A Tuesday Tale - When you do NOT want to know

At the age of nine I had a very knowledgeable friend called Wendy. We were inseparable, a bit like twins joined at the hip, but Wendy was much more 'street-wise' than 'yours truly'.

I was an only child and very trusting, without older siblings to enlighten me about some things. We had a ritual - ha, a bit like Len and I sitting in the garden mulling over the day really - where my Mum would perch on the edge of the bath each evening and listen to what the day had held for me. I betcha she was also making sure I scrubbed my knees and washed behind my ears :)

This particular evening, just before Christmas, I'd come home from school very subdued and just pushed my meal around the plate, emitting sad little sighs - so Mum know that something was up. Eventually, at bath time it all tumbled out amidst floods of tears. Between my sobs and huge hiccups Mum managed to find out that Wendy had enlightened me as to one or two facts about 'The Big Fat Man In The Red Suit' - and I was distraught. Not for fear of the lack of presents but because something I'd so fervently believed in was otherwise. I'm choosing my words carefully here - who knows who might look in and no way to I want to upset anyone's beliefs right now. All the mystery and magic had been blown apart by this revelation and for days I was inconsolable! My poor parents were really shaken and felt very guilty about it all I later learned.

So, that probably explains why I bounced back with a vengeance and far from ideas being destroyed they are probably more magical then ever - despite the domestic rushing around, I adore Christmas!

The little extra to this story comes from that same evening when Mum and Dad had eventually calmed me down enough to be tucked up in bed and then some explaining was done by them.

As I settled down under the covers finally quietened down and feeling sleepy - just before the bedroom door was closed by my quite shaken parents this is what happened. I popped my head over the covers and with a shake of the head said 'By the way, Wendy also told me where babies come from. And you know what, I wasn't impressed by THAT one either'!!

The Christmas ritual was always to leave a mince pie and a glass of port out for Santa - plus a carrot for Rudolph. I rather suspect, that evening the port was opened in advance of Christmas and that Mum and Dad had a glass each to steady their shattered nerves!! The interesting thing is that 'where babies come from' was waaaaaay down there in the 'shocking revelations league' with me - the focus was all on Santa and the babies had almost been forgotten.

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