This may be a bit ooey-gooey for some, but it's Christmas (in 1953 Halifax, anyway)...

Arms laden with cartons of gifts, Phyllis and JoMo arrived at Meadow View not long after Richard had been called out on a house call.

"Uncle JoMo!" Pete called happily from the rug in front of the hearth where the children were currently gathered; Livy, Poppy, and their brother each dangling strands of yarns over their kittens who were happily pawing and chasing the strings while Mary Ann sat with her legs crossed, Barley and Hope curled up in her lap, each blissfully enjoying her gentle scratching of their heads.

"Come in! Come in!" Elsie called from the sofa where she was curled up with a hot water bottle.

Placing his carton of gifts near the large, twinkling Christmas tree, JoMo lowered himself to the floor between Livy and Pete, rolling onto his back and reaching out to bat at the thick strands of yarn they each held.

"You are not a kitten, Uncle JoMo!" Livy chided with a giggle as Pete scooped up Rosie and dropped her onto the man's chest.

"Agh! I'm being attacked!"

Phyllis carefully lowered herself next to Mary Ann, waiting until the little girl tilted her head in her direction to softly introducing herself. "Hello, sweetheart. My name is Phyllis."

"Are you Aunt Philly?"

"Yes," she answered, her smile obvious in the lilt of her voice. "And that silly man pretending to be a kitten is my husband Joe, but Livy, Poppy, and Pete call him "Uncle JoMo."

"You made doll clothes for Tildy and some of Livy and Penelope Joan's dress up clothes, didn't you?"

"I did."

"Penelope Joan said you are very nice and so is Uncle JoMo."

"We certainly try to be. We love Penelope Joan and Livy and Pete very, very much."

"Do you want to see my baby? Her name is Trina."

Looking up in the direction of the sofa, Phyllis was surprised to find her friend staring at her, Elsie's lip caught between her teeth, a clear sign, Phyllis knew, that her friend was either worried or plotting. Giving her a curious smile, she was met only by Elsie's knowing grin as Mary Ann held out the doll.

"Oh, she's lovely."

"Penelope Joan said she has hair like sunshine and eyes the color of the sky."

"She does," Phyllis agreed, "and a lovely blue dress."

"Some of the frillies are coming off," Mary Ann softly lamented. "I like to feel them on my fingers when I am trying to fall asleep."

Phyllis looked at the loose patches of lace along the bottom of the doll's frock. "I could fix her frillies if you'd like. I think Elsie has some thread and a needle I could borrow."

"Oh, please!" Mary Ann cried, her hand reaching out to pat Phyllis' arm. "Thank you very much."

"My pleasure, sweetheart."

JoMo, now on all fours, crawled over towards his wife and Mary Ann as Poppy, Livy, and Pete tried to keep their kittens from climbing off his back. "Who is you friend, Philly?"

"This is Mary Ann. She is visiting for three whole days!" Poppy quickly answered, plopping herself next to the little girl as she pulled Tip into her arms.

"Hello, Mary Ann. I'm Joe, but you can call me JoMo."

Inhaling sharply, a smile of recognition filled the little girl's face as Joe reached out and gently squeezed her hand.

"Uncle JoMo is a silly billy!" Pete announced as he wrapped his arms around the grown up's neck.

"Silly? Silly!?" He wrapped his hands around the happily squealing toddler's waist and flipped him upside down before blowing a raspberry into the crook of his neck.

"Scoot back, Joe," Phyllis ordered with a laugh before turning back to Mary Ann. "He really can be quite sweet and gentle, I promise."

Poppy reached down and squeezed Mary Ann's hand. "He cries when he is happy just like me."

"He smells like my daddy," Mary Ann said, her voice thick as she forced herself to swallow.

"Are you okay, sweetheart?" Phyllis asked as she gently patted the child's back.

"Uh-huh. I just hadn't smelled him in a long time."

Fighting down a lump in her own throat, Phyllis looked up to find Elsie wiping a tear from the corner of her eye as she glanced back and forth between Mary Ann and Joe.

Charles having just returned from delivering a special package to Bill's cottage for safe keeping until Father Christmas' visit that evening, he had greeted Beryl, Phyllis, and Isobel in the kitchen and was saying hello to JoMo who was distributing gifts under the tree in the sitting room when he caught sight of Elsie leaning against the doorway of the nursery.

"What are we watching?" Charles rested his chin on his wife's shoulder and kissed behind her ear.

Reaching down to hold his hand, she admitted, "I have no idea. They were reading books and playing babies, but now Livy is in charge of some grand plan so watch out." Turning her head she asked, "Did you get it?"

"I got something that basically resembles a small rock with legs and has the capacity to wee at an alarming rate."

Laughing, she leaned against him, "Oh great. Well, I suppose it will be worth it to put up a little wee to see his face when he opens up the crate tomorrow."

"A lot of wee, and I hope you know I expect some compensation for all of my trouble."

"You do, huh? I think I know of a way I might repay you. Just give me a few weeks to recover."

Gently turning her towards him, he kissed the tip of her nose before countering, "I may need a few kisses and cuddles to tide me over in the meantime."

She let out a little squeal as he squeezed her bum which momentarily distracted the children, but Livy's focus quickly returned to the mysterious task at hand.

"Alright, Mary Ann. You take Barley and here is a basket." She reached out and placed the leather lead that was hooked to the dog's collar in the older little girl's right hand before dumping a small wicker container of blocks onto the floor and draping the handle over Mary Ann's left arm. "And here, Poppy, you need this crown." She handed her pink tulle skirted sister a cardboard crown before turning to look at her brother. "You need a hat, too, Pete." She stared at him for a moment before rushing out of the room and past her curious mother and father, returning a couple of minutes later with a metal colander which she plopped onto Pete's head.

"We need three more people, Livy." Poppy noted as she dug in the toy box from which she produced a small wooden spoon.

"I'll be right back!"

Charles and Elsie smiled as Livy brushed past them once more, returning shortly with a grinning, but confused JoMo who she pulled by his hand into the room and quickly handed a floppy straw hat, drawing a knowing smile from her sister. "How about Gran Bill, Livy?"

Livy nodded before reaching over and cupping her sister's ear, whispering something which made Poppy smile brightly before the younger twin turned and bounced to her father's feet. "Daddy, we need you to stay."

"You don't need, Mumma?" Elsie asked with a playful frown.

"No. We don't need you. Some people have to be the watchers," Livy spouted off as she trotted down the corridor towards the front of the house calling, "Auntie Philly, I need your help, please."

Elsie huffed, "Well."

"Yes, Mumma. Some people have to be the watchers," Charles teased.

"You know this means you are part of whatever this is, right?" Elsie whispered, patting his arm, unable to stifle a chuckle as she watched his shoulders slump.

"You think they're alright?" Beryl asked as she pulled the first of two large, golden brown pies from the oven.

Elsie shrugged from her place at the sink where she was cutting vegetables for a salad. "They've been shut up in the conservatory for almost two and a half hours. They're either having a lot of fun or the paint and varnish fumes have knocked them out." As she and Beryl laughed, she turned her head towards the hutch from which Isobel was pulling dishes. "What do you think they're doing, Iz?"

"Sorry." Isobel's face was devoid of joy as she turned back to her friends. "I was off with the fairies."

Elsie opened her mouth to speak, but was distracted by the appearance of a brightly smiling Phyllis making her way into the room from the back of the house.

"So what are they doing?"

"I've been sworn to secrecy. It's a big surprise, but they've enlisted Bill and Richard snuck back in from his house call an hour ago. All I can tell you is that it is going to be awfully entertaining."

"Not even a hint?" Elsie asked as she began to carry the large crystal salad bowl towards the table only to have it whisked away by Isobel as Beryl scolded her.

"I swear, if you pick up anything weighing more than a tea towel I am going to lock you in the pantry."

Elsie stuck out her friend at the little cook. "Nag."

"Child."

"The spirit of Christmas is overwhelming around here isn't it, Isobel?" Phyllis quipped, but her remark only earned a half-hearted smile from Isobel before they watched her carry a stack of plates towards the long table that had been assembled in the sitting room.

"What's going on?" Phyllis asked in a hushed voice.

Elsie craned her neck to make sure Isobel was out of earshot before she whispered, "Richard."

"What about him?" Beryl asked as she stirred a pot of boiling runner beans.

"She knows?"

Elsie and Beryl both turned to Phyllis, surprise registering on both of their faces as Elsie asked, "He told you?"

Beryl looked at Phyllis and asked, "What does Isobel know?" and then turned to Elsie, "What did Richard tell Phyllis?"

"That he wants us to marry and adopt Mary Ann."

All three women turned to find Isobel standing in the doorway, her arms crossed.

"I forgot the napkins."

"Isobel, I'm so sorry. I shouldn't have said anything."

The somber woman quickly dismissed Elsie's apology. "Please. I'm moping around here like a petulant teenager. Of course you're curious. You are all lovely, caring people."

"Oh, love." Elsie moved from the table and wrapped her arms around her friend. "I didn't know what to say to him earlier. He was so hopeful."

Moving back to the table, Isobel and Elsie were soon joined by Phyllis with Beryl close behind with the tea tray.

"I love him. I truly do."

All three women nodded in unison as Phyllis spoke out. "We know that."

"And he knows that," Elsie added. "No one doubts that, Isobel."

"But I can't give up Matthew's House and the children so I can't live here in Halifax."

"We know that, too." Elsie's voice was quiet as she reached out and took Isobel's hand.

"I also love Mary Ann. She is a very, very special little girl, but I'm fifty-five. I want to be in her life, but she needs younger, more stable parents. She deserves something like this," she swept her hand around, gesturing to the house.

Consciously making a point to not look at Phyllis as Beryl began pouring the tea, Elsie took a deep breath and then gently warned, "He wants to ask you on New Year's Eve."

"Christ." Isobel whispered as she covered her face with her hands. "Why can't he leave well enough alone?"

Hesitancy in her voice, Beryl placed Isobel's cup and saucer in front of her and asked, "Do you want to end things with him?"

"No, I don't. I do love him. I care about him and enjoy spending time with him, but if we were ever to marry…"

"So it isn't out of the question?"

Isobel turned her head towards Phyllis as she considered her question. "No, it isn't, but as I said, I won't settle here and as long as he has his practice, he has to be settled here which is why being together as we have up until now been has worked so well."

"You're going to have to tell him all of this, love."

Elsie's words drew a nod of resignation. "I will. Let's just get through Christmas."

The conversation was interrupted when Pete toddled into the doorway now dressed in a pair of overalls.

"Hi, baby bird! Are you having fun back there?"

Nodding and smiling sweetly at his mother and aunties, he whispered, "I have a nouncement, Mumma."

"Okay. Make your nouncement, sweet pea," his mother prompted with an encouraging smile.

A little giggle escaping, he opened his arms wide, but frowned and dropped them as he struggled to remember what he was supposed to say which resulted in a groan from Livy who hissed at him from a few feet down the corridor, "Please come to story time!"

"PLEASE COME…"

"Hold out your arms, Pete!"

Running out of the doorway and the down the corridor, the women could hear his frustrated little voice. "I know, Livy! Don't be bossy!"

"Well, do it right!"

The scowl he had given his sister faded as he ran back into the room where he paused for a moment before smiling brightly as he lifted his arms and confidently shouted, "PLEASE COME TO STORY TIME!" The women clapped as Pete erupted into giggles before turning and running back towards his sister. "I did it right, Livy!"

Waiting for Beryl to lower the heat on the various pots on the aga, the foursome then headed for the conservatory, Elsie taking Isobel's hand on their way. "I don't know I can do, but if there is anything, please let me know."

Shaking her head, Isobel sighed, but smiled. "It's alright. I've known this was coming."

"He's had the ring for two years," Elsie whispered as they let Phyllis and Beryl pass them just outside the entry to the large room.

"I know. I came across it eighteen months ago when I was looking for a handkerchief in his bureau. I tried to convince myself he had bought it years before for someone else, but I knew in my heart it was for me. I've held my breath every time we've gone out for a nice dinner and on holidays in fear he was going to make some grand gesture."

"Oh, love."

Their conversation was cut short when Phyllis stuck her head out of the room. "Livy is less than patient and said you need to stop holding up story time, Mumma."

"Uh-oh! We're coming, Liv!" Elsie called out as she gave Isobel's hand one more squeeze. "Just be honest with him."

They were almost through the door when Isobel leaned over and whispered, "How are we going to convince Joe and Phyllis to adopt Mary Ann?" which earned a bright smile from her friend.

"I don't know, but I'm so glad we are of the same mind."

The sofa had been moved from the sitting room to just inside the large, airy space which was falling into darkness as the late afternoon sun was setting, the sight of which was obscured by a series of sheets and quilts which had been clothes pinned to a length of twine that spanned the width of the room. The blankets swayed and were jostled as the four grown men and four children shifted behind it; whispers and nervous giggles, as well as the sounds of kittens mewing sounding from behind the barrier.

The women had just taken their seats on the sofa when two stand lamps suddenly switched on at the far side of the room and Richard stepped out from an opening in the makeshift curtains, moving to his place on a stool to the left of the center of the curtained area.

"Good afternoon and welcome to story time. I am your narrator and today's story takes us to a farm in a place called Kansas on the American prairie where a little dog named Toto has just been taken by a mean and wicked lady named Miss Gulch from his owner, a lovely little girl named Dorothy."

Two adult hands assisting her, Mary Ann, with the wicker basket on her arm, took a tentative step out from the opening, a frown on her face as she delivered her lines: "Bring back my dog! Give me back Toto!"

Richard continued, "Dorothy's Auntie Em and Uncle Henry were unable to get the little dog back from the mean woman, and while they felt sorry for Dorothy, they and their three helpers were very busy on the farm so they simply told the distraught little girl she needed to stay out of trouble," Poppy and Bill appeared; he in overalls and holding a pitchfork and she with one of Elsie's aprons tied up under her arms as she sported a pair of lens-less wire rimmed glasses and a bun on the top of her head as they were followed by Charles, Joe, and Pete who all wore overalls and were carrying a farm related item: Charles, the children's stuffed Pig "Hammy;" JoMo, a wooden ear of corn from the play kitchen; and Pete, a small log of firewood from the stack next to the sitting room hearth.

"Please just stay out of trouble, Dorothy." Poppy directed as she pointed her finger at Mary Ann while Pete turned and waved at the women on the couch, his loud whisper of, "Hi, Mumma!" drew a growl from a hidden Livy. Tucking the little boy up under his other arm, Charles, along with JoMo and Bill did their best not to laugh as they ducked back behind the curtain while Poppy turned and snuck a smile at the audience before following them.

Richard kept the production moving as he announced, "Much to Dorothy's delight, Toto escaped the mean Miss Gulch and ran back into her arms."

Barley suddenly appeared from the gap followed by Bill's arm as he gently tucked the leather lead in Mary Ann's hand. "Oh, Toto! You came back!"

"Taking her aunt's words to heart," Richard continued, "Dorothy decided she must find a place where she could stay out of trouble so she decided to run away from the farm. On her journey, she came across a small caravan which housed a rather strange little man who offered her a reading from his crystal ball.

A hand went over each of the women's mouths as Livy stepped from behind the curtain with a towel wrapped around her head like a turban as she was dressed in a pair of blue pajamas as she held a ball of white yarn in her little hands.

"You are going on a journey, Dorothy, but you really need to go home and be with your aunt and uncle who love you." She loudly announced, before dropping the ball which bounced across the floor, Mary Ann barely able to hold onto the leash as Barley began to chase it.

Elsie quickly called out, "No, Barley! Sit."

"His name's Toto," Mary Ann ad libbed which drew stifled giggles from the audience.

Her little hands on her hips, Livy turned to the sofa and warned, "Mumma, you just watch," before fetching the yarn ball up from near Richard's feet and ducking back behind the curtains.

"I was just trying to help," Elsie whispered which only caused more giggling among the women.

Clearing his throat, Richard lifted his eyebrow and raised his voice to quiet the women as he picked up the story once more. "Deciding she should follow the strange man's advice, Dorothy set off back to the farm just as a wild and furious storm began racing across the prairie."

The lamp lights began to flicker and all the participants behind the curtain began loudly shouting, "Whoosh! Whoosh!"

Shouting over the pretend storm, Richard carried on. "A dangerous spinning funnel of air called a cyclone nearing the farm, Dorothy's aunt, uncle, and friends took refuge in a storm shelter to which Dorothy ran, but her shouts to be let in went unheard over the wailing wind, so she gave up on joying them in the shelter so she and Toto ran into the inside to her bedroom just as the cyclone picked up the little farm house and sent it spinning through the sky."

The lights continued to flicker and the storm carried on for a few moments as Mary Ann quickly turned her back, Barley's lead around her wrist as she struggled to pull something unseen on over her feet. Her task completed, she was assisted to her feet by Bill just before the lamps stopped flickering and the "whooshing" came to a stop which coincided with Charles shouting a loud, "Boom!" which made the sofa-seated quartet jump.

"Suddenly the house landed and Dorothy and Toto made their way out to see if they could find her Auntie Em and Uncle Henry, but it soon became clear they weren't in Kansas anymore."

Phyllis reached out and patted their knees as she used her other hand to point towards the floor in front of the far side of the curtains where a pair of the girls' tights which had been stuffed with newspaper was now sticking out with a pair of red socks pulled over the feet which inspired smiles to bloom on the women's faces as the narration continued.

"The sight that greeted Dorothy was like none she had ever seen. There were beautiful, bright flowers tall as trees and small homes decorated in wild colors that looked the right size to house children rather than normal-sized people. As she looked about her new surroundings, Dorothy was surprised to see a pink bubble floating towards her, a beautiful witch named Glinda soon appearing from inside."

Bill holding back the curtain, Poppy soon appeared in the opening decked in her pink tulle skirt and wearing the cardboard crown as she gripped her Daddy's hand and was suspended a few feet off the floor until he gently lowered her next to Mary Ann.

Smiling sweetly, the little girl plucked from her skirt waistband the wooden spoon she had earlier pulled from the toy chest which was now topped with an aluminum foil wrapped cardboard star.

"Are you a good witch or a bad witch?" she asked Mary Ann.

"I'm not a witch at all. I'm Dorothy. Who are you?"

"I am Glinda, the Good Witch of the North and you must be a witch because you saved us from that witch when you landed your house on her." Poppy used the wooden spoon wand to point towards the stuffed tights.

"I didn't mean to."

"And now you have her red slippers!" Poppy pointed at Mary Ann's feet on which she now wore a pair of matching red socks to those on the dummy legs which suddenly disappeared under the curtain.

The women all gasped, surprised at the ingenuity of the children and their menfolk to manage such a feat.

"Where am I?" Mary Ann asked.

"Munk-a-chin-land!" Poppy happily announced which was followed by the four kittens suddenly being gently pushed out from under the curtain. "And these are the Munk-a-chins!"

As expected, the kittens scattered with Buddy scampering over to Richard's leg which he immediately began to climb as Hope tucked up against Barley and Tip and Rosie headed towards the sofa.

"Come back, Munk-a-chins!" Poppy cried as she ran over to Richard who handed her Buddy before she returned to the middle of the playing area and plucked Hope from beneath Barley.

"Here, Pop," Isobel whispered as she jumped from the sofa, scooping up Tip and Rosie before retrieving the ginger and white kittens from the little girl. "We'll hold onto them."

Smiling warmly at Isobel, Richard waited until she had handed each of the women on the sofa a kitten and regained her seat before he shared the next bit of the story.

"The Munchkins, having given Dorothy a warm welcome and many thanks for saving them from the Wicked Witch of the East, soon hid as a flash of smoke announced the arrival of the dead witch's sister, the Wicked Witch of the West."

With a high pitched cackle, Livy suddenly emerged from between the curtains, her face now covered in Elsie's mint green cold cream and a black witch's hat from the dress up box on her head as she held the children's play broom in her hand.

"Who killed my sister? Who killed the Wicked Witch of the East? Was it you?"

"I didn't mean to," Mary Ann offered as she turned in the direction of Livy's voice.

"Give me those shoes!" Livy shouted before she thrust her hand, fingers splayed towards Mary Ann's feet. "Curses! They won't come off!"

"It's too late!" Poppy cried. "There they are and there they'll stay!"

"I'll get them back, my pretty! And your little dog, too!" Livy threatened before ducking back between the curtains, her exit earning applause from the group on the couch.

Frowning, Mary Ann sadly said, "I just want to go home."

"You must go and see the Wizard in the Emerald City! He can help you get home." Poppy declared. "Just follow the yellow brick road."

Richard picked up the thread as Poppy moved behind the curtain and JoMo stepped out. "So Dorothy and Toto set off down the yellow brick road where they soon met a rather curious fellow made of straw."

A fair bit of straw from Bill's grain shed tucked into the end of his sleeves, the pockets of his overalls, and sticking out from the floppy straw hat on his head, JoMo smiled sweetly down at Mary Ann as he reached down and took her hand.

"Who are you?"

"I am a scarecrow, but I'm not very good at scaring crows."

"Why not?"

"Because I'm not very smart. You see, I haven't got a brain."

"I am going to see the Wizard. You can come with me and maybe he can give you a brain."

"Why are you going to see the Wizard," JoMo asked as he bent down on one knee, still holding Mary Ann's hand as he petted a well-behaved Barley's head.

"Because I want to go home so I can be with my family."

"Well then, let's go see the Wizard."

Elsie and Isobel each stole glances at Phyllis who was smiling sweetly at the sight of her husband and the little girl.

"The Scarecrow and Dorothy continued on their way down the yellow brick road where they came across a man made of tin who had rusted in a rain storm that had occurred as he was chopping wood."

The silver colander securely attached to his head with a strand of white ribbon, Pete held the little log in his arms as his father set him just outside the curtain.

"Look at this little man." JoMo gently touched the toddler's arm. "He's got rust in his joints and can't move."

The audience did their best not to laugh as Pete suddenly sneezed and announced, "Ugh! Boogies!"

Reaching into his pocket, JoMo quickly pulled out a handkerchief and helped the little boy blow his nose before they carried on.

"Look in his pocket. Maybe he has an oil can." Mary Ann offered.

"Thank you, Dorothy. I would have never thought of that," JoMo answered as he reached down into Pete's bib pocket and withdrew a small atomizer from Elsie's vanity. "Maybe we can help him move with this."

Pretending to spray the little boy's joints and the corners of his mouth with the perfume bottle, JoMo whispered in his ear, "Swing your arms and say, "Thank you. That's much better."

Dropping the log which made Mary Ann and Barley both jump, Pete made a face and said, "Sorry."

"That's okay." JoMo assured him as he scooped up the log and pushed it under the bottom of the curtain. "Just swing your arms and say "Thank you. That's much better."

"Thank you! That's much better!" Pete loudly delivered as he swung his arms which led to waves at the chuckling women on the sofa.

Moving things along, Richard continued, "Dorothy and the Scarecrow soon learned that the little man was a rather sad fellow because he had no heart. Telling him of their plans to visit the Wizard in the Emerald City in order to ask for a brain for the Scarecrow and a way home for Dorothy, they invited him to join them so he could ask the Wizard for heart. He soon agreed and the trio set off down the yellow brick road and were entering a particularly wild and overgrown part of the woods when they suddenly heard a growl which was followed by a roar."

A growl and roar, as promised, soon sounded from the far end of the curtains from which all six feet and two inches of Charles Carson appeared with a black painted nose and drawn on whiskers on his cheeks, along with a mess of brown, yellow, and tan yarn which was perched atop his head and attached to a pair of cat ears which had been constructed out of brown felt and a wire hanger.

Doing his best to ignore the laughter from the sofa, Charles continued his growling as he moved menacingly towards the group, his focus on Barley who returned the growls with barks.

"You stop that!" Mary Ann scolded in Charles' direction. "You leave Toto alone!"

Throwing his hands up, Charles let out a fake cry. "Don't shout."

"You're scared of a little girl? Why you are nothing but a coward!" She announced.

"You're right." Charles continued with his whimpering. "I am a big lion, but I am scare of a little girl. I haven't got any courage."

Hearing the sadness in his father's voice, Pete's bottom lip jutted out and he slipped past JoMo, raising his arms to his father. "Hold you, Daddy, hold you. Don't cry. It's okay."

Elsie couldn't help but utter an "Aww…" which soon became a giggle as Livy angrily called out from behind the curtain, "He's not Daddy, Pete! He's the Lion!"

Picking up his son, Charles patted him on the back as he nodded for Richard to take over.

"Telling the Cowardly Lion of their plan to visit the Wizard in search of a heart, a brain, and a way home, the Tinman, the Scarecrow, and Dorothy invited him to join them so he could ask for courage which he agreed to at once. Continuing down the yellow brick road, they could see the Emerald City in the distance, but the Wicked Witch interrupted their journey as she magically conjured a field of poppies; its intoxicating properties soon lulling Dorothy, Toto, and the Lion into a deep sleep."

Poppy suddenly appeared from behind the curtain dressed in her red velvet Christmas dress and proceeded to spin and dance around the four travelers and Barley, stopping briefly to point out who she was to the women on the sofa. "I'm Poppy like the poppies, the flowers, see? And I'm making them go to sleep."

"Good job," Elsie whispered as she winked at her daughter.

Charles and Mary Ann closing their eyes and tilting their heads, Richard carried on. "But the Tinman and Scarecrow were unaffected by the flowers and they began to yell for help."

"Help! Help!" JoMo called out, reaching over giving Pete's hand a little squeeze and nod which had the toddler soon yelling, "Help!" as well.

Richard proceeding, the small cast disappeared behind the curtain, JoMo carefully ushering Mary Ann and Barley as Charles carried Pete.

"Glinda the Good Witch heard their cries and soon showered them with a blanket of snow which pulled Dorothy, Toto, and the Lion from their slumber. Finally making their way into the beautiful green city, they were disappointed to be told that the Wizard wouldn't see them. However, a visit by the Wicked Witch on her broom and her writing the words "Surrender Dorothy" in the skies over the Emerald City changed the Wizard's tune and the four were soon shown into his large throne room where a giant, terrifying, green head greeted them and told them that if they wanted his help, they must first travel to the Wicked Witch's castle and destroy her which they could prove they had done by bringing back her broom. Traveling through the dark, scary woods, they were almost to the castle when the witch's winged monkeys suddenly swooped down on them, carrying Dorothy and Toto off to the Witch's tower, while they carried the Lion and TinMan in another direction. The Scarecrow was torn apart by the wicked creatures, but the Tinman and Lion who had escaped and reunited soon found his straw arms, legs, and torso and put him back together. Determined to find Dorothy and Toto, the three managed to sneak up on a few of the Witch's guards from whom they took uniforms which allowed them to make their way into the castle and find a very terrified Dorothy. The Witch was angry upon finding the friends back together and she demanded Dorothy hand over the powerful ruby slippers."

The cast having reassembled during the last bit of Richard's narration, Livy led the action as she cackled and pointed at the red socks on Mary Ann's feet. "Give me back my slippers!"

"I can't! They won't come off," Mary Ann cried.

"Then I'll set the Scarecrow on fire!" Livy threatened as she lifted the broom towards JoMo, pausing for a moment to turn towards the audience and explain, "It's just pretend fire."

Pulling a tin toy bucket from behind his back, Charles carefully placed it in Mary Ann's hands so she could lift it and toss its invisible contents in the direction of Livy's voice.

"Not water!" the four year old dramatically shrieked as she dropped the broom at JoMo's feet before she began to slowly crumple to the floor, perfectly mimicking Margaret Hamilton as she cried, "What a world! What a world! Who would have thought some little girl like you could destroy my beautiful wickedness?"

The four women burst into applause as JoMo reached out and pulled up the edge of the curtain under which Livy tried to roll out of sight, only to have her hat fall off which she stuck her little hand out and grabbed with a frustrated growl.

"And so, the broom now in their possession, the friends set off again for the Emerald City where they were taken back to the Wizard's throne room, only to be disappointed as the giant, booming head began to bluster about, making it clear he had no intention of following through on his promises to help them. They were beginning to despair when Toto suddenly ran over to a curtain which he pulled back to reveal a small man who was pulling levers and pushing buttons as he spoke into a microphone, proving that the terrifying vision which has been thundering at them is nothing but a work of smoke and mirrors." Richard explained as Bill suddenly pulled back the curtain to reveal a cold cream free Livy now wearing her towel turban on her head as and a green silk kimono Isobel had long before contributed to the dress up trunk.

"Pay no attention to the little girl, man behind the curtain!" Livy cried, her hand reaching up to secure the turban.

Smiling and shaking his head, Richard did his best to begin a wrap up the story. "But caught out, the little man had to admit he, very much like Dorothy, had accidentally ended up in Oz after his hot air balloon had been blown off course. Keeping his promise, he kindly presented the Cowardly Lion with a badge of courage in honor of how brave the beast had been in facing the witch and the guards while helping his friends."

Reaching into the pocket of her kimono, Livy pulled out a purple ribbon which was suspended from one of Elsie's brooches which she presented to her father and he attached to the breast of his overalls.

"The Tinman, because of his kindness and loving nature, was given a ticking heart whose beat would always remind him of the joy and love he shared with his friends."

Livy handed Pete a red paper heart which had been attached to the chain of Charles' gold pocket watch which contained the photo of Elsie and Becky.

"Look, Mumma! Daddy's watch!" The little boy called out, holding up for his mother to see.

"I see, baby," Elsie called, doing her best not to cry.

"And to the Scarecrow, for his superior intellect and quick thinking in helping his friends on their journey, was given an honorary degree of e Pluribus Unum."

Livy pulled a little scroll of paper out of her pocket and handed it to JoMo who playfully tapped it against his noggin.

"But Dorothy, who was very happy that all of her friends had gotten what they wanted, was left without her heart's desire as the Wizard admitted he didn't know of a way to get her back to her family."

The specific words Richard used landed with weight on the hearts of Isobel, Elsie, and Phyllis, in particular, each struggling to keep their composure as they looked at the pretty little girl in her pink cat eye glasses standing in her red socks who was holding tightly to Joe's hand.

"An idea, however, soon occurred to the Wizard. His and Dorothy's best chance to return to the world from which they had come would be to ride in his hot air balloon and so the vehicle was fueled and ready to lift as Dorothy began to say goodbye to her friends."

Placing his son on the floor, Charles leaned over and kissed the little girl's head as Pete wrapped his arms around her waist, but JoMo waited until they had stepped back before he moved to his knee and gave her hand a gentle kiss.

Elsie and Isobel both turned to look at Phyllis who simply shook her head and whispered, "Stop looking at me. I know what you're thinking." The women both let out disappointed sighs, but their spirits were buoyed when she added, "Because I'm thinking the same thing, too."

Richard proceeded to explain that Toto saw a cat in the crowd and jumped from Dorothy's arms which caused her to exit the basket which accidentally flew off, enacted by Livy who began spinning comically into the curtain where she remained hidden as the story continued.

Stepping out from behind the curtain, Poppy appeared in her Glinda costume as Mary Ann softly said, "Now I'll never get to see my family again."

Charles and JoMo glanced at one another before each instinctively looked out and met the teary faces of Elsie and Phyllis, and Richard turned his head towards Isobel who purposely kept from meeting his gaze.

"You've always been able to go home, Dorothy," Poppy said with a smile. "All you have to do is click your heels three times and say, "There's no place like home."

Poppy disappeared behind the curtain, Charles, Pete, and JoMo in her wake, leaving Mary Ann alone as she began to repeat: "There's no place like home. There's no place like home. There's no place like home."

The lights went out for a few seconds during which Bill helped Mary Ann back behind the barrier while the women watched a flurry of torch light along the floor beneath the curtains and heard a the sound of a few whispers and giggles. Lamps turned back on, Bill and Mary Ann, now without her red socks, stepped out with Barley and were followed a few seconds later by Poppy who had her apron and glasses back, although her crown was still atop her head.

"And before she knew it, Dorothy was back in her bedroom with Barley, her Uncle Henry, and her Auntie Em at her side as she began to tell them about the fantastical world from which she had just come."

"It was just a dream," Poppy sweetly answered, reminding her mother of how the little girl had comforted Livy after her confession of bad dreams of Grigg and the red balaclava.

Parting the curtain, Charles still painted like a lion, and Pete with his collander hanging over his back stuck their heads into the scene from one side, while JoMo who had lost his floppy hat, but very little of his straw leaned in from the other, the two men gently placing their hands on Mary Ann's shoulders which prompted her to say, "And you were there. And you were there. And you were there."

"And whether her trip had been just a dream or not, back in the warm, familiar arms of her family and friends, the one thing Dorothy knew for certain was…"

Richard turned his attention to the group, each of their focus on the little girl in the center who smiled brightly as her soft voice murmured, "There's no place like home."

Kittens gently placed on the sofa as they stood, Beryl and Isobel then helped Elsie to her feet, all four women clapping wildly, Beryl even whistling as the group of storytellers lined up in front of the curtain and where the children took a rather messy, but giddy group bow.

The men disappeared behind the curtain to collect the various props and costume pieces before disassembling the makeshift barrier as they left the children to be praised and hugged by their teary, gushing audience.

Pete remained with his mother, his lack of nap leading him to cling to her hand, his little head resting against her thigh as they watched a bubbling Mary Ann, her hand being held by Phyllis, as little voice chattered away at a rate equaling the ebullient Carson girls; Poppy buzzing about Isobel while Livy had Beryl's undivided attention as the group headed towards the kitchen.

"How on earth did you remember every detail of "The Wizard of Oz?" Elsie called out as she and Pete made their way towards Richard which earned a chuckle as he abandoned a messily folded sheet over his stool.

"I've treated thousands of sore throats, and sprained ankles, and cases of the chicken pox over the last fourteen years, and the one thing every single one of my patients has in common is having seen 'The Wizard of Oz.' A jab is received with far less fuss and fear if the doctor giving it is singing "Ding Dong the Witch is Dead."

"You're a gifted storyteller, my friend, and there are three little girls in the other room who are floating on a cloud because you made this so special. Thank you."

"It was my pleasure, I assure you." He was turning back to pick up the sheet when he stopped and looked at her. "You'd tell me if I was carrying on like a fool, wouldn't you?"

She was taken aback by his bluntness, but managed to smile warmly at him. "You are a dear, kind, incredibly generous and lovely man. I don't think there is a foolish bone in your body."

"As a doctor, I can tell you, with a fair amount of certainty, that the heart is a muscle. Not a bit of bone in it."

Her husband's approach made known as Pete chirped, "Hi, Daddy!" Elsie only had time to reach out and squeeze Richard's hand as she whispered, "She loves you. She really does."

"But does she love me enough?"

Charles' warm hand gently resting on her lower back, she gave the doctor's hand another squeeze before he politely pulled away, taking the sheet over to the stack of bedding Bill was loading into his arms.

"I heard you laughing at me louder than anyone else, madam."

Letting go of Pete's hand, she turned, reaching up to hold her mane-less, but still painted on husband's whiskered face. "You have to lean down because I want to kiss you but my tiptoes are out of commission."

"Mmmm…" he hummed as they shared a sweet kiss. "Weren't the girls wonder-…" he stopped mid-sentence as he watched her burst into tears. "Sweetheart?"

"You're just so wonderful. I can't believe you painted your face and wore cat ears and let Livy boss you around."

Leaning down, he captured her lips in another kiss, but it was short-lived as they both burst into laughter when Pete began to sing in a soft, sleepy voice:

Mumma and Daddy up in that tree,

S-S-S-S-S-S-G,

Here comes Daddy in a baby carriage…

Dinner was a merry affair, the children tucking in around their small table while the adults shared their meal at the extended table, each set up in the end of the sitting room nearest the kitchen; the meal a simple spread of savory pies, vegetables, and Elsie's salad, as well as a selection of desserts. Wine and laughter flowed as the evening turned to night and before long, the children's anxiousness about Father Christmas' arrival gave way to drowsiness. Isobel having helped Mary Ann bathe upstairs while the Carson children took a bath in the master, the now pajama clad quartet curled up around Charles who read the traditional poem, "Twas the Night Before Christmas," as the other adults looked on, their own eyes feeling heavy as he whispered the last line, "…and to all, a goodnight…" which was capped off by a little snore from a deeply sleeping Pete.

"The girls know Livy is to come and get Charles and me when all three of them are awake and Charles will come get you and I will help Mary Ann and the girls into the sitting room and then call down to Bill's and over to Phyl and Joe's and she said she will call Richard, unless you want to?" Elsie asked Isobel before leaning over and kissing Pete's head as the toddler rested against her friend's shoulder.

"Phyllis can call him. I'm sure we will have enough going on with stockings and breakfast."

The excuse was less than convincing, but Elsie didn't push the matter. "And you really don't mind bunking in with Mr. Pete? I can put him on a pallet in our room."

Isobel smiled, but tension grew in her face as she tried to keep her emotions in check. "It's been thirteen years since I got to wake up to a little boy's face on Christmas morning. I have been looking forward to it since you asked last week."

Elsie knew there was nothing to say so she simply kissed Isobel's cheek.

"Is this everything? What else could there possibly be?" Charles asked as he surveyed the robust stacks of gifts displayed in front of the fireplace from which the fire had been extinguished at the twins' insistence for fear that Father Christmas would burn his feet or bottom.

"There is one thing missing."

"What?"

"The weeing rock."

Charles closed his eyes and shook his head. "How could I forget the toy-toy?" Stopping briefly to kiss her brow, he was slipping on his wellies when he heard a knock at the door. A wide smile broke across his face as greeted Bill, the man's arms filled with the wooden and chicken wire box which housed the tortoise.

"Father Christmas himself."

Bill gave him a wink. "I believe there is a wee little man who will be quite disappointed if he doesn't find this fellow waiting for him in the morning."

"Thank you. I was actually just on my way down the hill to fetch him. You saved me a trip."

A warm smile shared between the men, they said goodnight and Charles was just locking the door when Elsie suddenly appeared behind him, her hand tugging on one of his belt loops.

"That was kind of Bill."

He nodded. "Kept me from having to trudge through the snow."

"Let's have a look at this rock, then." Releasing the latch she eased the lid up, but jumped backwards and let the heavy top close with a thud."

"What?"

"It was right there! It's face was…it could have bitten me."

"It's the size of a deck of cards. It was hardly going to harm you." He said with a laugh.

"Isn't very good-looking is it?"

He continued to chuckle. "I don't think Pete wants one because he thinks they're cute."

She leaned her head to the side to look through the chicken wire at the reptile. "Why do you think he wants one?"

"Ah. I asked our eldest poppet that very question last night." He admitted as he placed the crate on the bench behind him.

"And what did Popsydaisy have to say?"

"It's really rather sweet. Remember how she mentioned 'sure and steady wins the race?"

"From Aesop's Fables, the Tortoise and the Hare story," she answered.

"We read the story at bedtime when Mary was here and apparently it stuck with Pete and he and Poppy were talking about and they decided that Daddy, that I'm a bit like the tortoise. I don't move as fast as Sylvie's father or Joe, for that matter, but I don't let the way I walk keep me from playing with them and taking them out into the meadow or to a fair." His voice faded in and out as he began to choke up. "I'm slow, but I'm steady, you see? And when Livy mentioned that Sylvie's cousin had a pet tortoise, Pete decided he wanted one."

"Oh, honey…"

"Poppy said he said he wanted one so when I'm at school, he won't miss me as much if he has a little me to play with."

"Awww, that is so sweet. That ugly little thing will make him think of you…"

"I see a lump of coal in your future, meanie."

She laughed as she wrapped her arms around his middle. "I'm just teasing. That is precious. He is precious and you are precious."

Giving her a quick kiss on the forehead, he waited until she released him from her embrace before he lowered himself onto the bench next to the tortoise's crate to pull off his boots, but didn't get even one off before Elsie reached out and grabbed his arm.

"Don't take off your wellies."

"What?"

"I have an idea." She said with shining eyes as she waited for him to pick up the tortoise and follow her into the sitting room and over to the hearth. "Take a step into the ashes and then walk a bit out here on the floor, but be careful of the rug."

"You want me to make a mess on purpose?"

"I want you to leave Father Christmas' footprints so they can see that he was here."

He sighed and rolled his eyes as he placed the crate next to the pile of Pete's other gifts. "You don't think the mound of gifts with tags reading "From Father Christmas" suggests that very thing?"

"Why are you poo-pooing my sense of Christmas magic, Mr. Tortoise?" Reaching up, she cupped his chin and gave it a little squeeze. "I seem to remember someone mentioning a desire to do a bit of kissing and cuddling. The sooner you get with the program, the sooner we can be wrapped around one another in bed."

Using her shoulder to lean on, he soon had his boots coated in soot, his steps soft, but purposeful as he achieved the desired effect. "Happy, darling?"

She glanced around the room, her eyes dancing over the plethora of cheerily wrapped packages and up to the collection of framed photos from their wedding and of the children at various ages lined atop the mantle from which five stockings were hung, and then over to the Christmas tree which was decorated with everything from little wooden reindeer the children had made from clothespins and pipe-cleaners, to the sea shells from her and Charles' honeymoon trip to Whitby, as well as small replicas of terriers resembling Barley, wine corks, and characters from the stories Charles not only now read the children, but ones he had read to her belly when she had carried their children.

"Elsie?"

"Sorry." She reached up and wiped the corner of her eye. "You asked if I was happy?"

He pulled her into his embrace. "What is it, my sweetheart? Are you thinking about what happened last week?"

Shaking her head, she looked up at him and smiled. "I was thinking about the last five years, the last five Christmases."

"Each one has been better than the one before, if you ask me. This year, all three of them…I can't wait to see their faces."

She leaned her cheek against his chest as she whispered, "Me, too, and Mary Ann. Did you see Joe with her today, and Phyllis?"

"We had an agreement, Elsie."

"I didn't meddle and Isobel is of the same mind..and so is Phyllis."

"Really?" He lifted her chin with his finger, looking down at her. "She wants them to adopt her?"

"I think so. It just depends on how Joe feels."

"I hate to get your hopes up in case it didn't work out, but I can say that Joe was fairly smitten with her while we were working on our little skit today. I don't think it would take much convincing on Phyllis' part to talk him into it."

Tightening her embrace, she closed her eyes and whispered, "If she can then Pete won't be the only one getting what he asked of Father Christmas."

From the age of three, I could sing every song and recite bits of dialogue from not only the Wizard of Oz, but at least a dozen other MGM musicals and Broadway shows. Am endowing Poppy and Livy with that same gift (or perhaps, curse, if you were to ask my father).

Know this wasn't full of a lot of revelations, but after the craziness of the last few chapters, thought they all deserved to just enjoy one another for a bit.

You are all so incredibly lovely and kind. The reviews and PMs make me incredibly happy. Am so grateful for your time and attention.

Love,

Jenny