A Turkey for Christmas

Father Christmas was tired. He had been up all night delivering
presents to children all over the world. He put his reindeer into the
stables for a well-deserved rest.

"I'm home," shouted Father Christmas, as he opened his front
door.

Mother Christmas was in the kitchen. She was busy preparing Christmas
dinner. "Hello dear," she shouted. "I'm in the kitchen."

Father Christmas kissed his wife, "Merry Christmas," he said.

"My, you do look tired," said Mother Christmas. "Come along, dear. I
have a fine breakfast waiting for you."

Father Christmas sat down at the table. He was looking forward to his
hot breakfast. Followed by a long soak in a hot bath.

"Are you listening to me?" asked Mother Christmas.

"Huh. What?" answered a startled Father Christmas?

"I said," started Mother Christmas: "did you remember to get the
turkey?"

Father Christmas looked up at his wife and laughed. "Of course I
remembered. It's in my sack over there."

Mother Christmas picked up the sack. She looked inside. There was a
computer game. Mother Christmas looked inside again. The sack was now
empty. No turkey.

"What have you done with turkey?" asked Mother Christmas.

Father Christmas stroked his beard. He shook his head. "I?I don't
know," he said sheepishly. Father Christmas shook his head again. Then
he stroked his beard again.

"Well, I can't cook a Computer Game, no matter how good it is. Now what
shall we have for dinner?" asked Mother Christmas.

Father Christmas jumped from his chair. "Oh dear, what have I
done?"

"What do you mean?" asked Mother Christmas.

"Well, don't you see? I must have left the turkey for a child, instead
of the game. But which child and where?" answered Father
Christmas.

Father Christmas pulled on his boots: "I must go out again," he said as
he buttoned up his tunic. "Find the elves and ask them to look through
the children's letters for all children who asked for this game? I'll
get the reindeer ready whilst you find the names. But hurry, I must
swap the present before the child awakens."

When Father Christmas was ready he collected the list from one of the
elves. He looked at the list. It was a very long list. "Oh dear," he
muttered to himself.

Father Christmas climbed aboard his sleigh. He gave the reins a flick
of his wrist and soon he was soaring high above the rooftops.

The first address on his list was a little girl. Father Christmas
parked his sleigh on the snow-laden roof. He quickly climbed down the
chimney.

He looked under the Christmas tree. The Computer Game was there, no
turkey. It was the same at the next address, and the next and the next.
Eventually Father Christmas only had three names left on his
list.
Father Christmas started to climb down the next chimney. He heard a
terrible scream from below him. He stopped where he was. Halfway up and
halfway down.

"Look what I've got for Christmas," screamed a child's voice. A RAW
TURKEY."

Father Christmas heard the crying coming from below him. He could also
hear the voices from the parents of the child.

"There must be some mistake," said a man's voice.

"It was you, you put it there. There is no such person as Father
Christmas," screamed the child's voice. "Now give me my Computer Game.
NOW."

"But son, I didn't put the turkey there. Why should I?" said the man's
voice.

"You did it, because I said I didn't believe in Father Christmas
anymore. Now give me my Computer Game."

As Father Christmas listened to the voice below him, his foot slipped
on a loose brick. He tried very hard to stop himself from falling, but
too late, he landed with a crash into the fireplace below him.

"Ouch," shouted Father Christmas.
"What the?.?" said the man in the room.

"Oh my," gasped the lady in the room.

The boy in the room just stood there, the turkey in one hand and his
mouth wide open. He dropped the turkey and ran behind his father.
Slowly he peeked through his father's legs.

"Em, excuse me," said Father Christmas. "Do you think I could have my
turkey back, please?"

"But, what, who?" stuttered the man.

Father Christmas sat down and explained what had happened. He asked the
little boy to forgive him for his mistake. When he had finished
explaining and apologising, Father Christmas gave the boy his Computer
Game. He then put the turkey into his sack.

As he was leaving a small voice from behind him whispered. "Father
Christmas, will you forgive me for not believing in you?"

Father Christmas turned around and said: "Yes son, I forgive you. Now
will you do something for me?"

"Yes sir, anything sir," replied the boy.

"Well," said Father Christmas. "Will you promise not to tell anyone
about what has happened here?"

"Why?" asked the boy.

"Because if other children find out, they might laugh at me. I would be
so ashamed," answered Father Christmas, wiping a tear away from his
eye.

The little boy looked up at Father Christmas. "I promise I shall never
tell," he said, hugging Father Christmas tightly.

"Thank you, son. I must go home now. Mother Christmas is waiting for
her turkey."

Father Christmas waved goodbye. He was almost pleased that he had made
his mistake. He'd had the chance to meet one of the children.

He'd never been able to do that before. He knew that he would never be
so silly again and make a mistake. Or would he?

THE END