Rhiannon's Christmas

Rhiannon's Christmas

By Dave Gore 

It was Christmas eve.  The streets and houses in Dartmouth were covered in crisp new snow. All the trees were decorated with coloured fairy lights and people were rushing around making sure that everything was ready for Christmas day. 

In one house a little girl named Rhiannon was helping her mother to finish off a cake that she had baked earlier in the day.   ‘Time for bed’ said Rhiannon’s mother when they had finished decorating the cake and don’t get to excited or you won’t sleep tonight.

Soon Rhiannon was tucked up in her bed and fast asleep, dreaming of Father Christmas traveling on his sleigh through the snow filled skies, with all the presents stacked high in the back and the reindeers, led by Rudolph pulling the sleigh as fast as the could, so that all the presents would be delivered on time. 

In the early hours of Christmas morning a knocking sound woke Rhiannon up, ‘what was that she said’, listening again she once more heard the knocking, so getting quietly out of bed Rhiannon went to the window, the knocking was now getting louder and coming from behind the curtains.

Feeling a little frightened Rhiannon thought, I wonder what it is, shall I look?  She crept up to the curtains, the knocking was now even louder than before.  It must be a giant or a monster to make that much noise, she thought.  Slowly, very slowly Rhiannon lifted a corner of the curtain and then jumped back in fright, she said what is it, ‘O’ how she wished that she had stayed in bed so that she could pull the covers up over her head.

The knocking was very loud now just as if someone was beating on a drum, what was that big red light and that face outside my window, thought Rhiannon!  Beginning to feel a little braver she decided to have another look.  I’ll tell it to go away and to stop scaring me, she said.  Creeping back to the curtains, she held one in each hand and taking a deep breath, saying 1...2...3 she pulled the curtains quickly apart.

This time the red light and face jumped back.  Rhiannon looked out of the window and thought, I know that face, I’ve seen it in my story book, It’s Rudolph the red nosed reindeer, what’s he doing in Dartmouth.

Slowly Rudolph came back to the window and began knocking again with his antlers.  Rhiannon carefully opened the window. 

‘What’s the matter? what do you want’, she asked.  Turning Rudolph flew a little way from the window and the came back and tossed his head.  ‘O, do you want me to come with you’, asked Rhiannon.  Rudolph nodded his head.  ‘Well, wait a minute and I’ll get dressed’. 

Soon Rhiannon was sitting on Rudolph’s back and flying into the night sky.  Holding tightly to Rudolph’s neck, Rhiannon watched the snow covered fields and the iced up rivers slip past below them. 

They flew over cities and towns and then over the North sea. Rhiannon shut her eyes, they were now flying straight towards a very large mountain, it was covered all the way from top to bottom with soft white snow. 

Stop, Stop shouted Rhiannon, but Rudolph kept flying straight towards the mountain’s side.  Squeezing her eyes tightly closed Rhiannon waited for them to hit the mountain.  Nothing happened! 

Rhiannon put a hand over her eyes, then slowly opened them to peep out of her parted fingers.  They were now flying down a steep tunnel, right into the heart of the mountain. 

Taking her hand away from her eyes Rhiannon, saw that the walls were covered with brightly coloured stones that sparkled as they sped past.  They look just like fairy lights Rhiannon whispered. 

Rudolph began to slow down and gently landed in a large room. 

There were parcels everywhere, all in different shapes and sizes, from big ones to very small ones and each of them wrapped in brightly coloured Christmas wrapping paper. 

Oh, I wonder what’s in all those parcels thought Rhiannon, her eyes beginning to go as big as saucers.

Looking around she clapped her hands in excitement as she saw a huge Christmas tree which seemed to go all the way to the top of the mountain. 

It was covered in fairy lights which twinkled like stars and right on top of the tree was a big fairy.  Sliding down from Rudolph’s back, Rhiannon’s eyes returned to the parcels with their brightly coloured bows and wrapping paper, this must be where Father Christmas lives, said Rhiannon.

On hearing this Rudolph nodded his head and then started to walk towards a big wooden door, which was tucked away in one corner of the room.  Following him she helped Rudolph to knock on the door.

Who is it? Go away, I don’t want to see anyone, said a gruff old voice.  Rudolph knocked again, go away I want to be left alone the voice said ‘O’, I’m so unhappy.

This time Rhiannon knocked, please let us in, she cried.  Who are you replied the voice, I told you that I want to be left alone.  I’m Rhiannon and I’ve come a long way with Rudolph to see you.  Well, you had better ask Rudolph to take you back said the voice, because I’m not seeing you.  Nobody believes I’m real anyway.

Rhiannon knocked even harder on the door.  Please let me in said Rhiannon, or I shall ask Rudolph to bang hard with his antlers and I’ll knock hard to and then you will have to open the door because of the noise.

Oh pesky children grumbled the voice from the other side of the door, O.K., O.K. come in then, the door’s not locked.

Carefully opening the door Rhiannon, followed by Rudolph entered the room.  In the corner was a fire, the flames were leaping merrily up the chimney and in front of the fire with its back to the door, was a very big chair.  Rhiannon could just see the top of someone’s head leaning on the back of it.  Rhiannon walked quietly up to the chair and standing to the side, looked at the old man sitting there.

His hair and beard were as white as the snow that Rhiannon had seen falling onto the mountain, he was dressed in a bright red suit which a large black belt around the middle and was trimmed with white fur around the edges.  His face was large and round and almost as red as his suit.  But Oh, he did look unhappy.  Well, he said grumpily.  What do you want, who said you could come here and disturb me.

My name is Rhiannon, she told him and Rudolph brought me here, who are you.  Pushing himself up so that he sat high in the chair the old man said, Rudolph should not have brought you here, it doesn’t matter who I am because nobody believes in me anyway. 

Please tell me your name, said Rhiannon.  I’m known as, or used to be known as Father Christmas, he said with a sigh, but as nobody believes in me now I feel so unhappy and a big tear rolled out of his eye and trickled slowly down his face into his long white beard.

Don’t be sad said Rhiannon, I believe in you.  You’re just saying that to make me feel better, replied Father Christmas.  No really, replied Rhiannon, I do believe in you, honestly.  In fact I was very excited when I went to bed tonight thinking of all the presents you might leave me.

Huh grunted Father Christmas, there won’t be any presents for you or anyone else tonight, I’m not leaving my chair, I’m going to stay here and keep warm in front of the fire, instead of going out in the wind and snow and getting cold and wet.

Rhiannon began to cry, she just couldn’t help it.  Great big tears rolled down her cheeks.  Rubbing her eyes she sobbed.  Your not the real Father Christmas, he wouldn’t let all the children in the world be sad when they wake up in the morning to find no presents.

Rhiannon turned away and began to walk towards the door.

She walked through the door, passed Rudolph and the big Christmas tree and on past all the brightly wrapped presents.  Soon she was walking back up the tunnel with the twinkling stones, towards the stars she could see twinkling in the dark evening sky beyond the entrance to the mountain.

And where do you think your going, boomed a voice behind her.  I’m going home, sobbed Rhiannon, she had never been so unhappy in all her life.  Ho, ho, ho, laughed Father Christmas and how are you going to get there?

Rhiannon stopped.  She hadn’t thought of that, Rudolph will take me home she shouted, no he can’t said Father Christmas, he’s going to be busy tonight.  He’s got to help the other reindeers pull my sleigh.

Oh whispered Rhiannon, so you are Father Christmas.

Come on, Father Christmas chuckled, you’ll have to help me, I’m late and there’s lots of work to be done, before all the children in the world wake up in the morning.

Rhiannon laughed.  She turned and ran back down the tunnel and leapt into Father Christmas arms and gave him a big hug and a kiss.  Thank you, said Father Christmas, you’ve made me happy again.  Smiling he thought.  So long as there’s just one child who believes in me. 

Rhiannon and Father Christmas spent the next hour working very hard, they put all the presents in big sacks and then loaded them onto the sleigh. 

Rudolph led the other reindeers into the room so that they could be harnessed to the sleigh.  Rudolph right at the front of course, he would light Father Christmas across the dark evening sky with his big shinny red nose.

Picking Rhiannon up Father Christmas put her in the sleigh, climbed in beside her and tucked a large fur rug around them both.

He flicked the reins and off they went.  The reindeers gently nodding their heads to the tinkling of the silver bells on the harness.  Slowly they went at first, then faster and faster, until the bright coloured stones in the tunnel flashed fast so quickly that they looked just like a rainbow.  Faster still they flew, right out of the mountain and up into the night sky. 

It was snowing quite heavy now but still the reindeers sped on, over great seas, iced up rivers and white snow filled fields.  At each town and city reached the reindeers would slow down and land gently on the roofs of all the houses.  Father Christmas told Rhiannon which presents he needed and then he would disappear to deliver them. 

When every house had been visited and every boy and girl had their presents, the reindeers would sore up again into the night sky towards the next city or town.

Very soon there were only a few presents left in the sleigh.  Only one more place to visit, said Father Christmas, but this time there was no answer from Rhiannon.  Father Christmas looked across and smiled as he saw Rhiannon covered up and fast asleep. 

Ho, Ho, ho, chuckled Father Christmas, I think we had better get you back to your bed.  Land on Rhiannon’s roof next Rudolph, said Father Christmas.

Rudolph and the other reindeers soon arrived at Rhiannon’s house and landed softly on the roof.  Father Christmas picked Rhiannon up and finding her presents gently tucked her up in bed. 

Rhiannon was woken by the church bells ringing to announce Christmas day.  Rhiannon rubbed her eyes and jumped out of bed to see if there were any presents for her.  There were lots and lots all wrapped up in brightly coloured wrapping paper.  Clutching the biggest one Rhiannon ran to show her mum and dad.

Look.....look what Father Christmas left for me.

What have you got asked Rhiannon’s mum.  Come on, open it up and let’s see.

Rhiannon opened her present and found a beautiful talking doll, dressed beautifully in a long, lacy yellow dress.

The next few minutes were spent opening presents and showing them to her mum and dad along with all of Patrick’s presents. 

When the last present had been opened Rhiannon picked up her talking doll and jumped onto her dad’s lap.  I helped Father Christmas last night, said Rhiannon.  What do you mean, said her mum and dad.

Rhiannon told them all about what had happened during the night and when she had finished they both began to laugh.

I think you were just excited when you went to bed, said Rhiannon’s mum, you dreamt it.  I didn’t it really happened replied Rhiannon.  Well said mum, if you worked that hard helping Father Christmas you must be very hungry now.

The table was set and they sat down to eat breakfast.  What was that asked dad.  What cried Rhiannon Patrick and mum together.  I can hear a knocking noise, listen. 

They all sat very quiet to listen.  Yes, I can hear it, said Rhiannon’s mum, it’s coming from the other room.

All four of them went into the other room, but the knocking had stopped, they looked around but couldn’t see anything, nothing that could have been knocking anyway. 

Looking at the Christmas tree Patrick asked, what’s that, look next to the tree.  It looks like another present, said dad.  It can’t be said Rhiannon, me and Patrick opened all of them.  Well you must have missed that one said mum.

Rhiannon ran towards the tree and knelt down next to the present and looked at the card attached to it.  It’s for me, Rhiannon said excitedly.  Rhiannon carefully untied the pink ribbon and pushed the holly wrapping paper aside.  It was a model of a snow covered mountain.

Where did that come from, asked Rhiannon’s dad, I don’t know shrugged Rhiannon.

Rhiannon was pulling open the front of the mountain, it’s was just like Father Christmas’ home.  There was a large Christmas tree with fairy lights on it and right at the top a shining star, presents all around and the door into the room where Father Christmas had been sitting. 

There was also a sleigh with all the reindeers and Rudolph with his bright red nose right at the front.  Sitting holding the reins was Father Christmas. 

Rhiannon lay on the floor and gazed at him.  Father Christmas slowly turned his head and winked.  Oh thank you said Rhiannon and winked back, and putting a finger to her lips she whispered.

I’ll keep your secret.

 

THE END

Dave Gore © 2014