The Christmas I grew up

Mrs Gwen V Boyd

It was Christmas morning. I was twelve years old and my stomach was in a knot. I lay asking myself why?

Daddy had brought home the Christmas tree from the local childrens party. He told us we were very lucky to have such a lovely tree. Being chairman and being the only one on the committee to have fairy lights had its benefit. He took off the lower branches and sawed a foot off the trunk to get it into the house and set it into the tub in the corner of the living room. Last night we had a lovely time decorating the tree. We made metallic silver icicles and concertinas to hang on the branches and reflect the glow from the brightly coloured fairy lights. Streamers of yellow and red crepe paper festooned the branches. Garlands were hung from the corners of the room to the centre light. In the grate the excess tree branches crackled and filled the room with the smell of pine. My brother and I hung up our socks on the mantelshelf and were then packed off to bed.

David was very excited. Hed asked for a Hornby Dublo train set. As it was very expensive he had been given a challenge by my dad. Hed to swim a breadth of the swimming pool by mid December and see what Christmas would bring. He was frightened of water and at first refused to try. However the school had started a swimming club and he decided to join. By the end of November he had succeeded in swimming the required distance and last night he had gone to bed full of anticipation. Id gone to bed dreading the morning and now it was here. ... (continues)