The Christmas of Adventure

©2015 June E.

Philip, Dinah, Jack and Lucy-Ann are excited at the prospect of spending their first Christmas together, but by Christmas Eve all their plans lie in ruins. Things get even worse when a severe snowstorm brings the country to a standstill and leaves Bill snowbound, hundreds of miles away. Forced to fend for themselves in Bill's remote moorland cottage, rumours abound of a strange and terrifying creature lurking in the woods nearby... and with a ruthless thief on the loose, striking at night and stealing birds from the local Sanctuary, the scene is set for a frightening and perilous adventure. Can they stop the thief before it's too late? Or will Kiki be the robber's next victim?

Chapter 2: 'Bother! Christmas is completely ruined!'

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The children had a glorious afternoon settling into their new home and preparing for Christmas. Dinah and Lucy-Ann shared a small but very sweet bedroom overlooking the front garden, and the boys shared a slightly larger room at the back of the house.

At first Dinah was cross about having the smaller room.

'It's only fair that the boys have the larger room,' Mother explained firmly. 'After all, Jack is the eldest, he is fourteen now and getting so tall! And he has such a large collection of bird books, and of course he has to have enough room for Kiki. Dinah, you are only twelve and Lucy-Ann is even younger, so the smaller room should be fine for you both.'

'I love the room, Mrs Mannering,' said Lucy-Ann, her green eyes twinkling with delight. 'It has two sweet little beds, a white-painted wardrobe and a lovely long shelf to store all our books. It's absolutely perfect!'

'I'm so glad you like your bedroom, Lucy-Ann,' said Mrs Mannering. 'But I do wish you would call me Aunt Allie. You can't go on called me Mrs Mannering now that we are all one family.'

Lucy-Ann smiled shyly; she did love being part of a new family, and she adored Mrs Mannering.

'Yes, Aunt Allie!' she beamed.

Jack loved being part of a new family too. He was a quiet boy, with red hair and green eyes and lots and lots of freckles – just like his sister. He adored his new bedroom, but not because it was the larger room. No – it was because he had spied a house martin's nest in the eaves, just outside the bedroom window, and Jack was absolutely mad about birds!

'Oh Philip, I can't wait for spring to come!' Jack exclaimed when he saw it. 'House martins are amazing birds. They fly all the way from Africa each spring – and would you believe it, they find their way back to the exact same nest every year!'

At these words Philip looked impressed.

'Poor old Kiki! Poor old Kiki! Who's a naughty boy!' squawked Kiki, suddenly. It was almost as if she knew that Jack was praising other birds!

'Don't worry Kiki,' said Jack. 'Even though you can't navigate like a house martin, I still think you're the best!'

'You're the best! You're the best!' squawked Kiki, her head bobbing up and down excitedly.

The day sped on, time passing all too quickly for the happy children. After tea, while Mother was clearing away the plates, they crept off to their rooms. They had a secret task to perform – wrapping Mother's gifts in Christmas paper! Philip and Dinah had saved their pocket money and teamed up to buy her a jar of expensive hand cream.

'Let's use this gorgeous green paper to wrap it!' said Dinah excitedly.

'Ok – and how about this silver ribbon to tie the parcel with?' said Philip. He was always glad when Dinah was in a good temper and they could work together as a team.

Meanwhile, Lucy-Ann and Jack were examining the contents of an interesting-looking box. They had agreed to save all their pocket money for months, and raided their piggy bank, in order to get the sum they needed for Mrs Mannering's Christmas present.

'Oh Jack it's beautiful!' said Lucy-Ann, in an awestruck whisper, as Jack carefully opened the box.

For inside the box was a delicate silk scarf in glorious shades of sapphire, sea green, teal and blue.

'Are you sure she will like it?' asked Jack.

'Oh yes, of course,' Lucy-Ann assured him. 'You see, it will set off her brown hair perfectly. Her dark hair is the same shade as Philip's and Dinah's hair, and when I tried it against Dinah's hair it looked gorgeous. Aunt Allie works so hard, and sometimes looks so tired – it's time she had something pretty to wear.'

Jack let Lucy-Ann take charge of wrapping the box.

'I'm all fingers and thumbs when it comes to things like wrapping presents,' he explained.

'And yet at some things you are incredibly quick and deft,' said Lucy-Ann, puzzled. 'Do you remember when you found that fledgling blackbird that had fallen out of the nest – you scooped her up and put her safely back into the tree before the mother bird even realised she was missing!'

'I just seem to be naturally good at anything to do with birds,' said Jack, watching Lucy-Ann as she carefully wrapped the scarf box in sky-blue paper printed with smiling snowmen, and finished off the parcel with a shiny blue bow.

'There,' she said, admiring her work.' Let's put it under the Christmas tree with the other parcels!'

Then, all of a sudden, the shrill scream of the hall telephone tore through the quiet evening. The intrusive ring shattered the atmosphere of snug, peace and content.

'Who's a naughty boy! Who's a naughty boy!' squawked Kiki, flapping her wings restlessly.

Mother answered the telephone, and for a while the low murmuring of her voice could be heard. Then the receiver was replaced with a click and Mother called the children downstairs.

As soon as he saw Mother's face Philip knew that something was wrong.

'Mother what is it – what's the matter?' he asked.

Dinah, Jack and Lucy-Ann all looked at her anxiously. Kiki hopped about restlessly on Jack's shoulder.

'It's nothing to worry about, children,' reassured Mother. 'It is disappointing news though – disappointing for us all. That was the hospital in Grantchester – my old nanny, Dora, has had a fall and broken her ankle. The hospital wants to send her home for Christmas but she will need someone to look after her, and her only relative lives in Canada.'

'But why do you have to do it?' demanded Dinah, putting two and two together.

'Nanny Dora was very good to me when I was little,' explained Mother. 'She nursed me through measles and chicken pox, and was very kind. She even taught me to sew! You know the Christmas angel – well, nanny Dora helped me to make her. I am so fond of her, and I don't want to let her down now that she needs something from me for a change! I want to go to Grantchester and nurse her over Christmas, but that will mean asking someone to take care of you for the holiday – perhaps Aunt Polly can do it. But I won't arrange it unless you all agree – it must be a family decision.'

The four children looked at each other with confused, disappointed expressions. What on earth was to be done! They had been looking forward to Christmas with Mother at Holly Cottage so very much!

At last, Philip summoned up all his courage, took the lead and spoke.

'We will do as you ask, Mother,' he said quietly. 'Of course we are all disappointed, but how could we enjoy Christmas knowing that your old nanny was left all alone with no one to look after her? You must go and nurse her, and we will make the best of it – after all, there's always next Christmas to look forward to.'

Jack and Lucy-Ann nodded in agreement, though their faces couldn't hide their disappointment.

'Bother!' exclaimed Dinah, with a cross expression. 'Christmas is completely ruined!'

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