An Unexpected Christmas

Caitlyn pressed her head against the living room wall, trying to get glimpses of the frantic conversation emanating from the direction of the hallway.

Her mother, Abby could be heard saying, “Father Christmas is coming.”

“Brilliant, I’ll have to finish off some errands before he arrives,” replied the grandfather, Gordon.

Caitlyn couldn’t help but scream in happiness. She had never heard an adult getting so excited over Santa Claus before. This only made her feel even more thrilled about the magical evening ahead.

Gordon could now be heard talking to his neighbour on the mobile, “Hello Debbie, I just called to say that I hope you have a spooktacular Christmas and a merry New Year!”

Abby snapped, “For goodness sake, why does he always have to get his holidays mixed up? If he can’t get one simple phrase right, then I think I’ll have to look for someone more trustworthy to lead the final countdown into the New Year. I don’t know about anyone else, but I for one certainly don’t want to run the risk of ending up back in 2012!”

Caitlyn sprinted into the kitchen and yelled out to her brother Winton, “Santa’s on his way!”

“Brilliant, let’s make some mince pies,” said Winton.

“Yeah, we better start now,” said Caitlyn.

“If only you were this urgent to help out preparing food every day,” replied Abby.

After an hour of baking mince pies, with help from Abby, their granddad could be heard making his way upstairs. Caitlyn and Winton began to follow him but were abruptly stopped by their mother.

“Usually you tell us to go upstairs at this time of night. Why can’t we go up?” moaned Caitlyn.

“Because it’s Christmas. It is a nice festive time, and I want you to make the most of it. You’re not miserable teenagers yet,” replied Abby.

“We’re not going to bed, we just want to get a good view of Santa,” reasoned Winton.

“You’ll get a good view of Santa down here,” said Abby.

As Caitlyn tried to push past, a now exasperated Abby continued, “Why don’t you just get some more sweets or something?”

“We’ve had sweets already, mummy. You usually say we’re not allowed too many,” replied Caitlyn.

“It’s Christmas,” replied Abby.

Winton looked thoughtful before replying, “Mummy, does that mean we can do anything at Christmas? Can I throw some stones at next door’s car, because it’s Christmas?”

“No, that wouldn’t be in the spirit of Christmas. Christmas can’t be used as an excuse for everything you know.”

The doorbell rang. “He’s here,” said Abby as she strode with enthusiasm towards the front door.

Caitlyn and Winton exchanged thrilled glances.

“It can’t be. Santa usually makes his way through the chimney,” said Caitlyn.

“Maybe Santa can’t fit through our chimney. Maybe that means he’s bought us more presents this year!” exclaimed Winton.

“Let’s get the mince pies,” whispered Caitlyn, as the two children ran to the kitchen, grabbing a tray each.

In the hallway, they stopped abruptly in their tracks and yelled simultaneously, “Matt!”

“Hello Caitlyn and Winton. I’m not used to getting such a nice greeting,” said Matt before turning to Abby, “I see you’ve got them excited about religion already.”

Abby looked confused. Her two children usually skipped Church at any opportunity.

“Yes,” she said with shock involuntarily creeping into her voice. “They really love Church. Anyway Matt Christmas, why don’t you come in?”

Winton turned to Caitlyn, “His surname is Christmas? Cool, I never knew that.”

Caitlyn sighed.

“What’s wrong?” asked Winton.

“Maybe Santa’s not coming after all,” replied Caitlyn.

“Why not?”

“Matt is our priest. You know what that means don’t you?”

“No. What?”

“It means he’s Father Christmas.”

“Indeed I am,” beamed Matt.

“Why don’t you two come along to one of his services in the New Year? Father Christmas’s Easter sermon is quite something,” said Abby.

“Are those for me? I am rather hungry,” asked Matt looking at the mince pies, reaching an arm out just as loud footsteps could be heard coming down the stairs. Before Matt could take a mince pie, Winton and Caitlyn turned around hastily to see what all the commotion was. They were greeted by a bearded old man in a red coat.

The children cheered before rushing to hand mince pies to Santa. This was going to be the best Christmas ever. How many other people could say that they had two Father Christmases to keep them entertained?