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 21: 'You children have got some explaining to do, and no mistake.'

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The children were glad to be bundled into Harry's battered old car at last, for they were keen to get back to Bill's cottage.

'I say, Lucy-Ann,' said Dinah, as the car trundled along through the snowy lanes. 'I'm awfully sorry about your camera. That was your Christmas present, too. I'll get you something else, I promise.'

'It's ok,' said Lucy-Ann glumly. 'But I must say, this Christmas holiday is turning into one I'd rather forget. We're away from Aunt Allie, Bill's stranded somewhere, maybe even in France, someone's stealing birds from the sanctuary, my lovely present has been smashed to bits, we keep seeing a scary creature in the woods...'

'Dinah keeps seeing it,' interrupted Philip, keen for the facts to be kept clear. Dinah threw him a furious glare.

'Yes, ok, Dinah keeps seeing it – but it's still awful for us all,' replied Lucy-Ann. And we're no closer to catching the bird thief. The whole holiday has just become horrid!'

Jack gave her arm a squeeze.

'Cheer up, Lucy-Ann, things are not that bad,' he said reassuringly. 'And bedsides, what else can possibly go wrong!'

Just as the words were out of Jack's mouth, the Ford pulled up outside Moorland Cottage. To their utter astonishment and delight, Bill was standing in the doorway! But oh dear, he was grim-faced and did not look at all happy to see them. His arms were folded across his chest, his expression was stern, and one foot was tapping impatiently on the ground. No, there was no mistaking it – he was seriously displeased about something.

Lucy-Ann looked at Jack, a concerned expression on her face.

'What were you saying about nothing else going wrong?' she said, feeling rather anxious at the sight of Bill's grim expression. 'I think perhaps Bill is cross that we have been staying in the cottage without a grown up... and we did leave the kitchen rather untidy this morning.'

They managed a polite goodbye and thank you to Harry, and then waved as he drove away. Silently they turned to face Bill. What was he going to say?

To their surprise Bill was not the first to speak. For Fred Fletcher suddenly appeared at this garden gate, looking both curious and excited.

'Now then,' he said, rubbing his hands together and chortling. 'There's been no end of trouble 'ere today... you children have got some explaining to do, and no mistake.'

He appeared to be enjoying himself thoroughly.

'Mrs Grouch has been attacked by the bird of yours – went for 'er, it did, the vicious creature.'

The children stood open-mouthed in amazement. Jack found his voice.

'I don't believe it! Kiki has never attacked anyone in her life!' he exclaimed, his cheeks flushing red with indignation.

'Saw it with my own eyes, I did,' said the mischievous old man. 'Laid on the ground, she was, her hair all over the place. And 'er so particular about how she looks. And she has a rare terror of birds, she does – she's always refused to let 'er Burt have so much as a caged canary, much as the poor man's begged and pleaded over the years. She says she'll never keep house for Bill again.'

'Oh dear, things just keep getting worse and worse!' exclaimed Lucy-Ann, and promptly burst into tears.

'That's enough, Fred,' said Bill's deep, stern voice. He had overheard the whole conversation. 'Don't you go exaggerating and upsetting the children.'

Then, turning to the children, 'Come indoors, children. My word, look at the state of you two, Jack and Dinah. Whatever have you been doing? And what is that you've got Dinah – it looks like a camera, smashed to bits. Lucy-Ann, dry your eyes, it's not that bad. Philip, your mother says she hasn't heard from you since you left home on Christmas Eve – she's been very worried.'

Kiki flew straight to Jack's shoulder, squawking loudly, for she was still upset and confused by the events of that morning. Everyone spoke at once.

'Kiki would never attack anyone! But we did forget to warn Mrs Grouch she was here – I'm awfully sorry,' said Jack.

'I saw a hideous creature in the woods, and we had to crawl through a stream and then I dropped the camera and the creature must have stamped on it, and it was Lucy-Ann's Christmas present,' said Dinah, her words tumbling out in a rush.

'We tried to ring Mother to tell her you were stranded somewhere due to the weather, but the phone lines came down in the storm. We didn't mean to stay here without a grown-up, and we didn't mean to make mother worried,' said Philip.

'I'm sorry we left the cottage so untidy this morning, I'll tidy it up immediately,' said Lucy-Ann, brushing away her tears with the back of her hand.

'Ok, everyone calm down,' said Bill. 'No more talking till you have all had a hot bath and changed into your night things. Kiki, you calm down too, you're squawking fit to burst. When you're all ready come down to the sitting room and sit by the fire. We'll have supper in there and then we can talk things through properly.'

Suddenly things didn't seem so bad anymore. Bill didn't seem that cross, and at least he had finally managed to get home. And now that Bill was here, maybe he would help them to solve the problem of the bird thief, and the mystery of the creature in the forest. The children felt considerably heartened as they made their way upstairs.

An hour later, and all the children were clean, warm and snug in their night things, sitting on cushions by the fire. Bill explained how he became stranded at the aerodrome in France due to the storm. Next it was the children's turn to talk, and they told him everything that had happened since Christmas Eve, when they were stranded at the railway station waiting for him to collect them. As they talked, Bill toasted muffins on a fork. One by one the children were presented with a hot muffin slathered with creamy, yellow butter.

'Oooh this is delicious,' said Philip, biting into a crisp muffin and sinking his teeth into its soft fluffy middle.

Kiki was still keeping close to Jack, nibbling at the edge of the muffin he offered to her. She hadn't let him out of her sight since his return.

'I say,' said Philip after they had all eaten as much as they wanted. 'We haven't opened any Christmas presents yet – well, apart from the camera that Dinah bought for Lucy-Ann, and the torch I bought for Jack. We wanted to wait till you got here, Bill.'

'Why don't you go and fetch some from under the tree, Philip,' said Bill.

Philip promptly jumped up and ran into the conversatory to grab some parcels from under the tree. A few moments later he returned with two intriguing-looking packages.

Philip handed Jack a square parcel wrapped in red and green paper.

'Here, this is what I bought for you, Jack,' he said. 'I do hope you like it.'

Jack took the parcel with a smile and tore off the wrapping paper to reveal a green box with big yellow letters. His eyes lit up.

'I say, thanks awfully, Philip,' he said.

He held up the box to show the others. The lettering on the box said:

DETECTIVE KIT

CONTAINS: FINGER PRINT SET, MAGNIFYING GLASS, INVISIBLE INK PEN AND FULL INSTRUCTIONS

'I thought it might come in handy next time we have a mystery to solve!' said Philip.

'We've got two mysteries to solve right now,' said Dinah dryly.

'Hey, let's have a try at taking each other's fingerprints!' said Jack eagerly. 'I think it will be great fun.'

'You're forgetting something, Jack,' said Dinah, continuing in a dry tone. 'I'm rather hoping that other present is for me – after all, I'm the only one who hasn't had a present so far.'

'Well then it's lucky that this parcel is for you,' said Philip, smiling at his sister.

'Oh do open it, Dinah,' said Lucy-Ann, recognising the silver wrapping paper. 'It's from me.'

Dinah took the heavy parcel and tore open the paper. It was a book entitled, 'People of the World – an Illustrated Guide'.

'A geography book?' said Dinah in disbelief, her face a picture of disappointment. But then seeing the dismay on Lucy-Ann's face, she quickly forced a smile and added, 'It's lovely, Lucy-Ann. And look, it's got lots of coloured pictures of people from all over the world... America, Africa, Greenland... gosh, even Russia.'

'Will you read some tonight?' asked Lucy-Ann.

Dinah suppressed a sigh at the thought, for she had a very exciting adventure book by her bed and had been hoping to finish it that night. But she could see that Lucy-Ann had done her best, and not wanting to disappoint her, she spoke kindly.

'Of course, I can hardly wait to read it.'

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