“It wasn’t you, was it?”

“Yes,” he said blushing, “but she was only three months old at the time and was lying on a bearskin rug–I was president of the camera club and he asked me to take them.”

“You have led an exciting life,” I said and he looked at me and we both snorted with laughter.

“This is for you, Mummy, from Daddy.” Trish produced a small package and handed it to me. I looked at her and then at him.

“Well open it then?” he urged, so I did. Inside was a diamond necklace and matching drop earrings. The way the stones sparkled was breathtaking.

“It’s beautiful,” I said, and kissed him.

“It’s insured,” he said, “Do you like them?”

“They’re beautiful.” I kissed him again.

Trish now arrived with a parcel for Simon. He opened it and looked at the shirt. “Goodness handmade, thank you, wife.”

“You’re welcome, husband–oh and there’s another five upstairs for you.”

“My goodness–you spoil me,” he said blushing.

“I try, when I can.” I winked and he kissed me again, this time to loads of noise from the assembled children, who groaned and whistled.

“Can we go out on the bikes, Auntie Cathy?”

“Did you find the helmets, Auntie Stella gave you?”

“Yes, Auntie Cathy.”

“Let’s see if they fit.” I adjusted each one and after they promised to wrap up warmly, they all went out on their bikes. I asked them to keep on the pavement on the main road or to stay near the drive. I knew I was wasting my time, but it is Christmas.

Then it was more chores as I got on with the dinner and Stella and Simon collected up all the wrapping paper in a rubbish bag. Sadly most of it won’t burn, so it has to be dumped.

I had a CD of carols from King’s College playing in the kitchen as I did the dinner and Tom came out. “I thocht ye’re an agnostic?”

“I am, why?”

“Listenin’ tae carols.”

“I used to sing them when I was a kid, Daddy, I was in a church choir.”

“So why d’ye listen tae them noo.”

“I like them, it doesn’t mean I agree with the message, and let’s face most of it is total poppycock, but it’s part of Christmas.”

“Aye it’s that alricht.”

“More coffee?”

“Not jes’ the noo, I wanted to gi’ ye this.” He handed me a small package.

“What is it?” I asked as I opened it and inside found a small ring box which upon opening held a beautiful diamond ring.”

“This looks like an engagement ring,” I said.

“Aye, it wis Celia’s.”

“I can’t take this, Daddy, it’s far too precious.”

“I want ye tae hae it, and I ken Celia wid tae. It wid hae gone tae ma Catherine, but noo ye’re ma dochter. Ye’d hae got it when I wis deid, an’ I’d like ye tae hae it the noo, while I can gi it tae ye in person. Please accept it.”

“How can I say no, it’s absolutely beautiful. Thank you, Daddy.” I kissed him and felt the tears form in my eyes. I slipped the box into my pocket and said, “I’ll put it safe when I go up to change later. I’ll treasure that forever, Daddy.”

“Och weel,” he said and shuffled out of the kitchen, while I sniffed over the onions I was chopping for the sage and onion stuffing.