Madison and the Missing Moon

by Jamie Busby

maybe I am excited & happy for nothing.”

  “I can’t promise you anything Madison, I don’t know what you should expect either, but what I do know is that I’m very excited too because I am sure something is going to happen!” said Daddy, “I have no idea what, but I think this is going to be one Christmas you will never forget!”

  This made Madison feel better, but it also made the butterflies start flying in her tummy again! Just a little bit this time, but they were back!

  Mummy, Daddy & Madison all had their dinner. After dinner, they sat and watched TV. It was Mummy’s favourite programme and she was concentrating on it, but Madison & Daddy couldn’t stop thinking about what might happen tonight! Madison kept looking at Daddy, Daddy kept looking at Madison. They both had grins on their faces, then Daddy winked at Madison. They both started to giggle and before they knew it, both of them were laughing at each other across the room!

  “What are you 2 laughing at?” asked Mummy.

  “Nothing!” said Madison & Daddy, both at the same time!

  “Are you 2 up to something?” said Mummy.

  “No, of course not, we’re just pulling funny faces at each other!” replied Daddy.

  “Oh, I see. You 2 are a pair of silly sausages!” said Mummy.

  Then all 3 of them sat there laughing.

  “You’re a silly sausage too Mummy!” said Madison.

  “Well, I might be a silly sausage, but it’s getting late now so its time you were off to bed Madison or Father Christmas won’t come!”

  Madison & Daddy looked at each other and burst out laughing again, they had tears rolling down their cheeks just like Santa had in the Grotto yesterday! If only Mummy knew!.........

  Mummy went and fetched Madison’s pyjamas, Madison got undressed and put them on. They were nice warm pyjamas, but Madison hadn’t forgotten what Santa had told her!

  “Mummy, can I wear my special fluffy sleep-suit tonight as well please?” asked Madison.

  “Errrr, yes, I suppose so. Are you cold?” asked Mummy.

  “Not yet, but I might be later!” said Madison, trying hard not to laugh! Daddy was trying hard not to laugh too!

  Mummy got Madison’s special fluffy sleep-suit and she put that on over her pyjamas.

  “That’s better!” said Madison.

  “Ok, up to bed now Madison, Daddy will come and read you a story in a minute” said Mummy.

  Madison got into bed and Mummy gave her a big kiss goodnight.

  “I’ll see you in the morning Madison” said Mummy, “and please try to sleep so you’re not tired tomorrow.”

  “Ok” said Madison, “I’m very tired Mummy. Can Daddy come and read me a story now?”

  “Yes of course, I’ll send him up, nigh night darling” said Mummy.

  Madison lay there in bed and could hear Daddy coming up the stairs. He walked in and sat on the bed next to Madison.

  “So, are you prepared for what might happen Madison?” he asked.

  “I suppose so” said Madison. She didn’t sound very sure though.

  “There is nothing to worry about, I promise. Whatever happens, even if nothing happens tonight, this has already been the best Christmas I’v ever had!” said Daddy.

  Madison smiled. “You’re right Daddy” she said, “ It has been brilliant, whatever happens!”

  “What story would you like me to read?” asked Daddy.

  “I don’t want a story tonight Daddy, I’m very tired and just want to go to sleep” said Madison.

  “Ok then, but I’ve got you these just in case you forgot!” said Daddy. From under his jumper, he pulled out a woolly hat, gloves, scarf, coat & slippers, all Madison’s winter clothes!

  “I’ll just leave them by the side of your bed Madison, you never know!” said Daddy.

  “Ok Daddy, just in case!” said Madison.

  “Nigh night then sweetheart and good luck, I hope you get everything you dream of” said Daddy and gave Madison a kiss goodnight.

  “Nigh night” said Madison.

  Daddy left the room, shut the door and Madison lay there thinking. She looked at the Snowstorm on the window sill and smiled.

  “Oh well, this has been a brilliant Christmas whatever happens!” she thought to herself…..

  Madison was starting to feel sleepy-tired now. She was worn-out from all the thinking she had been doing and it was getting late. Everyone was in bed by now, even Mummy & Daddy, it was very quiet and dark in her bedroom. She realised that probably nothing exciting or magical was going to happen and felt a bit sad, even though this was still the best Christmas ever. This made her feel even more sleepy and Madison felt her eyelids starting to get heavy, she was falling asleep. She tried to fight it and stay awake but she was very, very tired by now. She rolled over and faced the wall, slowly drifting off to sleep.

  She was almost asleep when suddenly, she sensed a light. It was not very bright, but there was definitely a light coming from somewhere behind her, in her room! She was very tired still, but she was confused why there was a light in her room. She slowly rolled over and there on the window sill, the Snowstorm was flickering like it had a little candle inside. “What’s going on?” she thought………

  She sat up in bed and stared at the Snowstorm. It would flicker and light up, then go quite dark, then flicker and light up again! Madison was now wide awake. She got up and walked slowly over towards the Snowstorm on the window sill. It was flickering away, but now it was getting brighter, it was not going dark anymore. In fact, it was not just flickering like a candle any more, it was like there was a steady light inside it. Madison picked up the Snowstorm; There was no cable or switch on it and it wasn’t plugged in anywhere, Mummy or Daddy hadn’t told her it had a light in it. Then she thought she heard a sound. It was from outside but far away. It was the sound of bells jingling. Then it stopped. Then she could hear bells jingling again, a bit louder this time, then they stopped again.

  “What’s going on?” she thought, not for the first time today!......

  Madison rolled up the blinds on her window and looked out. It was very late and very dark. There were no lights on in any of the other houses, everyone was in bed you see. Then she heard it again, the jingling of bells! Then they stopped again. She was trying to see if there was anything outside but it was so dark. She knew she shouldn’t really do it, but she opened her window wide and stuck her head out! A cold breeze flew in as she opened the window, it was a very chilly night. She looked all over the sky, there was nothing apart from a few stars and it was quiet again. She just kept looking; Nothing.

  “I must be hearing things!” Madison thought to herself.

  It had been a very long day and she was still very tired, maybe she had been dreaming. But when she looked at the Snowstorm that she was holding in her hands, it was now so bright that it was lighting up the whole room!

  “What IS going on?!” thought Madison, AGAIN!!!.....

  As she was looking at the Snowstorm and the soft, golden light it was spraying around her bedroom, there it was again, the sound of jingling bells. Not only that, but this time it was louder! Madison knew that it meant whatever was making the sound was getting closer. This time, instead of the bells stopping, they just kept on jingling and they kept gradually getting louder & louder. She looked all around the sky and it sounded like the jingling bells were coming from somewhere high up above. She strained her eyes but couldn’t see anything. The light from the Snowstorm was getting brighter & brighter too, now Madison was feeling excited and the butterflies were back in her tummy; AGAIN!!!

  “What’s going on?” she thought and laughed out loud because she had forgotten how many times she had thought that in the last few minutes! Then, without warning, she heard a noise she would never forget……….

  “HO HO HO!” she heard.

  “I know who says that!” thought Madison.

  The bells kept jingling, the Snowstorm kept shining and then she heard it again.

  “HO HO HO!
!!....”

  Now this was louder and closer! She was looking out in the direction of all this noise when suddenly, she realised that there was something above her head over the roof-tops. Not only that, it was something big, something VERY big!........

  Madison wasn’t scared, but she was so excited that she could barely move. She forced herself to look up. As her head moved to look upwards, whatever it was moved downwards until it was there, level with her bedroom window. What she saw took her breath away; AGAIN!!!..............

  There, floating in mid-air, level with Madison’s bedroom window, was a huge red sleigh with 8 reindeer attached to the front.

  “IT’S FLOATING IN MID-AIR!” thought Madison.

  She rubbed her eyes as it slowly sailed across, staring at the front. All the reindeer were in pairs and joined by lots of complicated leather straps. As they passed, each reindeer looked at Madison and they seemed to have smiling eyes too, just like Tinsel the dog from the Grotto!

  It got to the last pair of reindeer and she saw the front of the huge sleigh come into view. It was red with a gold frame and runners, the front was very high and she couldn’t see what was in the sleigh yet. But it kept gliding across in mid-air, very slowly. Before she had time to think, there was Father Christmas, sitting on the seat of the sleigh holding the reins!

  “Oh my goodness, I can’t believe it, it’s Santa!” thought Madison.

  “HO HO HO Madison!” bellowed Santa, “Merry Christmas!”

  “Santa,