Chapter Three: Santa Clause Is Coming To Town
The sun went down that evening behind the blue sea's horizon and the coldness had grown into a bitter breeze. More snow had settled on the branches of the tress in the fields, softly coating them in white dust. The tall Christmas tree, which had been darkened since the beginning of December, remained dull, until its time to shine.
It was the Christmas Festival where the population of Portwenn gathered to witness the traditional golden star being placed on the top stalk of their tree and the festive lights too were being switched on.
Many people were gathered around in small circles of friendships, children ran around the festival frequently knocking somebody aside and getting in the way of passers by. There was a long queue coming out of a tall white marquee that stood on the school playground with children and parents eagerly waiting for their turn to visit Bert, who dressed up as Father Christmas. The marquee was enlightened with fairy lights around the entrance door and the soft sound of jolly music filled the ears of the crowds to give the impression that Santa's grotto was in Portwenn.
Many stalls were dotted around, advertising products and selling Christmas items trying to draw as many people's attention as they could. All of which were decorated in different decorations, most of them were tacky; Martin couldn't stand it.
Martin parked their car up by the surgery. Even before they had time to get out, James took off his seatbelt and leaped out of his car seat to run up the surgery's steps. His face reflected the excitement and anticipation he was feeling by his eyes sparkling down to the festival.
'There's Father Christmas!' he laughed and jumped up and down compressing the snow beneath him causing a huge risk of slippery ice.
'Well come here and we can go and see him' Martin told him anxiously as he continued to jump in the same spot.
'James' Louisa said, holding out her hand for him to take.
He took one last gaze and jumped down the steps, making Louisa rather nervous that he may fall. She took his hand and put her arm through Martin's, who had both hands in his pockets, while they proceeded down Roscarrock hill following the noise from below.
As they entered the festival many villagers turned to a sight that they assumed they'd never see. Even the Doc looked kind of happy with his wife and son!
Over near The Crab and Lobster, PC Penhale and Mrs Tishell sat at a bench, being served with mince pies and mulled wine, even though Penhale only took half a cup of the German festive drink. He wanted to be cautionary due to the amount of alcohol around, there might be somebody that needed a warning.
He looked up from the conversation with Mrs Tishell to see Martin, Louisa and James browsing at a stall selling jewellery.
'Look at that, never though I'd see the day' Penhale said, with a smile.
Mrs Tishell turned her head briefly and looked disgustingly towards them.
'Neither did I' Mrs Tishell grunted, her face showing sadness as she saw the closeness between Martin and Louisa now holding hands.
'I'm not sure whether you should be allowed alcohol with your condition' Penhale reminded her.
'What?' Mrs Tishell gasped and turned back to him in astonishment, 'I do not have a condition thank you very much! It's not fair… I've had my chemist past on to my niece and my Clive won't stop harassing me and now you! Just leave me alone, the whole village wants me sectioned under the Mental Health Act'
'Well you did kidnap a minor' PC Penhale added.
'I don't care!' she said, banging on the arm of the bench with a fisted hand.
'Whoa!' Penhale held up his two hands in defence, 'It's Christmas Mrs T, I was only saying…'
'What are you doing upsetting my Sal?' Clive said deeply as he joined them, holding a mince pie in one hand and a pint of beer in the other.
'I haven't done anything Mr Tishell' Penhale stood up, with his hands behind his back like a schoolboy being told off by his teacher, 'I was just using my job to keep harm away from your dear wife'
Mrs Tishell rolled her eyes and took a reluctantly sip of her mulled wine to calm herself.
Meanwhile, Pauline was setting up her own stall, like she did every year. She saw Martin, Louisa and James walk past, their faces bracing the harsh wind.
'Alright Ellingham's!' Pauline smiled.
'Pauline' said Martin briefly and lead his family away from his "nutcase receptionist" as he'd often referred her to.
'Oh Doc!' called Pauline, 'I'm doing henna tattoo's again, going to visit?'
Martin turned around, swinging around Louisa and James too as they were all linked together.
'No' he said forcefully and continued to walk again.
Pauline laughed to herself, before muttering,
'Scrooge'
Martin and Louisa stopped to observe where to go, it was that busy it was difficult to see anything from where they were stood.
'I want to see Father Christmas!' James begged, by pulling Louisa's hand towards the direction of the school, slipping in the snow slightly.
'Are you coming Martin?'
He hesitated not really wanting to go and stand in a decorated tent while Bert dressed up as someone else. Martin really didn't want to ruin it for the children by accidentally telling him to shut up or calling him by his real name. He glanced over towards a stall, which were selling hotdogs and spotted someone he knew.
'Chris is over there, so I'll go and talk to him' he pointed at Chris Parson, who was standing with his wife and children, passing them each a hotdog.
'Alright' Louisa said, as she was dragged away by their son.
…
The grotto was influenced by Pauline's decorations. Neither Bert nor Al would be able to conduct together a grotto that looked so real as this.
Small Christmas trees, dusted with icing sugar gave the illusion that they were covered snow, lined the way towards Bert. He was sitting on a large chair, which was draped in a silk white cloth in contrast to his deep red fleeced coat and trousers he wore. His rounded belly protruded out with a fastening belt around it and his short grey hair covered with a matching red hat.
It was surprising to Portwenn that the marquee no longer looked like a tented cave, but had managed to succeed a welcoming setting. Even the floor had required some attention with red carpet hiding the paintings of hopscotch on the playground.
'Merry Christmas!' Bert cheered noticing James entering the tent, clutching his mother's hand.
'Ready James' Louisa said quietly, looking down at him to see his face light up.
James became shy as they approached Bert, not wanting to leave Louisa.
'Ho, Ho, Ho! Merry Christmas!' Bert said. His rosy cheeks very obvious as they drew in closer and his eyes glittering in the surrounding light of the grotto. The long white beard that he had placed on over his mouth had given the whole portrayal of Father Christmas realistic for James.
'Say hello' Louisa told him.
'Hello' James said, hiding behind Louisa, not wanting to speak to Father Christmas all by himself…it was too much of a big deal!
'Come over then little one' Bert said stretching out his arms for James to go forward.
'Come with me Mummy' whispered James.
'Don't worry I'm right here' Louisa said, lifting him up, so that he was sat on Bert's knee.
'Your name must be James' he said.
James clutched Louisa's hand and nodded.
'I received your letter by one of my elves. He said that you've been the most well behaved boy in the whole of the world' Bert said, his accent cheery with a flavour of Cornish, 'I see you are a good boy then'
James nodded and looked over to Louisa with a large smile.
'Tell Father Christmas how you've helped Mummy and Daddy' Louisa encouraged him.
'I helped Mummy and Daddy with the Christmas cards' James said.
'Ho, Ho, Ho!' Bert laughed, 'I wish you was an elf, I'd get all help I need!'
James laughed becoming more relaxed in the company of Father Christmas.
'What would you like for Christmas, James?' asked Bert, his eyes peering through his squared glasses and his cheeks poking through his beard as he smiled.
'I would like a red lorry'
'Oh a red lorry'
'Yes, the one that Daddy said you can play with in your bedroom and it has lights and a horn' he explained, letting go of Louisa's hand to use both of his hands show what he meant.
'So, a red lorry with lights and a horn!' Bert smiled and glanced over to Louisa.
She nodded at Bert discretely, which meant she had managed to buy one.
'Yes please' James said enthusiastically.
'Well I think I can do that James' chuckled Bert.
'Thank you' James said sweetly.
'Very polite young boy you have here' he smiled to Louisa, who returned a smile, 'Let me just get you your little present, which you are allowed to open now'
He reached into a red laced sack that was placed beside his grand chair and pulled out a small box wrapped up with a bow tied around it – again Pauline's decorative work. Bert handed the box to James, whose smile broadened.
'Merry Christmas James!' Bert said and patted him on the back.
'Come on then, say thank you' Louisa said, picking James up.
'Thank you Father Christmas' he waved as Louisa took him back outside.
She saw that James was so happy and turned her head to mouth the words 'thank you' to Bert.
…
'Gather round!' Pauline announced, standing on a stage shouting down PC Penhale's speakerphone.
Louisa and James came out of the school playground and saw Martin standing near Pauline's now empty stall. James ran over to Martin, wildly with his happiness.
'Look! I got a present from Father Christmas!' James held up his gift to Martin.
'What is it?'
'He hasn't opened it yet' Louisa said and then whispered, 'Bert was quite good actually'
'Right' Martin nodded. As if Bert could pretend to be someone else.
Martin and Louisa moved forward, but they were still near the back, so Martin took James and lifted him up on his shoulders.
'I can see the whole world!' James giggled as he clutched onto Martin's head so he didn't fall.
Louisa was slightly nervous at this and found herself reaching up holding his back.
'Careful' she warned James.
'I've got him, don't panic' Martin told Louisa.
'Is everyone here?' said Pauline loudly, 'On the count of three, Al is going to place the star on the top and I'm going to switch the lights on'
James was so excited he began fidgeting.
'James, stop it!' Martin ordered.
'I thought I heard you shouting' said Ruth strolling over with a cup of coffee in her hand. Her coat was done right up to her puffy green scarf and her gloves wrapped around the polystyrene cup that she was drinking from. Her cheeks were blushed from the cold.
'Hello Ruth' James said, peering down from Martin's shoulders.
'Oh goodness, you be careful up there' Ruth gasped.
'He's alright' Martin told her not wanting to make Louisa more nervous than she already was.
'They're serving lovely coffee over there' she pointed to another stall where they were selling all different types of warm drinks.
'On the count of three!' Pauline began from the front, 'Oh I haven't done this since we all listened into Louisa giving birth to James…'
Pauline instantly stopped and her eyes widened, she lowered the speakerphone and clasped a gloved hand over her mouth. Some villagers laughed and turned round to a now rather embarrassed Martin and Louisa.
Louisa looked up at Martin, glaring at him. He in turn had a face of total bafflement and innocence. Whereas James joined in with the villager's laugh.