A Miracle at Midnight.

 

The two men, breathed heavily as they crouched behind the snow-covered headstones.

Keeping low, to avoid anyone who may be looking out the church windows, they trudged slowly through the deep snow toward the old Kirk. The full moon, normally their friend, took every opportunity to betray them. Their warm breath, flowing upward was changed into bright silver clouds by the moons revealing glow. The stained glass windows, designed to work with light coming in, now reversed that role and shone brightly from the church, illuminating the perimeter and making a kaleidoscopic path around the Church.

 

The bells chimed loudly. Charlie, following his partner Wullie, jumped with the first peel.

 

"Cumoan Wullie, we'll hae tae hurry, run man."

 

" How can A run carrying all this?" 

 

Wullie had a large sack slung over his shoulder and he was trailing another along the ground which left wide swaying tracks in the snow behind him. 

 

" The doors will be locked, we'll never git in withoot bein seen noo,"

 

"It's okay Charlie, A've got the key tae the side door… Anyway, it's only eleven o

clock, not midnight, we've plenty of time yit."

 

They sat in the snow with their backs against a gravestone. Charlie opened his tobacco tin and handed Wullie a very thin roll-up. He flicked his Zippo. Covering the flame with his free hand he lit his own before handing the lighter to Wullie. Keeping a furtive eye out, Charlie, after looking all  around, asked.

 

" Dae yie think this is a good idea Wullie? A mean, we're no exactly seen as proper upstanding members ae the community, are we?"

 

"Naw yir right Charlie mate, but sometimes yi've gote tae dae whit yir conscience tells yie tae dae, and A feel this is the right thing we’re daein the night. As long as we don't git caught. If we git caught, well, we'll jist haud oor haunds up, and take whit's cummin tae us." 

 

They stubbed their fags out, lifted their sacks, and began again the hard slog through the deep snow. Like two strange and misshapen locomotives the two men puffed their way through the churchyard. They turned the corner and searched for the small gateway leading down to the side door. There it was, the gate opened easily and after looking behind them, they slouched down the snow covered slippery steps to the archway hiding the iron studded door. 

 

The sounds of the old organ panting and the congregation’s out of tune accompaniment could be heard clearly from inside the church . Wullie dug in his pocket and produced the key, he slipped it into the keyhole. The old lock soundlessly turned. He twisted the rusted ring, and pushed the door. The ancient hinges screamed and the bottom of the door lined with iron, scraped noisily along the uneven flagstones.

 

" Fur Goad sake Wullie, it's a guid joab we urnae here tae steal oannything, we widnae git far wi aw the noise you’re makin"

 

"Aye well, don't you git oanny ideas ae revertin back tae yir auld ways, were here fur sumthin else awthegither."

 

 He searched with his hand along the wall, feeling for a light switch, he found and used it. A line of bare, cobweb covered light bulbs shone along the long low ceiling illuminating the flag stoned floor and creating strange, deep shadows on the uneven and undressed sandstone walls of the long, narrow, passageway.

 

" Creepy intit"

 

" shut up Charlie, fur Goads sake, A've enough tae worry aboot, withoot you tryin tae git me feart."

 

The two men walked fearlessly along the corridor until they came to another iron studded door. Carved on the arch and guarded by an ugly winged and horned demon, were the words  ‘ Abandon all hope ye who enter here.’ 

 

Wullie used the key. The stiff lock resisted, but after a few jiggles, a satisfactory click was followed by another. Wullie pushed the door, it wouldn’t open.

 

“ Cumoan man, open the door it’s freezing staunin here.”

 

“ A’m tryin, A think there’s sumhin ahint the door stoapin it. Haud oan.”

 

Wullie put his shoulder to the heavy door and forced his weight against it. It creaked open a couple of inches. He grunted, held his breath and forced again. The door, inch by complaining inch scraped open. The two men picked up their sacks and stepped into the darkness.

 

“ Charlie look fur the light switch oan the wall there. “

 

There was a soft click as Charlie flicked the switch.

 

The old aubergine shaped bulb buzzed as it began to illuminate. A soft orange glow strolled along the filament. Just as it was thinking of glowing yellow, it sat down and decided not to bother.

 

They began to feel their way through the gloom. The fusty odour of old habits and candle wax, mixed with the smell of spilled wine and reputations, seeped out of the darkness.

 

Demons and witches hiding below sheets, stuck their toenails and brooms out to trip them. Mischievous Imps ran giggling from cover to cover exposing themselves just enough to be glimpsed. Cherubs peeking out from half covered paintings, blew cold air down the men’s exposed necks as they passed.

 

“ Wullie… Wullie.”

 

“ Whit, whit’s wrang wie yie noo?”

 

“ Nuhin. It’s jist awffie dark in here. It’s giving me the heebie jeebies. A can see things movin, and A can feel, cauld haunds wie, long spindly fingers reaching oot fur me.”

 

“ A’ll reach ma cauld haunds and ma long spindly fingers oot fur yie the noo if yie don’t stoap yir bliddy whingine. Haud oan tae the tail ae ma jacket, we’re nearly at the other side.”

 

Charlie grabbed Wullie’s jacket and comforted, he carried on.

 

“ Aye A thought sae. The place hus been rewired, there’s two brand new switches here.”

 

Wullie activated the switches and after a couple of bright flashes the fluorescent lighting dispelled the darkness, revealing the old crypt. With old junk covered in dustcovers. Next to the switches was a brand new spiral staircase leading up to the trap door. 

 

Wullie dragged his sacks up the staircase and opened one flap of the door. 

He stood on his tiptoes and popped his head in. Old reverend Murdoch’s voice boomed in his ear. He ducked back down quickly.

 

“ Fur Goad sake A thought that auld Murdoch wiz standin right beside me there. A nearly shit masell.”

 

“ Aye yie wid Wullie. This trapdoor is right next tae the pulpit. And you’re no feart ae oanythin eh! Git back up there ya big fearty and dae whit we came here fur.”

 

“ Aye okay smartarse, A’m gaun.”

 

He climbed back up and slowly opened one flap. He peered out; it was dark, apart from the dim light coming through the thick curtains. 

 

When his eyes adjusted, he whispered.  

 

" Right Charlie, geeze a sack up." 

 

He grabbed the sack and climbed all the way into the "Stable", where he placed the three Magi, the sheep, the donkey and the Holy Family. From further sacks, he received the crib, the camels and the baby Jesus. He placed these where he thought they should be, and after tying a length of string to a curtain ring he climbed back through the trapdoors. 

 

" Right, whit time is it? " 

 

Charlie checked his watch, 

 

"Goad it's five minutes tae midnight. You know whit Wullie, A feel guid noo, efter findin oot who stole this fae the church and stealin the stuff back aff them. Then sneakin in here the night tae put it back, well, it makes me feel guid and och, A dunno. Fur the first time in years A feel well… Christmassy."

 

Wullie patted Charlie on the shoulder, saying, 

 

 “aye yi’r right mate". 

 

As soon as the bells tolled midnight, Wullie pulled on the drawstring to open the curtains. Both men smiled as they heard the gasps of awe from the congregation, as the Nativity scene they thought they had lost was miraculously revealed.

 

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