A VERY SPECIAL CHRISTMAS (PART SIX)

When they got back home, Ellie and Robert ran into
the kitchen yelling. "Nannie, Grandad we've brought an old man home with us."
"What's this about an old man?" Martha's mum
enquired.
"Oh mum this poor man was freezing under the bridge, could you open a tin of soup for him, I'll
run a bath, you children take him in the
front room, let him warm up by the fire."

The children were so excited at the prospect of
sharing Christmas with this complete stranger,
they could hardly contain themselves.
"What's your name?" Robert asked excitedly.
"You know lad, I cannot tell you, I haven't the
faintest idea how I got here, it's all so confusing," he said.

At that moment Sally Ann woke up crying.
"John can you see to the bath for our guest, while
I see to Sally Ann," Shouted Martha.
John was feeding Rusty in the kitchen. "Phew! this
is turning into one exhausting day. Yeh! I'll be
right there love, just feeding the dog."

Martha's dad walked in to the bedroom to find her
changing the babies nappie.
"Hello dad, what is it are you okay?"
"Ofcourse I am love, just thought our guest could
do with a change of clothes, he seems to be about
my size. There's socks and pants, trousers, a shirt and a jumper, Oh! and some slippers. Can't
have him getting back into those smelly clothes,
once he's had a bath. Got these slippers from your
mum for Christmas, so they are brand new."
"Oh dad you are so wonderful, I love you so much."

Down by the fire, the old man was warming up nicely. He had his soup and the colour was starting to come back to his cheeks.
"We got loads of computer games for Christmas,"
said Ellie, all excited at the prospect of this
old man, being her new friend.
"Did you, well I never, that sounds wonderful, you
will have to show me, when I've got all cleaned up," said the old man delighted.
John called down that the bath was ready.
"Come on Mister." said Robert, taking the man by
the hand, "your gonna get all nice and clean."
Ellie took his other hand, as they marched him
upstairs.

"Leave the man alone you two, give him some space," said Dad. John lead the old man to the
boxroom," you can change here, there is also a
change of clothes, which Martha's father has leant
you, we think your about the same size."
The old man started to well up,
"I really don't know how to thankyou enough, you
have all been so kind."
As John lay a sleeping bag on the floor, he told
the man, that it would be okay for him to stay the
night, but that tomorrow, he would have to inform
the police. The old man understood completely.
"I can't understand why I keep forgetting."
"Well," said John, "just don't go wandering off
anymore. I'll leave you to your bath."
As dad shut the door, he told Ellie and Robert to
come down stairs.

Nearly an hour later and the old man came down,
looking a different person.
"That bath was amazing, boy do I feel better."
"You look like a new man," said Ellie.
"I feel like one," said the old man.
They all laughed.

To be continued ..................