even managed to speak kindly to the loathsome Sidney who insisted on sitting close to his mother.
Bedtime came. The three children prepared the traditional snack for Father Christmas, a mince pie from each one, and a glass of orange squash, which Sidney chose as the best drink available.
Miriam watched Lovell closely as they placed the food in the hearth. His face was solemn, and he was being uncommonly gentle with young Sidney. He would not take such trouble, thought Miriam with relief, if he did not truly expect Father Christmas to arrive.
The children went to bed. Over each bed rail hung an empty pillowcase. Miriam looked at hers as she lay awake. If, as silly Ruby said, one's parents filled it then she would be bound to hear them.
Despite her intention to stay alert, she was asleep in ten minutes. The sound of the door opening woke her, hours later.
"All right?" she heard her mother whisper.
Her father answered:
"Fast asleep!"
Cold with horror, she lay motionless.
She saw the empty pillowcase twitched from the bed rail, and felt the bump of a full one as it was lodged at the foot of the bed. So that was how it was done!
The door closed noiselessly. She lay there, numbed with shock. A painful lump swelled in her throat, and hot tears began to trickle. Ruby was right.
To think that all this time her parents had lied! And Lovell too! It was cruel. All these years she had loved Father Christmas, and now it was spoilt.
She crept from her bed, and squatting on the floor, she felt the various shapes in the pillowcase. There was the doll she had asked for, and this box must be the tea set or a jigsaw puzzle. She could smell the fragrance of the tangerine tucked in a corner, and could hear the rattle of the nuts in the other.
Tears continued to course down her cheeks. She would not unpack things until morning light. And would she enjoy them then, she wondered, knowing that Lovell had betrayed her? Would things ever be the same again?
Her feet were cold as stones, and she clambered back into bed. As she did so, her restless tongue finally broke the loose tooth from its precarious moorings. Still weeping, she felt the edge of the new tooth thrusting through. She pulled the clothes about her, and fell into an uneasy sleep.
Leaden-eyed and leaden-hearted next morning, she did her best to share in the general excitement.
At the breakfast table she thanked all her relatives for their gifts. She could hardly bear to look at Lovell, so happy and unconcerned.
Sidney was flushed with joy and excitement.
"All gone!" he said, showing her Father Christmas's empty plate. "Did you thee him?"
He pressed against Miriam anxiously.
"Did you thee him?" he persisted.
Conscious of the eyes of all upon her, her heart raging with bitterness, Miriam took a deep breath. She turned her blazing gaze upon the traitor Lovell.
"No, I didn't! " she burst forth. "I didn't see Father Christmas, Sidney. But I'll tell you what I did see!"
The child looked up at her, smiling and trusting.
Lovell's gaze was steady. Across the breakfast table, brother and sister were locked in a look.
Very slowly Lovell shook his head. Briefly, and with a wealth of meaning, he glanced at Sidney, and then looked back at Miriam. It was a conspiratorial look, and it filled Miriam's quivering body with warmth and comfort. Now, in a flash, she understood. Suddenly, she was grown up. Hadn't she felt the first of her adult teeth this very morning?
A little child, as she had been until now, had the right to believe in this magic. She felt suddenly protective towards the young boy beside her. She, and Lovell, and all the other people present, knew, and faced the responsibilities of knowing, this precious secret. Now, she too was one of the elect.
"What did you thee?" asked Sidney.
"I saw the door closing," said Miriam. "That's all."
Across the table, Lovell smiled at her with approval. Her heart leapt, and Christmas Day became again the joyful festival she had always
Bedtime came. The three children prepared the traditional snack for Father Christmas, a mince pie from each one, and a glass of orange squash, which Sidney chose as the best drink available.
Miriam watched Lovell closely as they placed the food in the hearth. His face was solemn, and he was being uncommonly gentle with young Sidney. He would not take such trouble, thought Miriam with relief, if he did not truly expect Father Christmas to arrive.
The children went to bed. Over each bed rail hung an empty pillowcase. Miriam looked at hers as she lay awake. If, as silly Ruby said, one's parents filled it then she would be bound to hear them.
Despite her intention to stay alert, she was asleep in ten minutes. The sound of the door opening woke her, hours later.
"All right?" she heard her mother whisper.
Her father answered:
"Fast asleep!"
Cold with horror, she lay motionless.
She saw the empty pillowcase twitched from the bed rail, and felt the bump of a full one as it was lodged at the foot of the bed. So that was how it was done!
The door closed noiselessly. She lay there, numbed with shock. A painful lump swelled in her throat, and hot tears began to trickle. Ruby was right.
To think that all this time her parents had lied! And Lovell too! It was cruel. All these years she had loved Father Christmas, and now it was spoilt.
She crept from her bed, and squatting on the floor, she felt the various shapes in the pillowcase. There was the doll she had asked for, and this box must be the tea set or a jigsaw puzzle. She could smell the fragrance of the tangerine tucked in a corner, and could hear the rattle of the nuts in the other.
Tears continued to course down her cheeks. She would not unpack things until morning light. And would she enjoy them then, she wondered, knowing that Lovell had betrayed her? Would things ever be the same again?
Her feet were cold as stones, and she clambered back into bed. As she did so, her restless tongue finally broke the loose tooth from its precarious moorings. Still weeping, she felt the edge of the new tooth thrusting through. She pulled the clothes about her, and fell into an uneasy sleep.
Leaden-eyed and leaden-hearted next morning, she did her best to share in the general excitement.
At the breakfast table she thanked all her relatives for their gifts. She could hardly bear to look at Lovell, so happy and unconcerned.
Sidney was flushed with joy and excitement.
"All gone!" he said, showing her Father Christmas's empty plate. "Did you thee him?"
He pressed against Miriam anxiously.
"Did you thee him?" he persisted.
Conscious of the eyes of all upon her, her heart raging with bitterness, Miriam took a deep breath. She turned her blazing gaze upon the traitor Lovell.
"No, I didn't! " she burst forth. "I didn't see Father Christmas, Sidney. But I'll tell you what I did see!"
The child looked up at her, smiling and trusting.
Lovell's gaze was steady. Across the breakfast table, brother and sister were locked in a look.
Very slowly Lovell shook his head. Briefly, and with a wealth of meaning, he glanced at Sidney, and then looked back at Miriam. It was a conspiratorial look, and it filled Miriam's quivering body with warmth and comfort. Now, in a flash, she understood. Suddenly, she was grown up. Hadn't she felt the first of her adult teeth this very morning?
A little child, as she had been until now, had the right to believe in this magic. She felt suddenly protective towards the young boy beside her. She, and Lovell, and all the other people present, knew, and faced the responsibilities of knowing, this precious secret. Now, she too was one of the elect.
"What did you thee?" asked Sidney.
"I saw the door closing," said Miriam. "That's all."
Across the table, Lovell smiled at her with approval. Her heart leapt, and Christmas Day became again the joyful festival she had always
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