by Adele Abbott
“Not today. You’re going to your grandma’s, but I’ll see you soon and you can show me then.”
“Okay, bye. Merry Christmas!”
Kathy took the phone from Lizzie.
“Everything okay?” I asked.
“Couldn’t be better. The kids are thrilled with their toys. You should have seen Lizzie’s face when she saw the Total Dream Office. What about you? Are you sure you’re going to be okay today?”
“Yeah, I’ve got one or two things planned. I’ll be fine. You lot enjoy yourselves. I’ll catch up with you tomorrow.”
“Okay, then. See you. Merry Christmas.”
“Merry Christmas, Kathy.”
***
It was my first Christmas in Candlefield; my first Christmas with my new family. I’d been looking forward to it for quite some time.
“I don’t know why you can’t use magic,” Grandma moaned. “Christmas dinner would have been ready by now.”
Even on Christmas Day, some things never changed. I was at Aunt Lucy’s. Everyone was there: the twins, their fiancés, Lester and of course my favourite family member, Grandma, who had been complaining for the last fifteen minutes.
“I’ve already told you, mother,” Aunt Lucy said. “I am not using magic to make Christmas dinner. It doesn’t taste the same.”
“Of course it tastes the same—as long as you know what you’re doing. I could have had this ready in two minutes.”
“In that case, you should have stayed at home and made your own Christmas dinner.” Aunt Lucy was getting angrier and angrier.
“I would have, but I know you all want me here.”
We looked at one another. We were obviously all thinking the same thing, but no one dared say a word.
The twins pulled me to one side, and Pearl said, “We’re going to make snowmen in the garden. Do you want to come and help?”
“No thanks. It’s too cold for me out there. You’re welcome to it.”
“It’ll pass the time until dinner is ready,” Amber said. “Plus we’ll get away from Grandma. Are you sure you don’t want to join us?”
“Yeah, I’m sure. You go ahead. I’ll watch you through the window.”
The twins went outside, dragging their fiancés with them. Neither Alan nor William looked very enthusiastic, but they didn’t seem to have a say in the matter.
I watched them as they rolled huge balls of snow. They were all laughing and making a terrible noise. They were obviously competing to see which couple could make the best snowman.
“What’s wrong with those stupid girls?” Grandma said. “They’re giving me a headache.”
“It’s called having fun,” Aunt Lucy said. “Do you remember what that is? F U N?”
“That’s not fun. That’s noise.”
The twins were in hysterics now. Grandma gave them a look, and I sensed she had cast a spell, but I wasn’t sure which one until the clouds above the garden suddenly parted, and the sun appeared. The heat from the sun’s rays began to melt the snowmen right before my eyes. The twins looked on in horror as their creations melted. No sooner had the snowmen disappeared than so did the sun. The sky was overcast again. Amber, Pearl and their fiancés all looked mystified. Grandma looked very pleased with herself.
Dinner was well worth the wait. It was delicious. There was turkey, Aunt Lucy’s special mashed potatoes, five types of vegetable and gravy to die for. For dessert, there was an amazing caramel apple betty with cinnamon ice cream. We rounded it off with coffee. There wasn’t a scrap of food left on anyone’s plate. Even Grandma had enjoyed it, although she did manage to complain about the size of the portions. Everyone pulled a cracker; Lester almost fell off his seat when he pulled his with Grandma—she always seemed to get the gift inside.
After dinner, presents were handed out. I received a lovely pair of gloves, a pretty necklace, and a beautiful handbag.
“This is my present to you, Mum,” Amber said.
“No, here. Open mine first,” Pearl said, trying to push her sister out of the way.
“She wants to open mine first,” Amber said.
“Girls, girls. It’s not a competition.” Aunt Lucy picked up both presents.
“Open mine first, please,” Amber said. “You’ll love it.”
“You’ll like my present more,” Pearl said.
“Why don’t I open them at the same time?”
“Okay then.” Amber pouted.
“I suppose so.” Pearl pouted too.
Aunt Lucy somehow managed to tear the wrapping off both presents at the same time. When the paper was removed it revealed two very similar, if not identical, red boxes.
“Interesting?” she said, as she opened the lids.
Everyone laughed except Amber and Pearl. William and Alan soon stopped when the twins gave them a look.
“Great minds think alike,” Aunt Lucy said, staring at two identical pairs of earrings.
“You copied me again,” Pearl said.
“I did not! I got mine first,” Amber said. “You copied me.”
“How was I supposed to know you’d got them?”
Aunt Lucy held up a hand to silence the squabbling. “They’re beautiful. I love them both.”
“Whose will you wear first?” Amber insisted. “Wear mine, please!”
“I bought them first,” Pearl said. “You have to wear mine first.”
“I’ll tell you what I’m going to do. I’ll wear one from each box.”
After all of the presents had been opened, I went upstairs on the excuse of going to the loo. I wanted to be alone when I opened the present which my mother had given me. The gold locket was heart-shaped. Inside was a photo of a newly born baby, and it took me a few seconds to realise it was me.
“Are you okay?” Aunt Lucy said when I re-joined them.
“Yeah, I’m fine.”
“Are you sure? Your eyes look a little red.”
“I’m fine, honestly. I just had something in my eye.”
Chapter 11
By early evening, I was full of mince pies and chocolate. Everyone was having a great time, mainly because Grandma had fallen asleep in the dining room, and we’d left her there. But, I was beginning to feel a little guilty. I knew Kathy, Peter and the kids would be having a good time, and that Mrs V was okay because she was spending Christmas with the yarnies. But what about Winky? The poor old thing was all by himself in my office. Even though he drove me crazy, I didn’t like to think of him all alone on Christmas Day. I decided to pop over there for a few minutes to make sure he was okay. I told everyone that I’d only be gone for a short while, and then I magicked myself back to Washbridge.
I arrived just outside the building, and when I looked up I could see there were lights on in the outer office. They were changing from one colour to another: green, followed by red, then yellow, and then blue. What was going on?
I let myself into the building and made my way up the stairs. As I did, the sound of music got increasingly louder. What on earth was happening in there? The outer office was full of cats. They were dancing, laughing, drinking and eating. There must have been twenty of them, all in party gear. In one corner stood a record deck being operated by a cat in dark glasses who was speaking into a microphone. None of them seemed to take any notice of me as I made my way across the room. Then I felt a tap on my leg.
“What are you doing here?” Winky said. He was wearing a purple, sparkly suit with a matching eyepatch.
“What on earth is going on?” I shouted over the music.
“I can’t hear you.”
“Let’s go through to my office.” I pointed.
He followed me—it was still loud, but at least I could hear myself think.
“What’s going on out there?”
“It’s my Christmas party.”
“You didn’t tell me you were having a party.”
“I didn’t think I needed to. You saw me sending out the invitations.”
“I thought those
were Christmas cards.”
“Nah, I don’t bother with Christmas cards. Anyway, what are you doing here, Billy-No-Mates? Are you so desperate for company that you decided to gatecrash?”
“No! I was at my own Christmas party. I just wanted to check you were okay. But it looks like you’re having a great time.”
“How very sweet of you to care.”
“There is one other thing while I’m here.”
“Hurry up then. I’ve promised Bella a dance.”
“I just wanted to say thank you.”
“What for?”
“For buying the socks for Mrs V.”
“It was nothing.”
“And for finding the Total Dream Office.”
“Not a problem. Anyway, if you want to show your gratitude, you know how to do it, don’t you?”
I smiled. “Red, not pink?”
“Got it in one.”
Winky was obviously okay. When I left, he was jiving with Bella. I magicked myself back to Aunt Lucy’s where everyone except Grandma was in the living room.
“Is Grandma still asleep in the dining room,” I said in a whisper. I didn’t want to risk waking her up.
“No,” Aunt Lucy said. “She’s gone upstairs for a lie down.”
We all settled down to watch Christmas TV. There’s nothing better than mindless television, lots of chocolate and plenty of ginger beer. My idea of heaven.
“Jill!” A voice echoed above our heads.
Everyone looked at me.
“Jill, can you come up here?”
“Why is Grandma shouting me?” I looked to the others.
Everyone shrugged. They were just relieved that she wasn’t calling them.
If I ignored her, perhaps she’d go away.
“Jill! Hurry up!”
“You’d better get up there, Jill.” Amber giggled.
“Yeah, you don’t want to keep Grandma waiting.” Pearl giggled too.
I’d get them back for this.
I made my way upstairs—resigned to my fate.
“Where are you, Grandma?”
“In the front bedroom.”
I knocked on the door.
“Don’t hang around out there. Come in.”
When I walked into the room, I found Grandma lying on the bed. She’d taken off her shoes and stockings. Her feet were even more horrible than her wizened hands.
“What can I do for you?”
“Do you remember you promised to do me a favour for kitting you out in winter clothing?”
“Err—yeah.”
“Well, I think it’s time for you to pay your debt.”
“But, Grandma, it’s Christmas Day.”
“I know what day it is.”
“What do you want?”
“My bunions are giving me a lot of gyp today. I’d like you to rub this ointment on them.”
Oh bum!
A brief message from Winky
(SPOILER ALERT! Do not read this message until you have read the book)
A big hello to all you Winky addicts out there. I’m delighted to see that I’ve been given my own cover at long last—I look so much better in colour.
Incidentally, don’t be fooled by what you have just read. Jill may think I’ve turned over a new leaf just because I helped the old bag lady with her sock woes, and found some stupid toy, but you and I know better. I’m playing the long game—that’s what it’s all about. A nod is as good as a Winky to a blind—you get my drift.
I feel I owe you all an apology for making you endure those boring stories about Jill Gooder in the Witch P.I. Mysteries. I know that you only put up with them so that you can get the occasional glimpse of yours truly. Believe me, I have tried to tell Adele that she should drop Jill, and instead write a series of books devoted just to me. The problem is that Adele isn’t a witch, so she can’t understand a single word I say. Maybe I’ll write my memoirs—that is sure to be a best seller.
Finally, and most importantly, I would like to wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Please do not spend too little on my present, and just remember—it’s red not pink.
The Witch P.I. Mysteries
If you have enjoyed this short story, you will find more mystery, magic and crazy than you can shake a stick at in The Witch P.I. Mysteries:
Witch Is When It All Began
(A Witch P.I. Mystery #1)
Web Site: http:www.AdeleAbbott.com
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