A choral Christmas
This was written in 2012 for a magazine produced by DNO (Down not out) a media organization set up to raise awareness about homeless ness that I was a volunteer for.
A Choral Christmas by Ken Duddle.
It was Christmas Eve and all was quiet in the house but for the un-tuneful singing of the oldest resident Kneezup Rouge.
Even though living in shared accommodation he felt his life was about to change for the better. He had a new job,found a place of his own to live and had met the woman of his dreams.
Suddenly a flash of light momentarily blinded him and before him stood a man dressed in red. Kneezup blinked then gasped, 'Father Christmas, things can't get any better!' 'Father Christmas?' came the reply, 'Humbug. He is just a fantasy. I am a Christmas Ghost. I do have a present for you, but first I am going to take you on a journey.'
Just then there was a knock on the door. Kneezup opened it to see a young boy dressed in rags. He smiled as he held a bowl in front of him.
'Excuse me sir, My name is Ollie,would you be having some spare gruel for a poor boy?' Kneezup and the Ghost looked at each other, then at the boy. Speaking together they both said 'Sod off,' as Kneezup slammed the door shut. ;Now where were we?, the Ghost said, 'I know... a little trip.' With these words the Ghost snapped his fingers and Kneezup found himself in a strange room. Before him stood two people, one he reconized as himself. The other was speaking. 'I'm sorry the business has gone up-the-spout,there isn't even a penny to pay severance.' 'What is this?' Kneezup said to the Ghost. 'This is your future,and there's more.'
He snapped his fingers again and Kneezup found himself looking at a house that had a ''TO LET'' sign in front of it. 'This is your new house,or should I say ''was'', and not waiting for an answer the Ghost snapped his fingers again. Now Kneezup was in a room that he knew as his girlfriend's flat. From an ajoining room there came strange sounds.
Curiosity got the better of him and he opened the door. He immediately shut it again.
'How dare she.' He blurted out. 'She never let me do that.' 'Well Kneezup,said the Ghost, I suppose she is your past as well'
Suddenly he was back in his small room. 'Why have you done this? Kneezup said slumping in a chair.
'I will leave you to reflect on that. You are back where you started,with no room to swing a cat and a TV with no arial. With that the Ghost was gone. 'Thanks!' said Kneezeup, 'and where's my present?'
Kneezeup went to the kitchen cupboard and brought out a bottle of whiskey and a glass.'Not a drink for a week and now I don't care anymore.' He thought to himself.
He poured some whiskey into the glass then raised it to his mouth. Halfway uphe stopped. 'Wait,what am I doing?,he said aloud, 'the job wasn't so great, 50 hours a week?, no thank you, that girl was just a fling, and as for the flat,well as my dear old Mum used to say about buses,another will be along shortly.'
Kneezuup poured the glass of whiskey down the sink and put the bottle back in the cupboard. He started singing, 'I'm H.A.P.P.Y, I'm H.A.P.P.Y, yes I am,yes I am,I'm H.A.P..P.Y'
For Kneezup now knew what the Ghost's present was.
He had been given the gift of positive thinking.
Comments