The twelve days of Christmas – all of them

Tuesday December 24^th, Christmas Eve

 ‘Twas the night before Christmas and all through the house, not a creature was stirring….

“And that is why we have oily gravy, lumpy custard and that dreadful stodge your Aunt calls eggnog” David’s grandmother said, smoothly. Oh so smoothly. Instead of helping Aunt Anne the old bat would rather moan.

He had only just arrived. He was tired after 18 hours of travel and several busy hours before that leaving his home in a state that would be fine when he got back.   But he was here, Aunt Anne needed his help, yet the old bat demanded his presence. This was like every other Christmas he could remember. Aunt Anne would have been sewing or painting or embroidering busily for weeks, making everyone a Christmas Present.  Yet it was his grandmother who wrote the cards to be attached. And the cards always said from Grandmother. He had realised just how unfair it was once he was old enough, but Aunt Anne always told him to be quiet, to let it be.

The house was clean, smelling of pine needles from the wreaths Aunt Anne always made.  The kitchen was warm, the sitting room was warm. He went to his room, icy cold. Then he peeked into the other rooms. Aunt Anne’s just like his, cold as charity. But his grandmother’s room had a fire, coals glowing and it was reasonably warm.

After the Christmas Eve meal it was now  time to go to the church. He went out to the car and warmed it up. Aunt Anne came out helping her mother, carrying a warm blanket for her. The service seemed to go on and on. He would have left if he hadn’t seen Aunt Anne’s face, looking happy for the first time that day. His grandmother had been escorted to ‘her’ seat at the front. He and Aunt Anne were told to ‘go find a seat before you cause a disturbance’. They sat upstairs behind the choir, happy surrounded by those beautiful voices. At midnight he and Aunt Anne turned to each other and said “Happy Christmas”, she kissed his cheek and said “Now I can rest, you have done so well for yourself.”

Home again and now he had been awake for over 24 hours.  Grandmother began telling Aunt Anne what she should do. His tired nerves snapped. “Leave her alone. We are all going to bed and I don’t want to hear a SINGLE SOUND until I want to get up!” he shouted. His grandmother looked startled. No one EVER spoke back to her.

The two women went into their rooms, and shortly the only sound was the snores emanating from his grandmother’s room.  He sniffed the down comforter on his bed. It smelled of Aunt Anne. Then he remembered he hadn’t seen one on her bed. He got up and went to her door. She was in bed, wearing so many clothes she almost looked like a ball. He rushed back to his room, took the comforter and put it over Aunt Anne. Then he climbed into bed with her and held her till her shivering ceased and she slept. Exhaustion overcame him and he slept.

Wednesday December 25^th, the first day of Christmas:

When he woke he could hear sounds from the kitchen, and voices arguing, if a one-sided tirade could be called arguing.

He rose and dressed quickly. Once in the kitchen he started to help while gesturing to Aunt Anne to make the breakfast while he took the job of washing the previous night’s dishes.

After they had eaten when he started to collect plates to take to the kitchen, his grandmother said “Don’t do that it’s Anne’s job. Come and tell me about the wide world out there, Anne is such boring company.”

12 more days of this! He could hardly bear to think of it.

When Anne came in from tidying up he looked at her. She looked tired. He said, sit Aunt Anne, I’ll make us all some tea. His grandmother’s eyebrows almost hit her hairline. She started to talk, and he said quickly, it’s Christmas day and a time of goodwill to all, Anne made a delicious breakfast, so now I owe her some tea.

When he came back with the tray, he discovered Aunt Anne now sewing, obviously something for his grandmother, in a hideous lilac. He took the tray to his grandmother who reprimanded him for expecting her to serve herself, and of course Aunt Anne jumped up and assisted.  Giving her mother a cup of tea, properly stirred, and a slice of cake exactly the way she liked it.

He went to his room and came back with the contents of his second suitcase, many presents. He started to arrange them under the tree, while his grandmother sat smiling at him. “So kind to bring me so many gifts” she said. “I will start with that small gold one, thank you.”

“Oh no, he said, that’s Aunt Anne’s” he replied. And he took it to his aunt. She smiled at him her hands trembling and took it. “Well hurry up woman, his grandmother snapped, “I can’t wait all day for mine, I could be dead before it arrives”.

Aunt Anne carefully opened the present, careful not to tear the paper. A beautiful yellow scarf, in a fine wool. She sighed looking at his with her eyes brimming. “Thank you” was all she could get out. His grandmother snorted, “well that is a most impractical colour, bring it here I want to see how it will look with that coat you haven’t finished for me for Twelfth Night”

“Stay in your chair Aunt Anne” he commanded, and took his grandmother a similar sized present.

“That’s better” she said, but I wanted to choose what to open first.

“There is one present a day for the 12 days” he replied smoothly.

“But there are more than 11 left” his grandmother complained.

“Exactly, he said, “11 more for you and 11 more for Aunt Anne”

“You have done enough for her” complained the old lady, her voice all trembly and forlorn. “No one remembers I’m just a poor old lady”

“Well then if you don’t want to open your present, I think we can go for a walk” he started only to be interrupted by the doorbell.  Aunt Anne had already noticed the figures coming and was at the door to answer it immediately. He could hear them talking for a few minutes then they came in. It was the local vicar, smiling broadly as he greeted first the old lady, then her grandson.

He was a middle aged man, about the same age as Aunt Anne, but looked somewhat younger, due no doubt to the fact he did not have to wait hand and foot on the old bat.

Aunt Anne went to the kitchen and returned with an extra cup for the vicar.

“Reverend Smith is so good, he visits me daily” smirked his grandmother coyly. “Now vicar aren’t you impressed with the number of presents my grandson has brought for me?” she asked.

“Most impressive” he replied. The young man’s feelings of annoyance that this man would come and pander to the old bat were somewhat abated as he noticed a wink from the vicar, aimed at his aunt. The pair of them seemed very comfortable together now that he thought about it.

His grandmother ripped open the present. Inside was a black scarf, also made of wool, but somewhat thicker than the aunt’s scarf.

They all talked companionably about last night’s service and the morning service, how well attended they had both been, how the weather looked almost ready for snow, though sadly probably not in time for a white Christmas.

Eventually the his grandmother said to the vicar, “We do not have a formal Christmas meal today, we had it last night, but would you like to join us, if Anne can rustle up something vaguely edible.” Aunt Anne blushed and went off to the kitchen.  David tidied up the cups and cake plates, his grandmother clucking over him, what a help he was to Anne who was so lazy.

In the kitchen he discovered that Anne had a full Christmas dinner ready, a ham and a roast chicken, vegetables; all the traditional ones for their home. He quickly went through and laid the table. Anne came through with a wreath for the centre. David invited the vicar and his grandmother to come through.

The champagne he had brought was cold enough from his bedroom, so they opened that and had a fairly merry lunch. His grandmother complaining about the poor quality of the meal, blaming Anne for her poor cooking skills. David felt very annoyed, it was delicious!

After lunch the vicar thanked them all and left, saying he had to prepare for the final service of the day. David was going through to the kitchen and saw the vicar touch Aunt Anne’s arm as he was leaving, a familiar yet friendly touch.

Thursday December 26^th, the second day of Christmas:

Boxing Day followed, with a familiar pattern of boredom, punctuated by his grandmother’s complaints. The vicar again appeared in time for morning tea and was pressed to return for a light supper when he told them he had accepted an invitation for lunch at the local ‘big house’.

The two presents for the second day of Christmas turned out to be perfume, but sadly his grandmother dropped and broke Aunt Anne’s bottle. All she said was “I’m sure you won’t be missing that, what would you be needing perfume for?”

David went out for a while, visiting a school friend. He returned with a spare comforter on loan from his friend.

Supper was a delight, soup such as he remembered, thick and full of vegetables and Aunt Anne’s famous homemade soda bread. The conversation was interesting between Aunt Anne, the vicar and David, punctuated with complaints from his grandmother about the food, and that no-one was paying any attention to her.

After the vicar had gone, his grandmother began to talk of him in the most unflattering terms. David said “I’m going out for a walk, will you come with me Aunt Anne?”

Anne looked a bit startled, but agreed. Leaving her mother with a cup of tea and some biscuits, they dressed warmly and left. Crunching through the leaves covered with frost, their breath steaming ahead of them David took his aunt’s arm and linked it in his. She looked very good with her bright yellow scarf. They walked through the crisp night air, not speaking, just enjoying being together.

Friday December 27th, the third day of Christmas started like the others, with his grandmother complaining about Aunt Anne’s cooking, housekeeping and anything else she could think of.  After breakfast David went off to visit his school friend again, and came home with some new plans, not that he told anyone. As usual the vicar popped in, and again was invited to lunch.

The pattern of the three having a lively discussion while his grandmother sulked and complained continued. Today’s present was slippers. Wonderful warm fluffy ones. Fortunately Aunt Anne took a size smaller than her mother, so there was no chance of them making their way into the old woman’s cupboard. David had twice rescued the yellow scarf from his grandmother’s room.

Saturday December 28th, the fourth day of Christmas and David went off on a private errand. His grandmother complained that he shouldn’t have bothered coming down if all he was going to do was gad about and leave her home alone and lonely.  That day’s presents were opened in the evening, with the vicar present for dinner again, and proved to be a subscription to a magazine each. His aunt’s to a birding one, his grandmother’s to a woman’s magazine specialising in cooking and crafts. She was speechless for a while, then she began to complain. David said “If you don’t like the magazine you can always give it to Aunt Anne.”

David liked up and saw the vicar smiling. He began to wonder just why the man visited so often.

Sunday December 29^th, the fifth day of Christmas

Now that Aunt Anne was accustomed to it, he helped her more and more, cleaning out the grates and re-laying fires, peeling vegetables and washing dishes. When he said “You need a dishwasher” she just smiled and said “Oh I don’t mind really.”

Once again at the church, his grandmother insisted on ‘her’ seat, causing confusion and annoyance to some visitors.  David and Aunt Anne escaped to the back of the choir again.  On the way out, he watched her smile at the vicar, and suddenly realised he had only ever heard her address him by his first name when her mother was not present.

Today was lunch at the vicarage, three of the local families had brought food, and they all participated, seated around the large table. The only one not enjoying themselves and trying to make others unhappy was his grandmother. David became more and more annoyed with her behaviour.

The presents that day were bed socks, made from angora, soft and warm. His grandmother said “I prefer my electric blanket” and left them lying on the floor. He noticed Aunt Anne taking them quietly away.

Monday December 30^th the 6th day of Christmas.  

David offered to take his aunt to do the week’s shopping. She looked a bit confused but then accepted happily. Once in the village, all their shopping done and safely stored in the car, he took her hand and said, “Time you and I had a cuppa alone”. Off they went to the local teashop, a pseudo-quaint place run by two of his Aunt’s friends.

The happy chatter there, with one or other friend popping by made him realise his aunt was really rather young. Her friends’ children were only in high school. She just seemed older when his grandmother was around.

Of course the old bat complained when they came home. “Left all alone, I could have died and no-one the wiser” she grumbled.

When he again went out that afternoon, the old woman complained again. He simply ignored her.

That evening their presents turned out to be quite different. His grandmother’s was a knee rug, and his Aunt’s a sunhat. He later found the hat in his grandmother’s room, with the crown damaged.

Tuesday December 31^th, the 7^th day of Christmas:

David was dressed quite formally when he came in for breakfast. When he had helped carry plates and cups to the kitchen, he turned to Aunt Anne and said “I have to go and see a Mr Taylor. I have no idea who he is or why he wants to see me.” Anne went a little pale, then two red patches in her cheeks appeared. “You just go and see him, and remember how much we love you” was all she said.

His grandmother seemed very pale and said nothing at all.

When David arrived at the address, he realised it was a lawyers’ office. The woman at reception asked him to wait for a moment and went through to an office. She returned to show hime in and offered David and Mr Taylor some tea. She returned a minute later with a tea tray, while David and Mr Taylor were still at the basic polite conversation stage.

Mr Taylor poured for them both, and as David took his cup for a first sip Mr Taylor went to his wall safe and removed a large envelope. “Your grandfather’s will that relates to you” he said by way of an explanation. He removed a few sheets of paper and said “Would you mind if I read it to you and explain as I go along?”

“That sounds reasonable” David replied.  The office was comfortably warm, the chair also comfortable. Yet David somehow felt uncomfortable.

Mr Taylor started in on the preamble about sane mind etc etc. He read out the initial paragraphs, that left the right to use the house to his grandmother and aunt, with an adequate monthly income to maintain the house and support them. Mr Taylor was the manager of the trust.

David listened feeling as though he was drunk. Mr Taylor mentioned the names in a rather odd way. Anne he called Sue-Anne. David dropped his cup. Sue was his mother’s name.

Mr Taylor looked up. “I gather this is a surprise to you?” he said. “I’m sorry; I did think one of them would have been honest with you by now. I was your grandfather’s best friend here and knew the whole story, but of course it was not mine to tell. You need to ask your family about it.”

When the mess had been tidied up, Mr Taylor said “There is a lot more relating to you in the next section. May I continue?”

David said, “Please will you excuse me for a while, I need a chance to digest this.”

He left the office and walked up the street, ending at the top of the little hill, looking down to the sea in the distance. He sat on the bench usually occupied by those wanting to see the view. A peaceful view that he loved. He used to come up here as a youngster with his grandfather, wishing he lived with his parents and not have to cope with his grandmother’s demands for perfection.  Memories of flying a kite with his grandfather watching, both of them somewhat depressed when the afternoon drew to a close and they would have to return home.  His grandmother always seemed to be there, casting a cloud over every bit of enjoyment.

His decision to leave home, go to university and work in Manchester had all happened here. The success of his career so far seemed to prove that as a great idea. He realised it was his flair for maths, obviously inherited from his grandfather that had driven him into his career. He missed his grandfather who had died when he was 11. His grandfather had been a lot older than his grandmother he now realised.

After a while he realised he needed to know the whole story, so he returned to Mr Taylor’s office.

Mr Taylor smiled at him, and after telling him he DEFINITELY now looked as though he would need that tea, asked for more and settled David in the same comfortable chair.

He began to read again. As of the date of my Grandson’s 25^th birthday, January 1^st the conditions of my will are:

1)      I leave everything to my grandson, David will inherit the house and the entire trust fund. Unless he still lives in the house and wishes to continue to do so, the house must be sold immediately. Those still residing in it must depend on themselves or on David.

2)      The letter in this envelope is for David to read after he has sold the house.

Mr Taylor said, “That’s it David. I have 2 prospective buyers for you, either of which will come and sign on Thursday if that is what you want. Both have offered the same price, according to the two evaluations I have obtained it is a very fair price.”

They spent a while with Mr Taylor explaining where the trust money was invested, how he had managed it and what the income had been. They agreed to meet on the second.

David walked back to the house, deep in thought. When he got there he went in, had lunch with his grandmother and the woman he’d always been told was his aunt, but who seemed to possibly be his mother.

His grandmother said sharply “Well, what did Mr Taylor want?”

David simply said, “I have come into some money from my grandfather now that I am 25”.

His grandmother went on and on about how grateful he should be to inherit anything.

After lunch he helped clear away, and then said he was going for a drive. His grandmother said, “Aren’t you talking me with you?” David replied that he would take her there in a few days.

That evening with the vicar, David Holmes again joining them for supper of a delicious cottage pie, as always made by his aunt, the two presents again differed. For his grandmother a book on knitting, for his aunt a smart handbag in navy blue, her favourite colour. Again the old bat complained that the colour would make it difficult to use with her best black coat. She said, “I have no use for knitting, Anne had better take it and also make me a blue coat next year.”

David Holmes looked on with a slight smile on his face.

Wednesday 1 January, the 8^th day of Christmas.

David woke smiling; today his life changed a lot. Suddenly the half-hoped for plan could become reality.

At breakfast there was a yellow pullover wrapped in yellow paper for him. As usual the card said “From Grandmother” but obviously knitted by Anne. He removed his grey sweater and put on the pullover, which fitted perfectly.

He and Anne decided on a walk as the day was clear and crisp. His grandmother asked why they were not taking her for a drive instead, and David replied that his legs needed stretching and he was sure his aunt would make a far better lunch if she had worked up an appetite.

They smiled at each other out walking, he said “How did I know your yellow scarf would match my yellow pullover?” Anne smiled back and said, “heart to heart we will always be.”

At the top of the hill they sat on the same bench.  Anne reached into her pocket and removed a wrapped present.  He kissed her on the cheek and started to open it. A beautiful waistcoat, paisley and hand embroidered in rich colours. High fashion for men at present, but a beauty for special occasions all his life he suspected.

He turned to Anne and took her hand. She smiled at him and said “Really you should be with friends for your birthday”

Before he could answer they were hailed by David Holmes, walking along with his two dogs walking at his heels. As soon as the dogs saw Anne they left the vicar and ran to her, tails wagging briskly. She bent to them, rubbing their ears and laughing at their antics them. She looked happier than David had ever seen her.

The three walked back down together; somehow conversation between them was very free and easy. They stopped off at the vicarage to drop off the dogs and then walked on together to the house.

While David and Anne quickly made lunch together, the vicar sat with the old bat, plying her with sherry until she stopped complaining. And fell asleep in her chair.

The three of them had a very merry meal punctuated by the snores from the sitting room. David felt this was somehow his best birthday ever.

That evening the presents were a pack of cards for his grandmother, and some embroidery silks for Anne.

Thursday 2 January, the 9^th Day of Christmas

After breakfast David drove Anne and his grandmother to Mr Taylor’s office. They had agreed that hearing the detail from Mr Taylor would make it easier on David.

His grandmother spluttered with indignation, “I am to be totally dependent on you, a BASTARD!” she shrieked when she finally found her voice. “How will Anne and I cope with no income?”

Mr Taylor said, “While the ladies take a while to think, I have the buyers here to sign for the house.”

The old bat stood, “Come Anne, we will now be street-waifs”.

David said quietly, “Don’t you think you should wait to hear my plans before you make any hasty decisions?”

Back home for lunch, David was extremely relieved when the vicar arrived. He took him aside and asked for some help dealing with his grandmother.

He took out an envelope with a brochure and some photographs. “Grandmother I have arranged for you to go to this old-aged home”, he said quietly. “Of course the estate money will pay your expenses.”

“But I am far too young to go to a home” she said, “I should be living independently with Anne to look after me.”

David shook his head, “Aunt Anne will come and live with me in Manchester, but as my flat has only 2 bedrooms there is no room for you. This place is just the other side of town; you can stay in touch with your friends.”

“I have no friends, it is all your fault!” shrieked the old woman. If you hadn’t come along I would still be living in Manchester with my friends around me.

David looked at her curiously, maybe now some of the things that had always been kept a mystery would come out.

The vicar interrupted gently, “You have to go somewhere and they take very good care of people there.”

Grandmother stood up and looked down at the three of them. “I am only 60, hardly old enough to be discarded in the prime of my life. You have taken my life and left me with nothing, you BASTARD!”

David looked at Anne (Sue Anne?) but she was looking at the floor, her shoulders shaking. He saw a teardrop splash on the carpet, sitting like a little crystal ball, but there was no future to be told in it.

He got up and said “I am going for a walk. ALONE!” And he left for a long walk trying to take in all he had heard. He had always been told his parents had died in a car crash when he was very small, that was why his grandparents had adopted him and moved from Manchester to the small town.

Well there was no rush really. First get the old bat settled in the home, but why was she only 60? That seemed almost impossible, he was 25, he wasn’t sure how old Anne was, but how old had his own mother been when she died?

The final 3 gifts that night were, a book voucher each, chocolates and a brooch for each of them. For once his grandmother did not try to steal of damage Anne’s gifts. She just went to bed quietly.

Friday 3^rd January, the 10^th day of Christmas

All morning they were packing up grandmother’s things, while she sat sternly in a chair, dictating what should go in which suitcase. She chose a favourite pair of chairs and a small table for furnishings.

When they drove her to the home, she complained all the way that no-one even knew what was happening to her, being thrown out of her own home like this. On and on until David thought his head would burst. Anne just sat quietly in the back seat.

The vicar was standing with the manager of the home to welcome them, and helped show the old bat to her room. She refused to let David or Anne into her room, just told them to go.

David realised the only photograph she had taken, was the only family one he had ever seen. She and her husband on holiday with one small child, a little girl. He wondered if it was his mother or Aunt Anne.

He and Anne had a silent supper, then together took a walk down to the local pub, where surprisingly they ran into the vicar about to walk past.  He joined them. “You know women who expect to never have to work at all in their lives become so impossibly difficult as they get older” said the vicar. I suspect your grandmother is in for some adjusting as the active are expected to assist in small areas such as doing flowers for the tables to keep them occupied.

David just sat and laughed. “Oh my,” he chortled, “grandmother doing flowers! Without Anne there to do them and be scolded. I wish I could be a fly on the wall.”

He went to bed quietly, fully aware that tomorrow was the last day he could stay for the whole day, he would have to drive back, taking Aunt Anne with him in Sunday. Not enough time to really pack, they would have to come back during January to finish and have the house ready for the new owners.

Maybe once Aunt Anne was away from the abuse his grandmother dished out so readily, she would eventually open up and tell him more about his parents. Suddenly he was seized by the need to know, really know the whole story.

 

Saturday 4^th January, the 11^th day of Christmas

David woke to an unusual sound, his Aunt Anne singing in the kitchen as she made breakfast. He dressed hurriedly and went down. He put his arms round her and twirled her around. She laughed and said “I don’t know why, but I feel happy this morning.”

David sighed, “Aunt Anne, I think you really don’t realise just how abused you were by your mother.”

Anne looked at him steadily and said “I think you don’t know how much I owed her.”

“Why won’t anyone tell me anything?” David asked in exasperation, running his fingers through his hair. “All my life all I have asked and yet to this day all I know is my parents died when I was very small and grandmother and grandfather adopted me.”

Anne looked at him with her head on one side, then she blushed. “I thought your grandfather had written you a letter with his will.”

“Damn, in all the rush to get grandmother settled so I can take you back to Manchester with me, I forgot about it.” He said, running to the hall cupboard and rummaging through his coat pockets.

He returned with the fat envelope. Anne looked at it in horror “He always told me privately he was writing to you with the whole story. I see he wasn’t joking about that.”

David went to the sitting room, sat and opened the envelope. Before he had started reading, Anne put her head round the door and said “I’m just off to the town, I promised to arrange the church flowers for tomorrow and take down the nativity scene, after all tomorrow is twelfth night and we must be back to normal.”

She was wearing her yellow scarf and that seemed to make her cheeks have more colour and her eyes shine.

He sat and read and read. Anne was his mother, but her full name was Sue-Anne and so he was registered to Sue as his mother. His father, registered as ‘Unknown”. Technically his grandmother was right, he was a bastard.

His grandmother had insisted that they keep the child and move from Manchester to avoid any of their friends knowing about the baby. Anne was sent to a religious home to have the child. The story they put out was that after the death of the baby’s parents his aunt had selflessly come home to help her parents raise him.

There was rather a pattern, his grandmother got her way on everything. His grandfather and ‘aunt’ had conspired to give him a more normal upbringing than his grandmother wanted.

No wonder Aunt Anne was always there for him.  She always had been, and it was her insistence that she wanted to keep the baby that had led to all of the decisions his grandmother had forced on the rest of the family.

When he had finished he went out for a walk.  His mind in turmoil over the deceptions his grandmother had forced on them and the reason for the abuse Aunt Anne had always been subjected to.

When he returned it was to cheerful voices in the kitchen.  Anne, his mother as he thought of her now with a little lurch in his mind, she had always loved him so much. With her was David Holmes, the vicar. Dinner was obviously nearly ready; an open bottle of wine was on the table, the table laid for three. There were also flowers in a small bowl. It all looked so festive, unlike when his grandmother was there.

They had a pleasant meal, the conversation general. When the meal was over, Anne looked at him and said, “I don’t know all that was in my father’s letter, but we need to discuss it now.”

David looked at the vicar, wondering if he would disapprove, then he realised the vicar’s hand was resting on his aunt/mother’s hand. Damn it was difficult to keep names straight.

He began, “My grandfather tells me you fell pregnant at only 16. Unmarried. You refused to tell the name of the father, and you refused to give me up for adoption. Your mother sent you away to have the child while they relocated from Manchester to here. That was a fortunate move as grandfather would never have become as rich had he not moved into the field of farm equipment. The baby – me – came home ahead of you. My grandparents explained to all the neighbours that the parents had died in a motor accident, and that the aunt – you – was returning to live with them to help raise the baby. They forced you to only use your second name so that no-one would question the baby’s parentage here.

Have I got the salient details correct, mother?”

Anne looked at him; there were tears in her eyes. “Oh how I have always wanted to hear you call me that”, she sighed.

“What I do not understand is why you let the old bat force you into living with them, changing your name and putting up with the abuse?” David shouted, suddenly angry at and for his mother.

“Oh I only wanted you to be safe and looked after” she said. What happened to me was secondary.

David looked at the rector, “And what do you have to say about all this?” he demanded.

David Holmes looked amused too a little bashful. “Well son, there is somewhat more to the story.”

Your mother and I were secretly engaged, as she was only 16 and too young in your parents eyes to marry. I had only just been shipped off to university when Sue here told her parents she was pregnant. Your grandmother was incensed and made the correct assumptions, and so she took her revenge.  The family had gone, all my letters simply disappeared. The phone number was soon moved to another family. No one knew where you all had gone.

When I finally came to live here as the vicar, imagine my delight at finding Sue, even though her name changed. Unfortunately your grandmother has threatened us with exposure if we made any of the truth known. Now we feel free enough to at least announce our formal engagement. So you see you won’t be stealing away your aunt, oops mother, for very long”

David just sat staring at his father; this was all a bit much to take in.

“Um” he said, “err do I call you dad?”

David Holmes said “I would hope so, as soon as your mother and I are married. We had been waiting for you to approve.”

And so the evening wore on, discussing what had happened in the past, and plans for the future. Anne-Sue would go stay on, packing up the house, moving the furniture she wanted to the vicarage, arranging for the rest to be sold. Then she would go to stay with David in Manchester for a few weeks until the wedding could be properly organised.

What really made David laugh was when his mother said “Recently David and I discovered that I was born only 6 months after my parents married when she was 18, that makes me wonder why she was so disapproving of my situation?”

Sunday 5^th January, the 12^th day of Christmas

After church, David, his mother and father went to visit his grandmother. When they told her all the news she chased them out, saying she never wanted to see any of them ever again, ungrateful wretches that they were.

David felt that was the best Christmas present of all.