I'm back again! Hopefully you're still following along with me (or rather, the two girls). Christmas is fast approaching so I'll try and get the next part up as soon as I can, thoughts? Xx

ROSIE

Thankfully, her aunt had been too distracted by the final outcome of the Christmas cookies to ask a) what had taken Rosie so long and b) why she hadn't come back with a jar of honey. By the time her parents had turned up at the house in the mid afternoon, they seemed to have many stories to tell about their walk ("We watched a deer skip across the park as if we weren't even there, can you believe it?) and Rosie was glad of an excuse to finally retire to her room before dinner so she could think about the day's events. Meeting Madge had to be pure fate, there was no doubt about it. And it sure was a nice thought to think she might actually have someone her own age to hang out with these holidays.

The next morning, once she was sure that nearly everyone else was up, she got dressed and headed into the kitchen. Her mother was sitting at the table reading a book and sipping a cup of coffee, and Tim and Ben were lolling on the sofa in the living room, watching cartoons.

"Good morning, Rose." Her mother smiled at her.

"Morning, Mum." Rosie returned the smile, got herself some leftover waffles from the fridge and sat at the table. "Where's everyone else?"

"Your father and Bruce are tinkering with old gadgets and things in the garage, and Minty's in the garden," her mother replied. "I'm going to take the boys out for a walk before I start making a list of ingredients and recipes for the big day." She looked at Rosie meaningfully. "Or, it would be a great help if you could take them for a walk."

Rosie opened her mouth, then shut it again, thinking about Madge.

Count your blessings, Rosie, she told herself.

"Sure. I'll do that." She pretended not to notice her mother's small sigh of relief, or the way she rubbed a hand across her face, seemingly exhausted.

"Thank you, darling. I have so much to do." Her mum took a small sip of coffee and turned a page of her book.

Rosie knew that she should just leave her in peace, but something still nagged at the back of her mind. "Mum…" She hesitated. "Why do you plan Christmas out so thoroughly?"

"Because that's just how it is." Her mother looked at her and shrugged. "If we didn't plan things out, nobody would end up doing anything. And that's part of it, being with your family and finding fun things to do."

Rosie, attempted to ignore that small voice inside her that was screaming, WHY DON'T YOU JUST RELAX AND HAVE FUN LIKE ANY NORMAL PERSON? EVERYONE ELSE DOES AT CHRISTMAS, YOU KNOW. BUT NO, EVERYTHING IN OUR HOUSE HAS TO BE PLANNED RIGHT DOWN TO THE ITTY BITTY LAST DETAIL – OTHERWISE IT WON'T BE FUN, WILL IT?

Instead, she persisted. "Mum, maybe you just need to, you know, take a break for once."

Her mother laughed. "Every Christmas is the same, sweetheart. I'm always frantic no matter what happens. When you were first born, we did just that, and had Christmas at our place. Your father forgot to keep an eye on the stove as the meal cooked." She flinched as she recalled the memory. "That gave all of us a scare, especially as you were still just very little. So now, it's just easier to plan things." A smile spread across her face as she looked at her daughter. "When you're eventually a mother, you'll understand."

Rosie nodded, as her mother turned her attention back to her book. She guessed that her mother had a point, but still. And all of a sudden, she made the decision that this year, she would do something about it.

Maybe Madge would have some good ideas.

"Come on, boys." Rosie headed in the direction of the living room, causing her brothers to look up her. "We're going for a walk."

The air outside was cool, but not too chilly. Rosie watched as Tim and Ben ran around the park, laughing and playing tag. Oh, to be that young again, she thought. Her gaze moved from the boys to around the rest of the park. It was a big, wide open space with a few benches scattered round a small fish pond. Trees bordered the edge of the frozen grass. The park was pretty much empty, apart from an old couple walking slowly around the pond, and a figure in a grey coat, reading a book, seated on the nearest bench.

Rosie frowned. That coat looked familiar.

Wait. Pause.

Rosie glanced round at her brothers who were still happily running round, probably not even noticing if a fleet of aliens were to land right next to them. Then, she ventured casually over to where Madge was sitting.

MADGE

"Hey. Madge!"

Madge glanced up to see none other than Rosie standing in front of her. A broad smile lit up her face.

"Rosie! It's so good to see you again. I was wondering if I'd ever run into you again." She put the book down and gestured to the spot next to her. "Have a seat."

Rosie gratefully sat down. "Thanks. I'm looking after my little brothers for a bit while Mum sorts out Christmas menus and stuff." She rolled her eyes. "You'd think she's just chill out for once, but oh no, it's the exact opposite."

Madge giggled, then nodded wearily. "I'm taking over the Christmas food this year. My own mother's just so tired from working and looking after Granny that I said I'd do it." She shrugged, pretending not to mind too much. "No bother, really. I can cook all right."

She got the feeling that Rosie was thinking hard. About what, though, she had no idea, and didn't really want to have to think about it too much. Every once in a while, Madge herself came here not to think. At all.

The elderly couple she'd seen strolling round the pond earlier now were walking down the path in front of them, giving the girls a nod hello. "Beautiful day, isn't it?"

Madge smiled at them. "Absolutely."

"It's going to be a good holiday as well," the man continued, his wife gently nudging him to hurry up and stop talking to strangers. Suddenly, he reached into his coat pocket and pulled out two candy canes. "My wife and I got these at the shop for free when we went in. The clerk told us to give them to two strangers to spread the holiday spirit." He handed them to Rosie. "One for you, and one for your sister."

"Thank you." Madge smiled at them again as they went on their way, though at the same time, she wanted to giggle. Accepting sweets from an old man who isn't even Father Christmas. Really?

"Thanks, but she's not my sis–" Rosie broke off, her expression changing as she pondered the old man's words, silent for a moment.

Suddenly, she looked at Madge, her eyes widening as the beginnings of an idea flickered across her face. Madge looked at her, confused.

"What?"

Rosie shook her head, unable to get any words out, and instead bounced up and down in her seat. Finally, in a hushed, reverent voice, she spoke. "I have an idea."

"You don't say?" Madge replied, both slightly annoyed and amused. "Well, what is it?"

Rosie checked her watch, appeared shocked at the time, and stood up. "Look, Madge, I have to bring my brothers back home before Mum reports them missing, but I'll tell you really soon, promise!"

Madge stood up. "If you come to my house this afternoon, will you tell me then?"

Rosie beamed and nodded. "Course I will. Say two this afternoon?"

Madge barely even had time to say goodbye, before Rosie vanished from the park, taking the two little boys with her. But in a way, even though she was hasty, unpredictable and at times jumping from one thing to the other, Madge had to admit that that was exactly what she liked about her.

Granny hadn't actually managed to go to sleep for a few hours, which made a rather nice change. As Madge made sure she was comfortable with a hot cup of tea, the old woman chatted merrily away to her about things that Madge couldn't make head or tail of. Occasionally, she broke out into little verses of songs, and sometimes she'd utter random sentences, always starting, but never finishing.

"And so I said to him, I said, Otis, what are you doing with that teapot?" Granny giggled, clutching the handle of her cup of tea. "The old fool didn't take any notice!"

"Careful, Granny, don't spill your tea." Madge took the cup gently from her and set it down on the table next to her.

"Tea… teapot." Granny pointed to the cup and nodded. "I'm a little teapot, short and stout. A lovely song."

Madge vaguely remembered that song from her preschool days, but before she could do anything else, a knock sounded on the door. As she pulled it open, she found Rosie standing on the doorstep, beaming at her.

"Well, I got the right address, didn't I?" she asked, stepping into the kitchen. Madge watched her anxiously as her friend took in the clean but slightly shabby room. Luckily, it was nice and warm.

"Come and meet Granny." Madge was anxious to hear what Rosie's plan was, but first things first. She led the way into the living room to where her grandma was seated. "Granny? This is my friend, Rosie."

Her grandma peered at Rosie short-sightedly. "Honey, why are there two of you?" She frowned slightly, her confused mind trying to see through the fog. "I was sure I was just talking to you before, and yet here you are."

"It's lovely to meet you, erm, Madge's granny." Rosie smiled at her, though for some reason, Madge saw a look of elation pass over her face.

"I'll take you to my room and you can tell me your secret." Madge said, turning to walk into the hallway, with Rosie following along after her. "I'll come and check on you later, Granny."

A faint wheeze told her that her grandma was rapidly falling asleep again.

Who thinks they can figure out what Rosie's plan is? I know what it is, hehe. But I'm not going to tell you just yet. So you'll just have to wait….until the next chapter!