Nathaniel
By privatejoker
- 356 reads
"Yes, that one will do just fine," said Mr Richards, "can you leave
the roots on."
"No problem." Answered the Farmer, digging up the Christmas tree
carefully.
Mr Richards handed the farmer the fifteen pounds for the eight foot
tree and tied it to the roof of his Fiat.
It was two weeks before Christmas and Nathaniel waited at the window
for his father to come home with the tree. The snow had fallen a few
days before and it still edged the outside of the window pane which was
fast becoming steamed up as Nathaniel strained to see the long awaited
tree. Then there it was, coming up the drive on his dad's car,
magnificent it was, thought Nathaniel, who had started using that word
for everything he loved since he'd seen the Magnificent Seven film on
TV the other night.
Mr Richards potted up the tree and placed it in the lounge, in the
corner next to their log fire which was crackling healthily this
December morning. Nathaniel's mum brought down the decorations and
before long it was officially Christmas in the Richards' household.
Nathaniel danced around with joy and begged his mother to put his
presents under the tree, there and then. Mrs Richards smiled, rubbed
his head and went to get them.
That night Nathaniel crept down the stairs after everyone was asleep
and went to the foot of the tree. He poked the biggest present with his
name on it and smiled, then he tentatively held it in his hot little
hands. "You should put that down!" Nathaniel dropped the present and
looked round for his dad, but no one was there, he looked around again
but he was alone. "Who's there." He asked
"I'm right in front of you."
Nathaniel stared at the tree with an astounded expression under his
untidy mop of blond hair, "Are you a&;#8230;a&;#8230;talking
tree?"
"Yes, don't look so surprised, you must of seen a talking tree
before?"
"No, I haven't" answered Nathaniel.
"Oh well, you should of, now go back to bed and let me sleep."
Nathaniel obligingly stumbled up to bed, not sure of what else to do,
although he yearned to inquire more of this new discovery.
The next morning he woke up and remembered immediately what had
happened the night before. He opened his curtains, there had been a
fresh fall of snow and in it were foot prints, then he noticed his dad,
standing on the pavement, the police were there too, and his dad was
pointing at the front door. Nathaniel ran downstairs still in his
pyjamas. His mum was standing in the Hall looking at the mess. "What's
happened mum?" asked Nathaniel
Mrs Richards knelt down and held Nathaniel by the arms, "there's been a
break in Nat."
"A break in!" repeated Nathaniel, "what's been stolen?" Mrs Richards
led him into the front room and Nathaniel gasped, all his presents were
missing, the video, the TV, the stereo and the talking Christmas
tree.
Outside Nathaniel stood behind the police tape, an Officer was
measuring the footprints in the snow, to Nathaniel though they looked
more like the shuffle of roots as the tree made off with his presents.
Nathaniel though, thought it wise not the tell mum and dad about that
night before Christmas.
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