Authors Note: Happy 3rd of December - well technically it's the 4th in the UK, sorry bout that. This chapter's a little short, but next one is better I promise! Enjoy and I'll put the next one up on the 5th Cx
A Page out of Dickens
The Doctor soon discovered that he had rather conveniently landed the TARDIS down a back alley. He did always find it a little odd that even when he didn't know when he was, or where, he always managed to park in an alleyway.
"Oh Christmas Tree, oh Christmas Tree, how lovely are your…" he stopped short as he emerged in a Christmas scene straight off a Christmas card. There were Victorian street vendors up and down the sides of the street, ladies in thick dresses with red capes and fur muffs were browsing the goods, accompanied by their smartly dressed husbands, chatting to each other, listening to the carollers. Rosy cheeked children were running around the stalls having a snowball fight. He tried calling one of the boys over.
"You, boy, what day is it?" but he was disheartened that no one answered. "Does no one read Dickens these days?" he chuckled, realising his mistake, it was probably too early for that. Suddenly a little girl slipped over at his feet.
"Oh dear." He said kindly bending down. "That was a nasty fall. Do you need a hand getting up?" the girl nodded and he lifted her up by her armpits and stood her up. "There, that better?" she nodded again and he chuckled. "Now, can you do me a favour? Can you tell me what day it is?" she stared at him bewildered and for a second he thought she didn't know.
"It's Christmas Eve, sir." She replied, and he realised her bewilderment was at the fact that he didn't know it was nearly Christmas.
"And, um what year is it?"
"Year of our Lord 1837, sir."
"Really? I suppose you've had lots of coronation parties then haven't you?" she nodded enthusiastically.
"Mummy took me to see the queen." She said shyly.
"Really? What did you think of our Victoria?"
"She's very pretty. And very slim. Mummy says she should have lots of children."
"Does she? Well you tell your mummy to put a bet on that then." He smiled at her and produced a candy cane. "Now, all better?"
"Yes sir."
"Good girl, run along to your mummy then, and don't forget to be good." He gave her the candy cane and stood up ruffling her hair.
"Yes sir, thank you sir." She said, bobbing a quick curtsey and running off to find her mummy to show her the sweetie. The Doctor watched her for a moment and then walked off whistling, dropping a coin in the carollers hat as he passed them.