All I need for Christmas
Chapter 1 – All I want for Christmas is you
It was a bright December morning in Lazy Town, the day was crisp and cool. A fine layer of frost had settled on the trees and grass from the cold last night, and now it shone brightly in the mild morning sun, sparkling like precious gems. The beauty of the event was completely unnoticed by two of the towns morning commuters.
"Hurry..!... we're gonna be late…" A small pudgy blonde boy called over his shoulder as he turned the corner and raced up the lane towards the school house, a large red and white lollipop held firmly in his grasp.
"Oh..slow down Ziggy.. the school's not going anywhere…" Another boy, taller and with curly strawberry blonde hair tucked under a cap, replied. They both dashed up the stairs and into the school hallway just as the bell sounded. With quick movements they flung off their coats and slid into class, the door closing just seconds behind them.
"A Ziggy..Jives…so good of the two of you to join us today….and on time no less" the teacher gave them a smile. "Please take your seats boys"
"Yes Miss. Pine .." they replied.
"Now today class I have an announcement for you all, as some of you may already know we are holding a Christmas contest of sorts…..The Father Christmas Talent Show. " Miss Pine began.
"All school aged children and their Fathers are permitted to enter. Participants typically perform some featured talent such as singing , dancing, ..or any such talent that takes your fancy. I do hope all of you will consider entering. It sounds like loads of fun…!" She smiled.
"Awesome !" Pixel cried "I know just what I'm gonna do…. My Dad and I we can-"
"Now, now Pixel" the teacher interrupted him, " Best to keep the ideas to yourself…" "Ya..you're right.." the boy said casting a suspicious gaze about him.
"Well now that that's settled let's begin todays math lesson.." the teacher announced.
"AWWWWWWWWWWWW…" the class groaned.
The school bell rang, at the end of the day, and the children quickly ran out into the cold winter air, heading to the park.
"OH I can't wait ! My dad and I are sure to win ! " Trixie announced. "We're the best at celebrating Christmas , we've had our house decorated for Christmas for two weeks you know.."
"Well I think I should win.." A young boy in a yellow snowsuit cut in. "I mean it's MY contest after all … so it's only fair.."
"It's not your contest Stingy.." Goggi, a young boy with green hair, snapped. "Besides, being the tech king that I am it's in the bag really, at Christmas you gotta go all out, overboard and BIG!"
"So you think you're gonna win huh..?" Pixel challenged his tech savy nemesis.
"Yep.."Goggi smirked "My Dad and I will lick you all.."
"Lick our feet maybe…" Trixe growled standing next to Pixel and getting ready for a brawl. Stingy and Stephanie took a step back sensing the shift in the conversation from friendly banter to fight.
"Well I know what I wanna do" Ziggy beamed, cutting into Trixie and Goggi's staring match, oblivious to the tension. "I think I whaooo-!" He gave a yelp, losing his balance in his excitement to be heard, and toppling into a snow drift.
"Oh come off it Ziggy" Trixie snorted, annoyed at being interrupted during a scrap. "It's for kids and their Fathers…you won't be doing anything…"
"Trixie !" Stephanie cried, stepping up to defend her young friend from the mischief makers wrath. " that wasn't very nice.. you don't have to be so mean.. about it.." Trixie glared at her clearly not amused at being called out on her comment. " Hey… come to think of it …. neither will you Pinkie" a smug smile came to her face as she looked at Stephanie ." neither one of you two have a Father.."
Stephanie glared at Trixie sorely tempted to forget all the lessons that Sportacus had taught her about being good and fair and just bop Trixie right on the nose. She felt her hands go into fists before a persistent tugging on her sleeve caught her attention. She looked down at Ziggy's sad eyes.
"Stephanie. …is she right..?" he asked.
"Well it is a Father and child contest…if you don't have a father… I guess you can't enter.." Pixel shrugged looking apologetically at the two.
"But does it have to be a Father..?" Jives asked
"Says so in the poster.." Goggi stated.
Stephanie watched the group argue back and forth for a moment, before turning to her younger companion.
"Come on Ziggy….let's go home.." She said quietly taking his hand. As they made their way through the neighborhood, she couldn't help asking herself the very same question.
/ ..will we be left out because we don't have Father's..?/
Stephanie said goodbye to Ziggy at his home, then ran up the street and across the road to her own home.
"Uncle Millford I'm home !" She called as she dashed up the front steps and closed the door behind her.
" Ah Stephanie " The Mayor greeted her warmly, coming from the living room " How was school today dear…?"
" Good I guess " Stephanie shrugged, still thinking about what the other children had said.
" Hmmm you don't seem too happy… come now what's the problem..?" he asked.
" It's the Father Christmas Talent show…" she sighed looking up at him " ….I don't have a Father…"
" Ah … well I…. I don't think it need be a "Father" necessarily" He stammered.
Stephanie looked up hopefully, " Then I can enter ! You and I could do something…a …a.."
" OH Stephanie I'm afraid it can't be so…" He said " You see , being the mayor I have to help judge the contest so I can't enter it.."
"Oh…" Stephanie said, feeling her spirits sink.
" I'm sorry my dear.. if there were another way… but you know we have to play by the rules…..we must be fair.." He said gently.
Stephanie nodded, even though it didn't seem fair at all to her. She made her way into the living room, taking a seat on the sofa and gazing over at the Christmas tree. Grabbing a picture in a pretty silver frame, from the coffee table beside her she smiled.
A man looked back at her from behind the glass. He had the same deep brown eyes as she did. Next to him was a smiling young woman who Stephanie knew was her mother. At least that's what she'd been told. Her mother had died long ago when she had still been a little baby and try as she might Stephanie couldn't remember her. She had no memory of the woman and despite a vague longing for a mother, no feelings of loss for her.
But the man, with eyes so much like her own, just to look at him tore her heart open. She missed her father dearly, even now, almost 2 years after the accident that took him from her and found an eight year old Stephanie on her way to live with her Uncle in a small community called Lazy Town.
Stephanie gazed transfixed at the photo for long moments until the voices of Trixie and Stingy reached her ears.
" I want a new bike for Christmas !" Stingy announced.
"Well I want a pogo stick and a new skipping rope !" Trixie countered. " .. and when Dad and I win the contest…I'll get it !"
"Not if MY dad and I win "
The two children were still bickering over what each wanted for Christmas and who would be getting a bigger haul, for winning the contest as they walked past the window.
Stephanie sighed as she watched them head down the street. With a sad sniff the young girl wiped her eyes and set the photo back on the coffee table. Pressing her nose to the glass she stared with longing at the man's face, whispering into the frame
" Daddy…..All I want for Christmas is you .."
TO BE CONTINUED …