Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to those that celebrate! Yes, I am still alive!

I was really struggling with Writer's block but then I was inspired when I was listening to Christmas music and heard the 12 Days of Christmas. In each stand alone chapter I attempted to reference what was given for each day. Some are really short and some are longer but this was the best I could come up with in a short time. The best part of this is the whole story is done so I won't have another half finished one out there! Hopefully you enjoy it!

I wanted to get this posted so it's only spell/grammar checked through Google Docs. Any and all reviews will be greatly appreciated!

12 Drummers Drumming

"Class I must step out to speak with Mrs. Potter about something. I will be back in 10 minutes". Miss Willis stated. "I want everyone to take their seats and begin their reading assignments."

True tried to read for all of two minutes before she pushed her book away. She wasn't about to let this bit of luck pass her by and wracked her brain for something more entertaining to do. She giggled when she remembered the song she'd just heard while sneaking around outside the saloon and began singing.

"Well a working lass am I, and I am telling you no lie,

I work and sleep among the docks, where the laddies come to buy.

There's dirt and dust around me, and the sea spray fills the air,

There's a lousy smell that smacks of hell, and white stuff in me hair.

And it's blow, girls, blow,

No time to take a break

And every day you're in this place the more you start to ache

But you blow"

The 12 older children who understood the lyrics looked scandalously at each other then started drumming their feet to the beat and laughing while True skipped up and down the aisle clapping her hands.

"Well I've slept with saints and sinners and most every type of bloke

The tall, the small, "Not there at all," and some who made me choke.

Spend all my time down on me knees till my thighs start to burn,

I like it rough, I've done enough to make your stomachs turn!

And its blow, girls, blow…"

"True Tanner! That is enough!"

The room was instantly quiet, so quiet that True's swore her rapidly beating heart could be heard by everyone. She spun around to face Miss Willis. "Ah, I was just entertaining the class."

"I heard what you were doing!" She grabbed True by the ear and led her towards the door. "I will be back and if I return and you are not reading, everyone will be staying after class until your parents arrive to pick you up!"

True struggled to keep up as Lauren pulled her down the street towards the jail. Vin and Ezra were sitting outside and stood when they saw her coming. "What did you do?" Vin asked in a resigned voice.

"I was just singing!"

"That was not singing! That was…" Lauren could not think of an appropriate word for what she heard. She took a steadying breath. "Let's just say that the lyrics were not something a respectable adult should sing, let alone a child. I can't even imagine where she heard it!"

Ezra had to rub his chin to hide his smile. He was sure he knew what she was singing and it definitely was not something suitable for a child, "Oh I suspect our little miscreant was loitering around the saloon last night. We had a group of Sailors serenading us with their, I believe they called them, Shanty Songs."

Vin glared at True. "And you thought it was a good idea to sing it to your class?" He could only imagine the number of parents that would be tracking him down to complain, which only added to his irritation. He grabbed her collar and pulled her inside the Jail.

Lauren and Ezra did not have to wait long before they heard True yelping and hollering as Vin lit her backside up with his belt. They shared a look and Ezra's gold tooth flashed when he smiled. "Well my dear, it is not quite the caliber of song, but rather entertaining in its own right."