"Christmas Is All Around"
Chapter 3


Sunday afternoon, December 19.

-

"I've looked at love from both sides now, from give and take, and still somehow… It's love's illusions I recall, I really don't know love at all…" the boom box speakers spouted out the soft singing of Joni Mitchell, Clementine sitting on the windowsill and staring silently out the crisscrossed glass pane. "Tears and fears and feeling proud, to say 'I love you' right out loud, dreams and schemes and circus crowds… I've looked at love that way…"

Joni Mitchell was one of her personal favourites, as well as Karen's, and the other artist being the late-great George Harrison.

The phone then rang three times before stopping, admitting that another family member in another room had picked it up.

"Oi, Clem! Telephone!" Rollo shouted, easily reaching her up in her second story room.

She got up from her window seat perch and walked over to the bedside table, picking up the fifties-style telephone.

"I've got it, Rollo!" she yelled back at her brother. There was a click and the call was all hers. "Yes?"

"Hello, Clem. It's Harry," the male voice on the other end answered.

This was a bit of a surprise, since it was Karen who'd said she would call today. Not that Clementine and Harry weren't good mates, she was just even more so with Karen.

"And to what do I owe the pleasure of this call?" she asked.

"Well, Karen is taking the kids out for some shopping. And I was wondering if you come along with me to pick out something for her, you being her best friend and all," he asked, sounding as if he didn't expect her to agree.

"Sure. I could stand to stretch my legs. Should I drive over or you come get me?" she smiled.

"Thanks very much, Clem. I'll come over in about twenty minutes, is that all right with you?" he said, sounding very pleased.

"That's fine. See you then."

They hung up, Clementine hurrying over to her closet to change out of lounging wear. It was two o'clock on a Sunday afternoon, and she'd almost given up going anywhere that day.


"Well, she likes blue things. It's her favourite colour," Clementine thought aloud, briefly glancing at the clothing racks that she and Harry passed by.

"I know that, Clem. What else does she like?" he rolled his eyes.

"Joni Mitchell. Bet you didn't think to get her a CD, did you?" she said with a smirk.

"Oh of course. That's brilliant," he slapped a hand to his forehead, then excusing himself to make a trip to the electronics department.

She, however, did not follow along and merely mingled about in the petite clothing section. She picked up a few tops and skirts to look them over, only to put them back on the rack. It was usually impossible to find things she absolutely loved.

A few minutes passed and Harry returned with a shopping bag in his hand.

"So what did you get her?" she asked, smirking.

"Stuff it and let's get some lunch. I'm starved," he laughed, leading her off in search of a good in-mall eatery.


Monday morning, December 20.

-

"Name please?" an elderly woman asked as Clementine walked into one of the foyers.

"Warwick, Clementine."

"Ah, yes. Here you are. If you'll come with me, I'll take you in to see the Prime Minister," the woman nodded for Clementine to follow her, walking down a series of hallways until finally reaching the Prime Minister's office. The woman knocked on the door before opening it.

"The replacement secretary is here, Prime Minister," she said to the man bent over at the desk.

Clementine sucked in a silent breath as she raised her eyes to get a look at him. He also appeared to be a little taken aback as well.

"Um, hello, Miss…" he began.

"Warwick, sir," she offered him.

There was a brief pause before the elderly woman spoke up and excused herself. She left the room, casting a suspicious glance back at the pair still in the room. Clementine spoke first.

"Is there anything I can do?" she asked.

"Oh, yes!" he said, as if snapping back from some stupor. "Take these down to Jenkins and have them copied. Come back when you're done," he instructed, sounding almost desperate just to get her out of the room.

"Yes, sir," she smiled through her teeth, her left eye twitching, a little peeved that he didn't seem to want to see her. She wasn't that repulsive was she?

She went up and took the small stack of papers from his desk and swiftly left the room, shutting it harder than necessary. Once at a safe distance from his door, Clementine fell back against the wall and slowly exhaled the breath she'd held since she'd entered that office.

That's Karen's brother? her mind exclaimed. I'm going to get her for this! Of all the sneaky– she hit the back of her head on the wall. Here I was thinking he was some buck-toothed dink, and he turns out being like that, she glanced back down the hall, before gathering up her poise and continuing down the hall down the next office to go about her duties.

Meanwhile, back down the hall… David was also in a state of bewilderment.

I can't go and fire this one. I'm stuck with her… I'm going to get Karen for this, he thought, resting his head on the desktop. He then let out a low groan of frustration. "Why do I get all the good-looking girls as secretaries?" he questioned aloud, a little louder than he'd have liked. Perfect, he sighed as he then banged his head on the edge of the desk, then cursing in a hushed voice and putting a hand over the spot he'd hit.


Author's Note : Weee! I love being able to bend characters to my whim. It's just so much fun, ain't it? Anywho… can you guess yet how Clementine feels about David? Can ya? Huh, huh? …. Though so. ;) Okie-day, I'm not sure where I'm gonna go in the next chappie, but I can only hope it'll be good. Hope I've been able to please you people so far. Alrightly then, the normal routine: Read/Review or Flame (optional). Cheers! :D