One Day Like This

by rachel741

A tale of an orphanage Christmas, starts off fairly bleak, but ends on a good note :)

One Day Like This

One Day like this by Elbow

One Day like this a year would see me right

Throw those curtains wide

One day like this a year would see me right

Throw those curtains wide

One day like this a year would see me right, for life.

Hannibal woke with a start, surprised to find that he was alone in his narrow bunk. Jed often crawled in with him during the night, and generally only left when he started to stir. Then he remembered, Jed was in the hole. The tiny lightless room used for punishing the boys, often for the smallest of transgressions. This time, Jed had simply stayed out five minutes past curfew, but then he had made things worse by getting angry at the idiot teacher, waiting at the door, eager to punish. Hannibal wished he could make his cousin see that sometimes, however unfair things were, it was better to bend a little, to avoid making things worse for yourself.

As Hannibal came more fully aware, he also remembered that it was Christmas Eve. Not that he expected Christmas would be much different to the rest of the days in this place. From what the older boys had said, it simply meant no lessons, and a long extra two hours in the chapel, hearing how losing their parents, was God's judgement on them. Memories of their Christmases before they lost everything, made his eyes prickle with tears, that he refused to let fall. Fun, laughter and presents made with love, had filled their festive season then, but now here, it would be just another dreary day, without even lessons to break up the boredom.

He remembered the year he'd turned six with a smile. He'd easily persuaded a very eager Jed, to clamber on the roof with him to wait for Santa. But they'd fallen asleep, and when they'd woken had been safely tucked up in bed. After breakfast they'd dashed outside, to be greeted by reindeer tracks and sleigh marks in the snow. They'd been amazed at the sight then, and even now, when he no longer believed in Santa, and with their families gone, Heyes hugged the precious memory of that love to himself tightly, wishing that he'd somehow appreciated it more, before it'd been lost to them. Lost in memories, he could taste the warm gingerbread cookies that his Aunt Caroline always baked almost every day in December, and the wonderful scent of his Ma's apple pie, filled his nostrils, as if he were standing in the kitchen as she baked. He closed his eyes, allowing himself for once, the joy of imagining he was still part of a loving family, rather than stranded in a bleak life, where nothing good ever happened anymore.

Eventually he shook himself, deliberately pushing the memories away as if they were cobwebs. He couldn't let himself get lost in such thoughts, because he had something important to do. The rest of the boys were still sleeping and dawn was still half an hour away, so he snuck out silently to go see his friend before everyone woke.

X

Jed woke shivering, blinking in the darkness and wincing, as now he was awake, he once again had became aware of his sore butt. The idiot had refused to listen to why he had just missed arriving back on time. He hadn't deserved being punished, but mouthing off at the walk-off Math teacher had of course only earnt him a whupping on top of the hole. Hannibal had glared at him, shaking his head, making an urgent cool down gesture, but he'd been mad enough that he'd just ignored him, even knowing the trouble he was bringing down on his head, or more correctly his ass. After being dragged to the headmaster's office, not even being spared a lecture before his belting, he'd been thrown in here with some force, landing heavily on his sore behind.

He couldn't remember how long he was meant to stay in this room, and the throbbing in his butt and the cold air was making it hard to think. He thought maybe, it might be till after Christmas. The one bright spot, if that was the case, was at least he'd be saved having to listen to the preacher talk about how his family dying was his fault, on a day when too many memories of them would likely crowd his mind.

Sometimes he worried that what the Preacher said was true, although Hannibal usually managed to convince him otherwise after a couple of hours, at least for a little while. But here alone in the dark, it was hard to keep hold of that belief, especially when the memory of his family dying in front of him, drowned out any good memories he tried to reach for. His throat constricted and he blinked away unwelcome tears, refusing to acknowledge them. He shuffled under the thin quilt, wrapping it round himself, intent on trying to sleep the rest of his time in here away.

But into his half doze, there came a scratching, from where he wasn't exactly sure, but the noise brought him fully awake again, as he jumped a little, startled. The gloomy thought that it must be rats, made him sigh heavily, as that was definitely the last thing he needed, on top of everything else. But then Hannibal's soft voice broke into his gloom. "Jed, you awake?"

"Go way Hannibal, you'll get us both in trouble!" Jed's voice was harsh. as he attempted to beat down the warm feeling that filled him at the sound of his cousin's voice.

"Oh Jed, ain't no one awake yet! Stop fussing."

"Why you here?" Jed asked grumpily, worry for them both colouring his tone.

Hannibal humphed. "Thought you might be hungry, seeing as you missed supper, and won't get out till lunch, but if you ain't interested!"

Jed's stomach chose that moment to grumble loudly and he heard his friend's soft laugh and a quiet clicking before the door swung open, the slight light from the corridor making him wince slightly, after the total darkness he'd woken into. "They forget to lock the door?" He asked as Hannibal placed something sticky and crumbly in his hand. He was sure he remembered the key turning in the lock, he and wasn't surprised at the reply. "No, I now got ways of opening doors that they don't want me opening."

Jed stuffed the offering in his mouth and coughed slightly as the crumbs stuck in his throat, before he said, his tone muffled, feeling a little put out that this was the first he'd heard of it. "How come you ain't mentioned that before? We ain't meant to keep secrets from each other!"

Hannibal chuckled and said softly. "I just finished them yesterday, and seeing as you got thrown in here, before I got to talk to you, I didn't get chance to tell you nothing! They work real good though, and now I got plans, which I'll tell you about later, when we got more time."

Jed quickly swallowed the sweet treat, intrigued, but before he could ask anything else, Hannibal looked behind him a little nervously, as they heard a noise, and with a squeeze on his shoulder, he swallowed and said softly. "See you in a few hours, Jed."

Then he was gone, as quietly as he'd arrived, the door clicking shut, plunged Jed back into darkness, but he was still left with a faint smile on his face.

X

As they shivered side by side in the chapel, Jed glanced over at Heyes, who was staring into space as if miles away. Jed thought he was probably a lifetime away. And blocking out the dreary drone of the preacher's voice, Jed let his own mind drift, and with some effort, he managed to force the memory of his last sight of his family away and go back to happier times. He remembered the taste of milk and warm cookies, the floury scent of his Ma as she hugged him tight, laughing as he looked hopefully past her shoulder at the still warm gingerbread cooling by the stove. He remembered the trees, sparkling brightly in the corner of both his and the Heyes' living areas. Jed also remembered the full table, almost groaning with an abundance of treats, and the small pile of gifts under their trees. He thought their homes must have looked like that cave of treasures, which Hannibal had talked none stop about, in the weeks after he'd read some story called Ali Baba.

Finally the Preacher wound down, and sniffing noisily in some disgust, nodded to the teachers sitting at the back, making sure the boys were behaving. Jed stood stiffly, aware again, as the memories faded, of just how cold it was in the chapel.

He shuffled with the rest of the boys, towards the freezing outside, his thin clothes offering little comfort from the biting cold. He wasn't sure what to expect out of the rest of the day, but knew it would hardly be fun. He was however determined to stay out of trouble, so he and Hannibal would at least get to spend the day together, because however depressing it might be, life was always more fun with his friend by his side.

The Preacher stood at the door, sneering at the boys as they trailed out and muttered something about The Artful Dodger as Hannibal passed him.

Jed didn't quite understand what he was meaning, but by the dark expression that crossed his friend's face, he knew it was nothing pleasant, a belief confirmed when the man said louder. "Mark my words boy, you will come to a bad end, in just the same way that criminal child did."

Hannibal slowed and said, quietly, "Maybe I'm Oliver, you ever think of that Preacher Alridge?"

Jed saw the man's face change from his usual scowl, to one of surprise at Hannibal's reply, but before anything more could be said, their attention was drawn to a small group of warmly dressed people, Behind them, there were two heavily laden sleds, both filled to the brim with brightly wrapped packages.

A woman bundled up in a winter coat, stepped forward to meet Albright and Walker while the rest hung back. Jed recognised her as Mrs Daley, the wife of one of the men from town, who sometimes came to teach them English, when their usual teacher was ill and there was no one else available. It was always something of a treat for the boys when he did, as he always finished his lesson with an exciting story, rather than a depressing prayer or a test, and would often bring fruit with him as a prize for the boys answering correctly.

"Mr Walker, Preacher Albright. I imagine you are wondering what we're doing here."

"Indeed, Ma'am, with it being Christmas we are most definitely surprised that you have taken time out from your day, for these...boys."

Jed stiffened, as the way the dour math teacher said boys, made them sound more like something he would scrape of his shoe than people. Hannibal humphed under his breath, but neither of them dared say anything.

Mrs Daley obviously choosing to ignore the tone, smiled and said happily. "We have a new Pastor, who felt that it was our Christian duty to give these poor orphans something to remember this Christmas, and so we've got a few small gifts together for them."

Both Walker and Albright began to protest, and speak over the woman, but then she was joined by two men, one clothed in a smart suit under his warm expensive coat, that spoke of wealth, and the other was the Mayor, who glared over at the two men before he said firmly. "I think on this holiest of days, the milk of human kindness should be experienced by all, don't you agree Mr Walker?" The Mayor's piercing grey eyes flicked up and down the man, who shuffled uncomfortably, as he added. "And I expect that when we visit next week, the boys will still be in possession of the small gifts distributed today."

The woman laughed and glanced down as she said amused. "Perhaps not the candy Mayor."

"Very true, Mrs Daley." With that he glanced over at the quietly assembled boys, shivering in the bitterly cold air, clad in worn, too thin clothing, hatless and coat-less. He shook his head, thinking of his own, now grown children, and how his wife had always made sure they were warmly wrapped in far less freezing temperatures, the same as his daughter in law did for her two. Determined that he could at least make one day a bright spot for these unfortunate children, he turned his back on the two men and clapped his hands drawing the boys attention "Now, lets get inside, I can hardly feel my feet!"

X

The boys once assembled in the dining area, stretched down the long wooden tables, gleefully unwrapped their small gifts.

Mayor Bairstow watching them all, couldn't help but laugh at the unrestrained joy of a little blond boy, with bright blue eyes and a halo of curls, who looking over at an older dark haired one, said in some excitement. "Peppermint sticks, Hannibal! I got peppermint sticks!" He promptly stuffed them in his mouth and crunched loudly as his friend wrinkled his nose before shaking his head.

"Jed, you'll make yourself sick!"

"Won't!"

"Break your teeth then!"

Jed, ignoring Hannibal , quickly finished crunching, then swallowed quickly as he said in a muffled voice. "Whatcha get?"

There was silence for a minute, as the older boy finished unwrapping his own parcel and watching the intelligent looking dark eyed child, Bairstow was close enough to see the slightest glitter of tears in his bright eyes, and easily heard the quickly covered break in his voice as he said. "A book, a brand new book!"

"What's it called, Hannibal?"

Jed strained to see the cover and though he'd screwed up his nose at the appearance of the book, Bairstow could see some interest in his eyes, as he leaned over in an attempt to see the title.

Hannibal answered softly. "A Christmas Carol." as he looked backwards, softly stroking the cover in some awe.

Mrs Daley who had been watching them, walked over and gently squeezed the boy's shoulders as she smiled at him. "Mr Daley, said you always seem to appreciate a good book, so we thought this is one you would enjoy. It is my youngest boy's favourite book. A Christmas ghost story with a happy ending!"

Hannibal grinned and stuffed the book in his pocket, as he glanced over at his blond friend "You might even like this one,Jed!"

X

As the boys unwrapped the rest of the packages, the gleeful pleasure with which they greeted the gifts of underwear, gloves and a scarf made Bairstow's heart ache slightly, as he wondered at how little they must receive, if such simple presents brought them so much joy.

Once the gift opening was done, the now empty sleds were loaded up with excited boys who sped down the hill from the orphanage, laughing delightedly when they tumbled off to land on the snow laden ground.

X

The townsfolk had also provided a small feast of food, and many of the town's residents, including the new preacher and the sheriff, drifted in and out of the orphanage throughout the day. Although not everyone spent that much time with the boys, there were enough visitors, that the staff had little choice, but to make sure the boys received what the townsfolk wanted them to have and the boys had an enjoyable day that they wouldn't soon forget.

As dusk fell, when the last of their visitors had left, the boys tumbled cheerfully into bed. With their stomach's full and their spirits high, not even the dire warnings about not expecting this to be the normal way of things, could dampen their mood.

Later, Hannibal was woken, when Jed crawled in behind him putting his freezing feet on Hannibal's warm ones, making his shiver, but before he could complain, Jed said softly. "Today was a good day wasn't it?"

Hannibal chuckled, and thinking of the precious book, hidden under the thin mattress could only nod in agreement,knowing that Jed would feel the movement being so close despite the darkness.

Jed shuffled round a few minutes, before his breathing levelled out into sleep, and with a final huff of contentment, Hannibal had soon joined him.