³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ

With Santa off to spread joy across the globe delivering presents to the soon-to-be delighted children, Mrs Claus settled in for a cosy, Christmas Eve. She looked at the clock above the festive, firelit mantelpiece.

‘’He must be all the way to Northern Ireland by now, but wait… what’s this?’’

She noticed a neatly packaged parcel, tied with a cherry red ribbon on the coffee table. It looked suspiciously like the lunch she had prepared earlier for Mr Claus,

‘‘The massive melter’s done it again!’ she cried. With her usual plans ruined and her tubby hubby lunchless, Mrs Claus set out on her small, sports sleigh. She wrapped herself up, strapped on her boots and off she sped!

Through the baltic breeze and foundering fresh air, Mrs Claus, thanks to her ‘Santa Tracker’ app, finally caught up with her beloved, forgetful fatty in majestic Carryduff!

Flying over rooftops, she spied the big, red sleigh with footprints leading to a chimney. It was the perfect opportunity to give her husband the only Christmas gift he ever wanted: food!

She stealthily slipped his lunch onto his sleigh. Her unexpected adventure over, she flew back to her homely hideaway in Lapland. She de-suited and de-booted, sinking back into her comfy pyjamas and fluffy socks. She dozed off, dreaming of Christmas puddings.

The next morning she welcomed her husband at the door, his signature grin spread across his rosy red cheeks. But suddenly it faltered.

‘’What is it?’’

‘’Christmas crackers! I forgot to eat my lunch! Cookies aren’t as filling as people think’’ he announced, reaching for the little parcel she had wrapped neatly.

They both stared blankly at the Sonic Boom Blaster inside the wrapping.
Mrs Claus chuckled, ‘‘I hope little Tommy likes soda farls!"

You loved the doll's house that you saw every morning sitting solidly in the window of one of the big houses along the canal. You imagined the life of the little girl who owned the doll's house; she had her own bedroom with one of those fluffy white unicorn rugs that you desperately wanted and sparkly lights above her bed and at least two pairs of shoes. She'd have a mum and a dad and a little dog that would lick your hand when you stroked it behind the ear.

You hated having to live in one room and having to fold your bed out every night and share the bathroom with the other rooms on your floor. Your mum told you it was only for a week, but you've been living there for nearly a year now. You hate the dirty brown carpet with the burn marks and the stained furniture and the window that won't open and the view onto the dilapidated yard and the shouting from the rooms upstairs.

You see the Christmas trees go up all over Dublin and in the house by the canal they have two trees and a reindeer illuminated in their garden. You wonder if your mum will take the tiny tree out from under your bed. You wish that you could live in the pretty doll's house with its cozy front door: just you and your mum and you could have your own bedroom and a proper kitchen and a spotless bathroom with a lock that works.

You get your Christmas holidays and your mum tells you she has a Christmas surprise for you. She shows you a key and tells you to pack your things because the council have finally found you a real house, not a doll's house.

One cold winter’s morning in the living room of a big house, the tinsel sparkled in the light. Two lonely baubles hung down at the bottom of the Christmas tree.
Green sighed sadly “No one ever notices us down here.”
Red, another fellow bauble at the bottom of the tree, agreed and then got to work thinking.
All of a sudden, they heard a squeak that came from the small mouse hole at the corner of the living room wall, they watched as a mouse climbed up the oak dining table.
Green had a great idea, ‘’Mouse has tiny claws on his tiny paws that makes him a great climber, why don’t we ask him to help us get to the top of the Christmas tree?”
“MOUSE!” red shouted.
He was busy munching on gingerbread on the dining table, he got so scared and fell on the floor with a BANG!
“Red, Green?”, “I thought you were human”, said confused Mouse.
“Can you please help us get to the top of the tree?” said red.
Mouse hesitated slightly but then agreed. He grabbed some icing off the gingerbread, so he had some grip on the tree. He started to slowly pull Red, branch by branch. Suddenly his small feet slipped off one branch and almost dropped poor Red, he got back to his balance and continued to climb. Once Mouse reached the top, he made the journey back down to get Green.
He managed to get them both up safely. An exhausted Mouse and two excited baubles loved looking at the view from so high up. They thanked Mouse and off he went back to his humble home.