Chapter 8: Christmas Eve Party
(December 24th 2011 – Christmas Eve: 4:30pm; Tidmouth)
Carrie and Simon, along with Sophie, Alice, Olivia and Saoirse, were walking along together on Main Street within the centre of Tidmouth with bags in their hands, evidence that they'd all been doing some last-minute Christmas shopping while all the shops were still open. There was plenty of fresh snow on the ground and the air was just as freezing cold as it had been for the last few weeks.
They were all eager to finish up with their Christmas shopping as soon as they possibly could, as that evening there would be a really big Christmas Eve party at Knapford Station, where a lot of people, as well as some of the engines, would be in attendance.
"I can't wait for the Christmas party this evening over at Knapford Station." Olivia said, as they trudged along.
"Yeah, and I hope it's a better event than last year's." Simon said.
"I can't wait for tomorrow. It'll be the very first Christmas I've ever celebrated." Carrie said, as she smiled broadly at the thought.
"You mean your mother never let you celebrate Christmas back home before?" Saoirse asked, as she sipped from a hot chocolate she had in her free hand.
"No, she never did. She would never put up a Christmas tree or decorate the house for the holidays with bright lights, unlike everyone else along our street. She always said celebrating Christmas was a sinful thing." Carrie said, somewhat embarrassed to admit something like that.
"Well, don't worry, Carrie. Now that you're here with us on Sodor, you can celebrate the best Christmas you've ever had in your life." Sophie said.
"Yeah, and she's already started that." Simon said.
"I have, and I think I'm just trying to make up for all the lost Christmases that I never got to experience when I was younger." Carrie said, as she smiled.
For Carrie, the last few weeks on Sodor had seen her self-confidence and social skills improve to a massive extent, something she thought would never happen. She was able to spend time with people her own age, including going to places like coffee shops and going out to dinner with them, as well as getting to know them and getting advice from them on things the teen girls at home would, no doubt, probably never have given her.
At the same time, she was able to get to know many of the other engines of Sodor by talking to them when she could get the chance to do so at different railway stations around the island, and to get advice from them on what to do when she took part in the apprenticeship recruitment scheme in January.
And because she had been able to speak with the engines face to face, she was no longer freaked out by the fact she was speaking to steam locomotives that had faces on their fronts. In fact, she now accepted the engines of Sodor for who they were, just as much as they had accepted her for who she was.
Carrie had also been able to go to different places around Sodor with her new friends, and to see those places and meet different local people, including some retired railwaymen who gave her and the others advice about working on a railway and what to expect when they started their own railway careers.
"What do you think you'll have for Christmas dinner?" Alice asked.
"We're gonna be having goose and beef this year, along with all the trimmings." Simon said, as he smiled at the thought of Christmas dinner the next day.
"Well, my family's gonna be having turkey and ham, and my grandmother has already arrived over from Ireland to spend Christmas with us this year." Saoirse said.
"Yeah, and my uncle, aunt and cousins already came up from Cardiff in South Wales yesterday to spend Christmas with us." Alice said
Carrie felt herself smile as she listened to the others talk; she was really looking forward to celebrating her first ever Christmas in an environment where she could be like a normal person instead of the outcast she'd been back in Chamberlain, and where her mother had never let them celebrate Christmas before, thinking it, just like everything else was sinful.
In the last few days, with Christmas coming closer and closer all the time, she'd felt a change in the atmosphere among many of those who were around her, and in all the different places that she'd been to.
Even the engines of Sodor seemed to be more excited than they had been before, with their longer and heavily laden trains, whether they were freight, parcel or passenger, rattling along behind them. With the snow having fallen quite heavily and built up substantially over the last few days, and the drifts having piled up in quite a few places, many of the engines were now wearing their snowploughs to get through any of the drifts that may be blocking the lines leading to the destinations they were going to.
Earlier on in the week, she and her friends had gone over to Vicarstown on the eastern side of Sodor to do some Christmas shopping in some of the different shops there. Having gotten aboard an early morning train at Knapford Station, where the early express train would leave at 8:00am sharp, consisting of 10 coaches, all the way to Vicarstown on a non-stop run which took about an hour and a quarter to complete, getting into Vicarstown Station bang on time at about 9:15am.
Normally Gordon would've taken this train, but on the day Carrie, Simon and their friends went to Vicarstown, Gordon was in the depot near Tidmouth for some much-needed repairs to his front bogie as well as necessary examinations to his wheelsets, boiler and cylinders, so Henry was assigned to take the train instead. Carrie, Simon and the other girls had travelled in the First-Class coach with the separate compartments that could seat up to six people, and they also enjoyed a good English breakfast on the way over, which was served by the staff from the kitchen car coupled just behind the First-Class coach.
After they arrived at Vicarstown Station, Carrie, Simon and their friends got off the train, along with the other passengers, and the group went forward to talk to Henry before he went over to the depot for some attention before his next job.
Henry was pleased to hear that Carrie and the others had enjoyed the smooth ride and was equally pleased to see that Carrie's confidence had improved in the last few weeks. Once they finished talking, Carrie, Simon and the others left the station while Henry, now detached from the coaches, moved off to the steam depot to be readied for his next jobs.
For most of the day, Carrie, Simon and the girls spent their time going from one shop to another within Vicarstown, where they all bought Christmas gifts for friends and family, as well as going to the impressive Christmas market within the grounds of the town hall. They also got to ride on the street trams that went round the town, which Carrie was impressed by, as it was her first time travelling in a tram in a town.
By the late afternoon, after having had a hot drink at a nice old coffee shop not too far from the Vicarstown Railway Station, and feeling very tired but satisfied after their long day together, the group arrived back at the main station with their purchases in the bags and ready to head on back to Knapford and home.
Stepping onto Platform 4 after buying their tickets home, they didn't have to wait long until their train home pulled into the station. The steam locomotive with the train behind it was B.R. Standard Class 8P 4-6-2 No.71001 Duke of London, a brother locomotive to No.71000 Duke of Gloucester, with 12 very smart looking coaches behind him, ready to take the passengers back to Knapford. Carrie was very impressed when she saw Duke of London; he was a very impressive express passenger locomotive and his B.R. passenger green livery was polished to a very high shine, as was the nameplate on the sides of the smoke deflectors. She was also impressed by the unique valve gear fitted over the wheels, which, as she would later find out, was British Caprotti rotary cam poppet valve gear. (5)
(5): The B.R. Standard Class 8P Pacific 4-6-2 only had one example built in reality; No.71000 Duke of Gloucester, a steam locomotive which is still with us today. It was also the only of the B.R. Standard Steam Locomotives to be built with three cylinders, with the other 11 classes having two cylinders. Built in the aftermath of the Harrow and Wealdstone Disaster of October 1952, it was a replacement locomotive for an LMS Princess Royal 4-6-2 that had been destroyed in the accident, No.46202 Princess Anne.
It was also quite unique in the fact it was fitted with British Caprotti Rotary Cam Poppet Valve Gear, being one of only a handful of British steam locomotives fitted with this unusual valve gear.
No.71000 developed serious steaming problems in its working life, due to faults in its construction back in 1954. The steaming problems resulted from poor draughting within the firegrate - the dampers in the ashpan were the wrong size - and with the exhaust system in the smokebox - instead of a Kylchap exhaust system for the double chimney, an older, smaller version was put in instead in order to save costs on the engine's construction.
Due to these steaming problems and resulting unpopularity with crews at its home base of Crewe North - where it spent its entire working life, No.71000 was withdrawn from service in 1962 after only eight years of running with British Railways and sent to Woodham's Scrapyard at Barry, South Wales in 1967. Rescued from Barry in 1974, it was rebuilt to run far as a far superior machine than it had done back in B.R. days, though the restoration took 13 years to complete and involved the construction of many new parts, including new outside cylinders. But the restoration finally unlocked the engine's potential as a powerful express steam locomotive.
Once No.71000 returned to working order in the late 1980's, first running on heritage railways and then on the main line, it was found to be making steam in a far better way than it had done back in B.R. days, and it's now one of the most powerful steam locomotives to run on Britain's railway system, past or present.
No.71001 Duke of London is an example of a few more of the class, that should've been built but weren't, that will also be appearing within this story as and when necessary.
The passengers, about 500 or so, boarded the train and took their seats, ready for the return trip to Knapford, while Carrie, Simon and the girls boarded the First-Class coach at the very front of the train, as they'd bought First Class tickets. They settled down in the comfortable seats in the compartment at the front of the coach, and gently thawed out in the warmth of the compartment as they waited for the train to set off.
They didn't have to wait for long; at 5:00pm sharp, with the points set and the signal dropped to show the way was clear and the last carriage doors closed with a thump, the guard stood outside the door to his compartment, where he waved his green flag and blew his whistle loudly before he clambered into his compartment, closing the door behind him. The driver blew the whistle on No.71001 loudly before opening the regulator, and slowly the train pulled out from Vicarstown station and, after crossing over the points and going through the junction, headed out into the countryside.
The trip went uneventfully, though it began to snow quite heavily within the last 10 minutes of the trip, and they arrived safely into Knapford Station at 6:15pm, right on time.
And in between then and now, Christmas Eve, Carrie and Simon, as well as their friends, managed to visit the Christmas Market in Knapford on one evening where they had a great time with each other while enjoying the great food on offer and the Christmas music being played for people at the market to enjoy themselves. They really enjoyed the great atmosphere and the friendly company of everyone who was there, as well as all the different food and buying gifts, and they all agreed to visit the Christmas Market again the following year when it was set up again.
"So, Carrie…what are you hoping to get for Christmas this year?" Alice asked, her distinctive Welsh accent clearly heard.
"I don't know, Alice. But what I can say is that I'm really looking forward to is enjoying my first proper Christmas where there's no one about to upset me or to harass me when I don't want to be bullied. So, to be honest, I really don't mind what I get for Christmas…just as long as nothing goes wrong." Carrie said, as she smiled at Alice.
"I think that's what many of us here are hoping for." Saoirse said, as she finished her cup of hot chocolate before she tossed the empty cup into a trashcan they passed by.
"And I'm very glad that we're having a white Christmas again. Plenty of snow at this time of year just makes the holiday feel so much nicer." Simon said.
"I agree, and it's also lots of fun for younger kids as well." said Olivia.
"Do you think we should make our way home and get ourselves ready for the party? There's not too long until it begins so maybe we should all get prepared?" Sophie suggested.
"I think that might be a good idea; after all, I promised my parents I'd be home and get ready so we could all go together, so I'd best get there as quickly as I can." Alice said.
"Yeah, I think I'd best head on home too. After all, there's a few more preparations for tomorrow to do before I can turn in for the night." Saoirse said.
"Okay, everyone, and we'll see you at Knapford Station a little later on." Simon said, and after they all said they'd see each other that evening, they headed off home to get ready for the big annual Knapford Christmas party.
(With Carrie)
Feeling in good spirits after the day together with all her friends, Carrie stepped into the front hallway of her father's home, where the rich smell of hot coffee, with a hint of chocolate in the smell, drifted into their nostrils from the kitchen.
"Hello dad! I'm home" Carrie called just as she closed the door behind her.
"Hey, Carrie! Are you about to get ready to head out to the party this evening?" Ralph asked, as he stepped out from the living room, a mug of hot coffee in his hand.
"Yes, dad. I'm gonna go and get ready upstairs and then I'll be ready for the party." Carrie said, as she started up the stairs.
"Ok, but just remember, Carrie…there's no need to put on anything fancy. This party is a casual event and on the platforms at Knapford Station, where it's open to the cold winter air. Just put on something practical and that'll also keep you warm." Ralph said.
"Okay, dad." Carrie said, as she went up the stairs and then turned down the corridor to her bedroom. After entering, she started on getting ready.
(A little later, Knapford Station)
Ralph and Carrie, both dressed in warm clothing and their overcoats on, were approaching the main entrance to Knapford Station, where other people were also arriving for the party. There was a great sense of merriment in the air and Carrie could certainly feel it as she got closer and closer to the station, where she could hear the sound of Christmas music playing and smell the scents of different Christmas foods in the cold air.
After arriving and stepping out onto Platform 1 among all the party guests, Carrie looked round the station; it was decorated appropriately for the holiday season, with brightly decorated Christmas trees on all the platforms, with twinkling-coloured lights, shiny baubles and other decorations hanging from their green branches, while other bright Christmas lights and oversized decorations hanging on the walls and from the support beams over the platforms and the railways lines passing beneath.
Along Platform 1, an impressive buffet of Christmas food had been set up, with delicious smells and columns of steam rising from large basins of hot food and drink into the freezing cold air. People who already arrived were gathering round to be served the hot food to keep them warm on this cold, crisp Christmas Eve.
Standing at the six railway lines going through Knapford Station were a few of Sodor's most famous steam locomotives, including Thomas, Edward, Henry, Gordon, James, Percy, Toby, Duck and a few others. They had all been cleaned down and their new paintwork polished to a very high shine, so they were presentable for the party. They all looked very pleased to be there and were very happy to see everyone enjoying themselves this evening.
Taking in a deep breath, Carrie walked over towards where some of the engines were standing along Platform 1. Thomas was standing in front with Percy behind him and Duck standing behind Percy.
"Good evening, there." Carrie said, as she approached where Thomas was standing.
"Hello, Carrie. It's nice to see you here this evening." Thomas said, as he smiled when he saw Carrie.
"I'm very glad to be here this evening, Thomas. I've never been to a Christmas party before, particularly one like this where we see locomotives in attendance." Carrie said, as she smiled.
"Well…every Christmas party is a different event. I know because I've been to quite a few over the years and in many different places around Sodor." Thomas said.
"And I really hope I'll be able to attend my own share of Christmas parties and other gatherings while I'm here too." Carrie said.
Then Simon came up from behind Carrie and stood beside her.
"Hi Carrie; good evening, Thomas." Simon said, as he arrived wearing the very same heavy overcoat he had on earlier in the day.
"Hi Simon!" Carrie and Thomas said together.
"I'm really eager to have a great time this evening!" said Simon, as he rubbed his hands together in anticipation.
"Me too…but have you seen the other girls anywhere?" Carrie asked, as she looked round the mingling crowd.
"Not yet, Carrie. But I've no doubts that they're on their way over here." Simon said, as he too looked round from where he stood.
"I hope they get here soon…it looks like everyone's having a real good time tonight, and I hate for them to miss out on it all." Thomas said, as he looked at all the people socialising and having a good time, while enjoying the hot food and drink on offer and listening to the large selection of classic Christmas tunes being played over the P.A. system.
"Anyway Carrie…do you want to go and get some hot chocolate while there's plenty there?" Simon asked, as he looked at Carrie.
"Of course, I'd love to have some." Carrie said, as a smile came across her face.
"Well let's go get some then…we'll see you later, Thomas." Simon said, as he and Carrie linked arms and went over to the buffet tables.
"Okay you two, have fun." Thomas said, as some other people, with hot drinks in their hands, came up to him to talk with him.
(A short while later)
With large cups of rich, thick, steamy and creamy hot chocolate in their hands and topped with marshmallows, grated chocolate and whipped cream, Carrie and Simon were walking down along the platform to see and talk with one of the other engines within the station. They had crossed the footbridge (6) from Platform 1 over to Platform 2, where Edward, Henry and James were standing in the line beside Platform 2. They had smiles on their faces, as they spoke with people they were knew personally, whether they were passengers or crew who worked with them. Carrie and Simon went over to speak with Henry.
(6): In the original model series, there's no footbridge connecting the platforms at Knapford Station, but in this story there is one present. Then again, and to be realistic, how would people get from the platforms safely without having to cross the railway lines when there's trains going by?
"Hello Carrie…hello Simon." Henry said with a smile, as Carrie and Simon stood on the platform beside where he stood.
"Good evening, Henry." Carrie said, with a smile.
"Hey, Henry…are you and all the other engines looking forward to having tomorrow and the next few days off of work?" Simon asked.
"I am, Simon. I and all the other engines always look forward to having some time off each Christmas time. I do appreciate the rest around Christmas." Henry said.
"But then again…are you all pleased to get back to work again when the time for it comes?" Carrie asked.
"Of course, I always like to stretch my wheels again after a Christmas rest." Henry said.
"Before the new apprenticeship scheme starts in January, is there any advice you can give to me that may prove useful to me?" Carrie asked, as Henry smiled.
"Don't be afraid to make mistakes when you work, Carrie. That's how many of the crews learned the ropes when they started." Henry said.
"Thanks, Henry." Carrie said, as she smiled at Henry, and he smiled back.
"Good evening, you two." came a voice. Carrie and Simon turned and saw Alice approaching them, with Sophie, Olivia and Saoirse seen in the distance among the other partygoers at the other end of the platform and slowly coming their way.
"Hey there, Alice. Enjoying the evening so far?" Simon asked, as he took a long sip from his hot chocolate.
"Indeed, I am, Simon. I love the buzz and atmosphere of a Christmas party like this and enjoying the great variety of food and drink on offer." Alice said, as she showed them a plate of small Dutch pancakes topped with a light dusting of white icing sugar and drizzled with butterscotch syrup before she tucked into one with a short wooden fork.
"Yeah, and I'm really hoping to try a little bit of everything while I'm here and before the party is over." Simon said, as he looked round.
"Me too, and I especially like this rich hot chocolate we got." Carrie said, as she took another sip of it while it was still hot.
"Well, best enjoy it while the party lasts." Alice said, as Sophie, Olivia and Saoirse arrived.
"Hey there, Carrie…Simon…Henry." Saoirse said.
"Hey there, Saoirse. You know it's a shame the other engines and I can't enjoy all that food on offer…it certainly does smell good." Henry said, as he glanced over to Platform 1.
"Don't worry about it too much, Henry…" Olivia said; "…besides, food is really meant for people not engines."
"Of course." Henry said, with a smile.
"Anyway, let's go and speak with other people and talk to the other engines." Sophie said, as she took a bite out of her burger.
"Okay…we'll see you later, Henry." Simon said, as he and the others in the group headed off down the platform.
"All right, Simon. Good luck." Henry said.
(A little later in the evening)
Simon and Carrie were at the end of the bay platform in the centre of Knapford Station, and they had chatted with different people while they slowly strolled along and enjoyed the party. They also chatted for a little bit with each of the engines at the party, including with James, Percy and Toby, Gordon, Edward and Duck. Carrie noticed that all the engines present were enjoying this party just as much as she was.
Then as she and Simon were turning to walk onto Platform 4 over at the other side of Knapford Station, they heard a familiar booming voice.
"Well, good evening you two." and both Carrie and Simon turned to the left and saw The Fat Controller and his wife, Lady Hatt, standing a few feet away from them.
"Good evening, sir." Carrie said, as she and Simon walked over to greet the man in charge of Sodor's standard gauge railways and shook hands with them both.
"Are you both enjoying the party so far?" Lady Hatt asked, as she shook hands with Carrie and Simon.
"Yes, ma'am, we are." Simon said, in a very respectful manner.
"I've really enjoying myself as though I've just been reborn again. I was never able to attend any Christmas parties like this or enjoy myself in this way when I was back in Chamberlain." Carrie said.
"Oh, of course, and Topham told me a bit about your life back in your old town, Carrie." Lady Hatt said, with deep sympathy.
"Thank you, ma'am." Carrie said, with a smile.
"It looks like you've gotten much better at socialising with people since for arrived on Sodor, Carrie." said The Fat Controller, with a great deal of respect and admiration for how much Carrie had changed.
"I have, sir. With me having broken free of the shackles that were holding me down for all the time I was back home, I can be who I want to be. And Simon has been a great help along the way too." Carrie said, as Simon smiled modestly.
"That's a good thing, Carrie…and that's a real spirit that'll, I think, help you along your way." the Fat Controller said.
"Thank you very much, sir." Carrie said.
"Oh, Carrie; have you met our grandkids, Stephen and Bridget?" Lady Hatt asked.
"No, not yet, ma'am." Carrie said.
"Well, they're round here somewhere, so if you'd like to wait here for a short while, we'll go and get them." The Fat Controller said.
"Okay sir, we'll wait." Carrie said, as Sir Topham Hatt and his wife went to look for their grandkids.
"Hello there, Carrie. We meet again." came a voice from behind Carrie and Simon. Carrie turned and found herself face to face with Arthur, the engine that she had helped save from a nasty accident on Thomas's branch-line nearly a full month before.
"Oh, hello there, Arthur. It's nice to see you again. It's been a while since we've seen each other." Carrie said, as she went over to Arthur.
"Indeed, and I just want to let you know that the branch line that was blocked by that landslide has long since been cleared. The foremen also had to demolish parts of the cliff above for some length as there were parts that were looking unstable and about to give way." Arthur said.
"And did you help in clearing away all the rubble afterwards?" Simon asked.
"Yes, I did, and it took many full truckloads to get all of that rubble and debris cleared. Tim the foreman and the men under him worked very hard to get those tracks cleared in good time…even though it took three days of hard work to do." Arthur said.
"That's good to hear, and I'm just thankful I was able to save you from getting into a nasty accident." Carrie said.
"You're very welcome, Carrie." Arthur said.
"And do you think I'll get an opportunity to work with you while I'm on the apprenticeship scheme?" Carrie asked.
"Anything is possible, Carrie. I wouldn't be too surprised if we were to work together in the near future." Arthur said, as he smiled at Carrie.
"Well, I do hope we'll work together sometime in the future." Carrie said.
"Carrie…" came the booming voice of The Fat Controller, as Carrie and Simon turned round to see The Fat Controller standing before them with two other teenagers, who were about the same age as them; "…I'd like you to meet my grandkids, Stephen and Bridget."
"It's nice to meet you, Carrie." Bridget said, as she and Carrie shook hands.
"It's really nice to meet you too, Bridget. And you too, Stephen." Carrie said, as she shook hands with Bridget and Stephen.
"Our grandfather told us about why you came over her to Sodor…and we're both determined to see that you don't experience anything like that over here." Stephen said.
"We were both just horrified by the news of what you went through in your home town; we're both quite sure that things like would never happen over here in this part of the world." Bridget said, being very careful not to say anything that may offend or upset Carrie.
"Oh, it's all right, Bridget…you don't have to be careful about all that. I've gotten over quite a bit of my horrible past now…though I still have a long way to go yet until I've completely got over it." Carrie said, with a smile.
"I'm glad to hear that, Carrie. Would you, Simon and your friends like to spend the rest of the evening with us?" Stephen asked.
"Sure, I'd like that." Carrie said, as she looked at Simon, who smiled and nodded in agreement.
"Well come on, let's go and see if there's anything nice for us to have at the buffet spread." Bridget said, as she, her brother, Carrie and Simon started over to Platform 1.
"Sounds good to me…there's still a few nice-looking pastries over there that I want to sample before the night is over." Carrie said, as the group headed over.
So, for the rest of the evening, the group of teenagers just enjoyed themselves and the party. They spoke with the other engines there, and enjoyed speaking with any engine crews who were also present, as well as many of the local people and other teenagers. They also enjoyed the different varieties of Christmas food on offer and made merriment of the whole evening, and danced on and off to the different Christmas music being played over the P.A. system.
(Later in the evening)
Carrie and Simon stood together at the very front end of Platform 1, looking along the railway lines leading into the distance away from Knapford Station. The steel rails could be seen as dark lines standing out clearly against the snow on the ground. It was already a little after 11:15pm, and some of the attending guests were already leaving the party and making their way home, so as to get to bed as they were feeling tired after such a nice party. Stephen and Bridget, Saoirse, Alice, Sophie and Olivia had already gone home for the evening, leaving Carrie and Simon to have a few private moments together. By now, all the engines that had been in attendance at the party had all gone back to their sheds, leaving Knapford Station in silence and the railway lines within it empty.
Carrie was feeling tired too, but she had enjoyed herself immensely; she couldn't remember a time in her life when she had so much fun before with so many friendly people…and she didn't want the night to end, but she knew that wasn't possible, so she just enjoyed the evening while it lasted. She took another sip from her half-empty mug of hot cocoa, and savoured the creamy sweetness pass over her tongue, before exhaling and watching her breath come out in a dense white cloud.
"Did you have a good time tonight, Carrie?" Simon asked, as he finished off his mug of cocoa.
"I did, Simon…I only wish it could go on for longer though." Carrie said, with a heavy sigh.
"So, did I. But then again…it is Christmas Day tomorrow." Simon said, as he thought ahead to the next day and what it would bring.
Carrie was also thinking of Christmas Day and what her first, proper Christmas would bring; having never been allowed to celebrate it under Margaret's religious fanaticism and iron fist, she was really looking forward to it and getting to experience something many people back home in Chamberlain celebrated. She took a last look down the lines into the distance, where the lights lining the different tracks leading out of Knapford lit up the yards and the snow, now falling very heavily from the sky above.
Then, footsteps from behind Carrie and Simon caused them to turn round to see who was coming. It was Ralph White.
"Hey, dad." Carrie said, as she saw her father approach.
"Well Carrie…I think it's time we both headed back to the house now. Almost everyone else is going home and I'd really like to get back before the snow gets too heavy." Ralph said, as he looked up into the sky with some anxiousness.
"All right, dad…" Carrie said, as she finished off the last of her hot cocoa, "…I am feeling a little bit tired anyway."
"And I think it's about time that I was on my way home as well." Simon said, as he checked -his watch; the time was 11:20pm.
"All right, Simon. In case we don't see you tomorrow, have a Merry Christmas!" Ralph said.
"Thanks, Ralph…and a Merry Christmas to you and Carrie as well." Simon said, as he gave Carrie a big warm hug before he left. Carrie was a little surprised that Simon was hugging her, but she put those thoughts aside and returned the hug graciously.
"Have a Merry Christmas, Simon." Carrie said with a smile, as she broke the hug before she and her father left through the main entrance to Knapford Station.
"You too, Carrie!" Simon said, as he made his way out to where he had parked Caroline. He was very keen to get home, particularly after an evening as nice as this one had been.
(With Carrie, a short while later)
Having changed into warm pyjamas and brushed her teeth, Carrie was about to turn in for the night when she went over to the window and pulled one of the curtains aside. From the lights on the other side of the railway line, and from lights shone out over the back garden before they were turned off, she could see the snow falling very heavily from the dark and cloudy sky high above. They swirled round as they fell silently, and then piled up, sometimes more than two feet in spots, but mostly in an even depth all over the ground.
As she watched the scene play out quietly before her, Carrie felt herself smile; it was such a peaceful scene that she felt it would be a pity if anything were to spoil it. Then she turned away from the window, climbed into bed and switched off the light before she fell into a deep sleep at once, exhausted after a great evening.
(Chamberlain, 25th December, 04:30am local time)
Meanwhile in Chamberlain, the snow fell heavily from the sky onto the quiet and empty streets, where nothing moved as everyone was fast asleep in their beds in their comfortable homes. Many of the homes had brightly coloured Christmas lights shining outside, either fitted around the fronts and roofs on the homes or on trees in the front gardens, giving a merry scene to the snowy weather outside, which definitely promised to be a white Christmas. Many people, fast asleep in their warm and comfy beds, were eagerly awaiting the arrival of the dawn, where they would go and open their Christmas presents piled up under the tree.
Within the Snell residence, Sue was also trying to sleep in her own bedroom, but was having some difficulty in doing so. At that moment, Christmas was the very last thing that was on her mind; she was still thinking of what may have happened to Carrie. She couldn't help but wonder where Carrie was and was fearful in a way for her safety; she could almost envision Carrie lying in the middle of a field out in the middle of nowhere, freezing to death on a night as frosty and snowy as this one.
As she rolled over to the other side of the bed and slept very uneasily, she began to dream.
(Start of dream sequence)
Sue found herself walking all alone on a very long empty stretch of desolate road with dense, and very dark, pine woodlands on either side of it, and heavy snowfall coming from the sky, which was covered with thick clouds that were steel grey. She stopped walking, scared and unsure of where she was, she looked round for any form of life, but could see none.
"Hello?!" she called out nervously, as her voice echoed all round in an eerie way. No reply came from anywhere. There was only the sound of her own breathing and the light sound of a slight breeze as the snow came down heavily.
Scared, she continued on walking along the arrow straight road hoping it would end soon. The dark woodlands on both sides of the road were very haunting and eerie, and it was so dark inside them that Sue didn't dare stray from her course. The road seemed to go on for miles without any end to it or any other roads straying off from it. But then Sue closed her eyes, and when she opened them again, she found she reached the edge of the forest and saw before her a very wide open and desolate wintry landscape devoid of any trees. Then she saw something just a few metres ahead of her that seemed to be out of place on the road's surface; it was a lump about five feet or so long and covered with snow, so Sue couldn't see what it was.
Knelling down apprehensively, she slowly and gently brushed some of the snow off one part of the lump to see what it was…and then she froze in shock and horror; right there in front of her, from under the snow that had been removed, was the face of Carrie White. It was frozen solid, with the eyes, glassy and wide open, staring up blankly into the dull wintry sky and her mouth open a little bit.
Sue gasped in fright and fell onto her back before using her hands and feet to push herself away from the body a little in shock and horror at the sight. Stopping a moment, she calmed down and went back over to Carrie's body before she quickly brushed the snow off the rest of her body and tried to see if she could revive her. But, regardless of what she tried to do, it was too late for her to do anything…Carrie White was dead.
(End of dream sequence)
Sue suddenly woke with a slight gasp and, hyperventilating a little, tried to remember where she was and what had just happened. Calming down, she realised she was still in bed and at home. Reaching for the bedside light, she turned it on and picked up her cell phone to see what the time was; it was 4:58am, December 25th.
Slowly pulling aside the duvet and getting out of bed, she went over to the window and pulled aside one of the curtains and took a look outside; the snow was still falling silently from the sky down onto the land below. The fresh crisp white snow on the ground practically glowed in the streetlights as well as Christmas lights fitted onto buildings and around trees.
After a moment of watching what was going on outside and taking the chance to recover from her heart-stopping nightmare, Sue turned away from the window, got back into bed, turned the bedside light off and tried to get herself back to sleep again.
