A VERY SPECIAL CHRISTMAS ( PART NINE )

A couple of days later, there was a knock at the
front door. Martha was feeding the baby.
"John!" she shouted, "can you get the front door,
I'm feeding Sally Ann?"
"Okay love, just coming," said John.
He opened the door, to find one of the officer's
stood there.
"I've come about the old man," replied the officer.
"Please do come in," said John. "Can I get you a
coffee, or a tea?"
"No your fine thankyou," he said.

The Officer sat down and began to tell John about
the old man.
"You will be pleased to know that Charlie is
safely back with his family."
"Charlie! well, well, well, so that's his name,"
said John, with a smile.
"Yes apparently he came from the next village of
Lambridge, he owns Dobson's Farm. His son and
daughter-in-law run the farm. They have been frantic with worry about Charlie. We did send a
search party out to look for him, but could find
nothing. He's been missing for a month now, don't
know how he survived, especially at night in
these cold tempertures. We were actually beginning
to think he was dead, you see he suffers with
Dementia, but this is the first time he has
disappeared, it's quite sad really, they might
have to put him in a home, if he does it again."
"Well at least he will be safely looked after,
which is the most important thing," said John.
"Charlie asked me to give you this parcel and an
envelope. I'll have to be off, we're quite busy
at the moment."
"Ofcourse," replied John, "and thankyou again."
"No problem," said the Officer.

He let the Officer out and went straight upstairs
to Martha. In the parcel, were all the clothes
Charlie had borrowed, all washed and neatly ironed. Then John opened the envelope and a
Cheque fell out with a letter.
"What's this?" Martha asked John.
He picked the Cheque up, off the floor.
"It's a Cheque for two thousand pounds," replied
John.
"Quick!" said Martha, "read the letter."
John started to read:-

My Dear Martha and John,

I cannot begin to thankyou enough for rescuing me
from under that bridge, I have vivid memories of
going in and out of consciousness, my mind was
somewhere else.

I am enclosing a Cheque for two thousand pounds
for all of you, 'don't worry about the money,
there's plenty more where that came from.'

You are good, kind people and I know you will use
the money wisely.

Perhaps in the Spring Ellie and Robert would like
to come up to the Farm and see the baby lambs,
they could even have a go at feeding them. They
are lovely children and a credit to you.

Again please accept my gratitude.

Yours,

CHARLIE XXX

"Wow!" said John, "this is amazing, like a gift
from heaven."
"We must give some to charity," remarked Martha,
"it's only fair."
"Yes ofcourse, but just think, you can have your
new kitchen now," John smiled.
Martha smiled too. "Yes my lovely new kitchen, I
can't wait." She gave John a kiss and said.
"This is the best Christmas ever, yes
A VERY SPECIAL CHRISTMAS!"

AND I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SAY;-

TO ALL OF YOU AT ABC TALES,
I WISH YOU ALL A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS
AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR!

FROM JENNY.