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A festive story for Christmas…

Chapter One: When The Snowman Brings The Snow

The Christmas lights beamed over the misty harbour, all different colours, flashing and twirling making Portwenn look festively beautiful. All the cottages around the village had decorations in the windows and doors trying to win the ever so important competition that Bert and Al were running.

A large green tree stood on the entrance to the harbour, tinsel and huge bulbuls hung from the thin snowy branches. A golden glittering star was to be placed on the top at the Christmas Festival.

Portwenn was greeted by three inches of snow during the first week of December, which covered the rooftops and narrow lanes. The freezing temperatures continued and forced Portwenn Primary School to end the term early, as it was a safety precaution that the headmistress had to undertake.

Louisa found herself doing many things during the Christmas holidays. She had time to look after James and allow the childminder to take an early break as well. He was at a lovely age, at just three years old, he was pretty much able to talk properly, walk and feed himself. Louisa shed a few tears here and there that her 'little prince' was all growing up fast. Martin had told her that it was good for him to make advanced progress in his learning. He had taught James most of the alphabet and how to count up to twenty, how to write his name and read various books. Martin and Louisa considered James lucky to have parents that had experience in teaching. Louisa had taught for many years and was brilliant at taking care of children. While Martin on the other hand, used to teach trainee doctors every now and then, so he had some knowledge amongst his medical career.

Louisa had put up a Christmas tree in the window of their living room. It gave a real effect to the character of their lovely home. They had brought this old cottage just after Martin agreed to stay as Portwenn's GP. It was a large three bedroom cottage, with characteristic features of a lot of history. The best thing about it was that it wasn't in the village, which was Martin's priority. Martin and Louisa had fell it love with the house and immediately bought it, knowing James would like his own big bedroom as he got older.

The house had two large bay windows, upstairs and downstairs, either side of the old front door. It had two big reception rooms, one that was a living room and the other for a dining room. The kitchen had a modern taste, but fitted with the flavour of the old style cottage theme. Two double doors lead to a small office situated to the side of the house, which both Martin and Louisa used for their work.

All the Christmas decorations was now in place in most of the rooms in the house. Martin wasn't keen, but he did enjoy watching James' face light up when they began to get them out of the loft.

As Martin arrived home on a cold Friday evening, he was greeted by Louisa tying bright green tinsel around the banister, singing along to herself,

'…I wish it could be Christmas every day!'

'What are you doing?' Martin asked as he wrinkled his nose at another piece of cheap material being put up.

'Putting tinsel on here' she replied, stating the obvious.

'But we already have a Christmas tree blocking the window in the living room and another small tree in the kitchen, not to mention the various bits of tinsel in James' room' Martin grumbled.

'He put that up himself' said Louisa, focussing on her task.

They both had put James to bed one night to find small pieces of tinsel, that Louisa was going to throw away because they were torn and looking tacky, tied around his headboard, toy box and door handle. Louisa found it too cute to replace it with better tinsel.

'Anything else I should notice being put up?' muttered Martin as he began to take his coat off.

'I don't think so' Louisa shrugged, 'Did you have a bad day?'

She had noticed that he wasn't being as pleasant as he usually tried to be when they were in company with each other.

'Well you could say that. All the villagers wanted to wish me Merry Christmas by brining in tacky cheap cards and gone off Christmas cake. Also, Morwenna decided to hang the cards up around the surgery…'

'Bah Humbug' Louisa sighed, 'Oh you do remind me of Mr Scrooge'

She left the tinsel and walked over to Martin to place her hands around his waist.

'I knew from the minute you walked through that door of the surgery that the village were too festive today for you' she said gazing up at him, 'They're only trying to be pleasant, Martin. I know you don't like the decorations, but you have to admit they do add to the season of being jolly'

'I don't mind your decorations; I think you do a good job of them actually. However, when having to put up with some of the villagers disastrous attempt at decorations in their windows, its just too much sometimes, to come home and find another thing hanging up doing nothing.' He explained.

'Aw!' Louisa said, not allowing his grumpiness get to her, 'Well, are you ready for some dinner?'

'Yes' Martin nodded, 'Where's James?'

'Oh he's in there' Louisa gestured to the living room doorway with her finger.

'Right, I'll go and say hello' he told her.

Before she wandered off into the kitchen, she planted a small kiss on his cheek.

'Love you' she smiled and began making her way to check on the dinner.

Martin went to go into the living room to see James, but before he could Louisa shouted.

'Shoes!'

This meant that his shoes had to be taken off before walking anywhere in the house. She had made it very clear to Martin and James that they were not to tread snow through the house; otherwise they would regret the consequences. She didn't actually know what she would make them do for punishment because she loved them both too much, but at least the speech she made the other day worked as they both followed her rules.

….

Bert was in the kitchen of his restaurant looking out onto the icy blue sea crashing against the slippery rocks. He sighed and glanced at the empty restaurant all frozen in the snow.

'Alright?'

Al walked into the kitchen pulling his gloves on ready to brace the cold winter's air.

'We need to do something boy' Bert said.

'What do you mean?' asked Al

'Look out there. Not a soul sitting on a table,' Bert sighed.

Al walked over and said,

'Well maybe its something to do with the weather?'

'Oh don't be sarcastic!' Bert sighed, 'Now that you and Pauline are happily married…'

'Great, the sob story's coming out again?'

'Hey!' said Bert and nudged Al, 'I don't like being lonely. I promised your mother…'

'Dad, you need to let me go. Pauline doesn't want to live here, we're happy in our new home up on the hill'

'I understand, but…'

'Dad, why don't you just take up your plumbing like you did last winter, that way you have money over Christmas' Al said, 'Many frozen pipes out there'

'I know, but I hate plumbing, this is my business now' Bert said and then stopped as a huge smile came over his face, 'Hang on! If I move in with you and Pauline, we could convert upstairs to an indoor restaurant'

Al's face wrinkled up.

'No' he said firmly, 'I am not having you interrupting our own life. That's why she left the last time. Pauline didn't want to be stuck here with you'

Bert rolled his eyes and looked around at the frosty kitchen.

'Now that you have a life of your own, own house, own job, own… well everything. I don't like that you've grown up!'

'Its not fair, that is understandable, but you've got to let me lead my own life' Al said placing one arm around Bert's neck.

'You've got the competition and I've lent you some money'

'I can't rely on other people's salary' Bert said sadly, 'I suppose I have to convert back to my old time job'

'Exactly' Al said, relieved.

'Suppose I cant stop you proceeding into life. I mean now that Pauline's a nurse at the Doc's surgery and you are a computer wizard, you know, I'm stuck.'

'I apologise' Al nodded, tapped his father's back and said, 'See you later!'

With that Al walked out into the bleak weather, leaving Bert alone to think.