THE WORTH OF ONE - A CHRISTMAS STORY

By Tessa Harvey

    "Missy is my name for friends," as always Melissa answered for them both. "Jacob is ten and I am nine and a half." She flushed slightly, hoping for acceptance.

"My name is Gus. Please don't call me Augustus."
"And I am Ronnie, not Veronica." "Both ten," added Augustus, "well, nearly. Dad says I am not having a posh education like my older brothers -so I am an under-spare." After a few moments, the others laughed and became friends.
    A surly looking man had watched where the kids had gone. So Little Lord Fauntleroy has turned up here, he thought to himself. Serve him right if I dob in his whereabouts to some friends. He smiled, nastily and went back to his gardening, digging hard, aware Mrs. Smith was watching. I'll settle him, he thought. Settle up an old score.

Alissa Smith was also watching. Taking care to be hidden behind most of the fusty old upstairs curtains, she had watched the gardener, noting with surprise the look of sullen hate towards the blond small boy. He will bear watching, she thought, and a rare smile flitted briefly across her face. Watcher watching watchers, she thought wryly. Middle-aged and stern, Alissa nevertheless loved children but knew there had to be discipline. "And," she thought, suppressing the great grief that was never far away, "I will do a good job and protect them. Cruel hands have stolen my own grandchildren. I cannot find them. Nor my poor weak son." She turned and went to find the kitchen staff.  A new assistant house-matron was due today also.
    Thank God for hard work and a purpose and a secure job.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

THE WORTH OF ONE - A C H R I S T M A S STORY  By Tessa Harvey     "Jesus was born at Christmas." said the principal, firmly ignoring the interruptions. "He is the most important person in all the history of the world."     Aiden opened his mouth again, but the principal motioned for him to be silent, and he obeyed.     "Jesus is God.  He came to earth as a baby, grew up, was loved by many and died a cruel death so he could save us from all the bad things we have ever done. And." she added, raising her voice, looking in turn at each child, "every one of us is guilty of lying or stealing, being mean to others, thinking bad things. I know I am."     The children were silent, waiting. Something caused them to listen. The sun shone through the windows and they could hear the faint roar of the ride-on lawn mower. Still they waited.     "Jesus died and rose again from the dead. There is no grave for Jesus. He also came to show us the...
Read more
THE WORTH OF ONE - A C H R I S T M A S STORY By Tessa Harvey     It was the end of term and the students were gathered for the final assembly. Christmas songs were sung and beautiful verses were read by some of the pupils about the prophecies of the coming of Jesus in the Book of Isaiah in the Bible. They were written hundreds of years before the actual birth of Jesus. Other pupils read about the new-born King from the stories of Matthew and Luke.     Finally the principal spoke. "Jesus was truly human and truly divine, a part of God. He chose to come to earth to be the bridge separating us from the love of God, a Cross to cross the chasm. The bad things we do, the silly mean selfish things keep us from God.  But Jesus died to save us.     "A manger is really a food bowl. It is bigger than a small tray for bird seed, or a dog or cat bowl. It was big enough for cattle or donkeys - so it was able to hold Jesus as a tiny baby. Jesus loves each of us very...
Read more
THE WORTH OF ONE - A C H R I S T M A S  STORY   By Tessa Harvey     Just then there was a strident clamour of an electric bell.  It shattered the stillness. Aiden and Pamela bolted for the door. They struggled with the knob in their panic, enabling the principal to bar the way out. Jacob grabbed Melissa and headed under the biggest desk, leaving Veronica open-mouthed. It was only a bell! Augustus cradled his arm, looking uncertain.     "Calm down," called Mrs. O'Leary. "It is only a practice fire drill. Someone forgot to warn this class. Now line up sensibly near the door. Augustus and Veronica first, please, then Aiden and Pamela." Reluctantly they moved into place. "Now Jacob and Melissa. We go down to the school yard in two's following me. There is a VERY small fire rigged and one of the Junior children will show us how to use one of the school fire extinguishers.     Without looking back, the tall woman led the way firmly and the students...
Read more