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 36: 'You simply never know!'

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It was New Year's Eve and snow was falling steadily out of a pitch black sky. In the sitting room at Oak Tree Cottage, a good fire was blazing and the room was warm and cosy. Christmas parcels were piled on the rug, waiting to be opened later that evening. Four children were busily engaged in setting up the Monopoly board for their evening's game. Nearby on the table there stood a huge dish of mince pies, a bowl of thick cream and slabs of Christmas cake covered with white icing. An assortment of glasses was arranged next to jugs of ginger beer and lemonade, and finally there was a large steaming brown teapot.

Philip looked up to see Mother enter the room carrying a plate of hot sausage rolls.

'Hurry up, Mother, we're nearly ready to play,' he smiled.

'Yes, do hurry!' echoed Dinah, now recovered from her bad cold. 'And don't forget we are opening our Christmas presents later!'

'I'm so glad you could join us for New Year, Aunt Allie,' beamed Lucy-Ann, her red hair glowing in the firelight. It had taken three applications of shampoo and jug after jug of hot water before the last trace of coal dust had been washed out of her hair!

'Yes, I am pleased too – it was difficult to be away from you all at Christmastime. And it's all very well telling me to hurry up, but with your huge appetites I need to make sure we have enough goodies to last until midnight!' she said, pretending to be stern – but the twinkle in her eyes gave her away.

'Kiki, it's your New Year's Eve too, so I've got goodies for you too,' said Jack affectionately. 'How about some juicy raisins?'

Kiki eyed the raisins suspiciously. Last time she had nibbled one she had found it most disagreeable!

'If you don't want them, I'm sure Woffly will eat them!' laughed Philip, stroking the little white mouse. 'And after all, Woffly deserves a big treat, for he put his life on the line, and saved the day!'

'That's true,' said a deep voice from the hallway, and Bill entered the room carrying an armful of logs which he placed in the basket by the fireplace. 'It was a very near squeak – if he hadn't dived into the blackthorn hedge that owl would have got him!'

'Oh Bill, you're covered in snowflakes!' exclaimed Mother. 'I didn't know it was snowing again. You must be freezing, do come and have a cup of hot tea.'

Bill accepted gratefully.

'I'm so glad nanny Doris's niece arrived from Canada,' smiled Bill. 'It was good of you to take care of her, but we're glad you're with us for New Year.'

'And it's lovely to have you sharing our room,' said Dinah. 'But Mother, you must sleep in a proper bed. I insist that you take my bed and I will sleep in the camp bed – it'll be fun.'

Soon everyone was settled in that cheery room, and the Christmas presents were shared out and opened.

'Mother, you will look so pretty in that blue and green scarf,' smiled Lucy-Ann. 'I knew you would!'

'Yes, I adore it,' beamed Mother. 'But I must say, we have made a lot of mess opening our presents – look at all the paper on the floor!'

'We've got some terrific gifts, thank you Bill and Mother, said Philip. 'But isn't it strange,' he continued thoughtfully. 'The four gifts we children bought for each other – the camera, the torch, the detective kit and the 'People of the World' book... each one played a crucial role in our adventure.'

'I think the book was the most important,' said Dinah generously, as Lucy-Ann beamed. 'After all, without it we wouldn't have found out what a Siberian reindeer fur coat looked like! And that was the clue that led us to Burt Grouch. Who would have believed that he was the Midnight Man and the bird thief!'

'Bill, did Harry get all his beloved birds back safely?' asked Jack.

'Yes,' answered Bill. 'Indeed, the great grey owl found his own way back to the sanctuary. Harry got the shock of his life when he swooped down and landed right on top of his head! And the red kites, Clarissa and Rory, have been reunited, and both are regaining their condition beautifully.'

'Why did Burt Grouch dress up as the Midnight Man?' asked Dinah. 'Was he deliberately trying to be scary?'

'He bought the fur coat and hood many years ago during his travels in Russia, replied Bill. 'Then, when he wanted to deter people from going into the woods so that he could come and go as he pleased, and keep his illegal doings a secret, he decided to start wearing it again. He knew that if anyone glimpsed him, it would add to the rumours about a mysterious creature in the woods and scare people away.'

'But why did he steal the birds?' enquired Philip.

'Well, he longed for a pet, but Mrs Grouch wouldn't allow it – you know she can't bear animals or dirt in her house. I don't think he's bad at heart – I think he just got very lonely and bitter.'

'Well, it's been quite an adventure,' said Lucy-Ann, 'and I hope it's our last! I don't mind reading about adventures in books, but I don't think I want to be in one again. From now on let's just do normal things and keep out of trouble!'

'You simply never know! You simply never know!' squawked Kiki, and suddenly the solemn mood vanished.

'Enough of this serious talk – after all, it is New Year's Eve,' grinned Bill. 'Time to play Monopoly!'

Soon the game was in full swing, and all the worries, problems and frights of recent days were forgotten amidst the laughter and excitement of the game. Outside, the snow fell quietly and steadily in the bitter cold night, but inside there was warmth, cosiness and merry fun. Kiki snuggled on Jack's shoulder, listening to the squeals of delight and roars of laughter as the game went on. As usual, Dinah played a high risk strategy, and for once she was the first to be knocked out of the game, losing all her money to a triumphant Philip.

'I'm afraid you're bankrupt, Dinah,' grinned Philip gleefully.

But as Dinah looked upon the beaming faces of Philip, Jack and Lucy-Ann, with Mother looking radiant in the firelight and Bill roaring with merry laughter, she felt like the richest girl in England.

The End

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