‘Thereabouts’ he says, unable to keep a smile from his voice.
‘I love it already’ her free hand squeezes his arm excitedly ‘It SOUNDS nice’
‘Yer daft begger’
‘No, I mean it’s busy and the music...I love Christmas music and everyone’s all busy...and it’s busy and noisy and ....ohhhh...I don’t know..... Everyone’s busy getting ready for Christmas and I love Christmas’
‘Busy’s right word fer it, I s’pose’ he snorts as they edge forwards.
‘Is that why we’ve slowed down? Are there lots of people in the way? Can I take this thing off yet? Are we nearly there?’
‘I got t’let go on yer proper, so don’t you move’ George takes her hand from under his elbow and lays it against his upper arm on the sleeve of his coat ‘You just ‘old on there fer a minute’
‘What are you doing?’ Jessie tries to peer from under the blindfold as George fumbles in his pocket.
‘Never you mind’
‘One and one, sir?’
‘Tha’s right’ he clears his throat with a cough of embarrassment ‘Two’ he takes back the endorsed tickets.
‘Two what George? Who was that? What are you doing?’
‘Old yer ‘orses’ Jessie feels him return his wallet to one pocket and his other hand pushing into a second. ‘Ere we go then, ‘opes yer like it’ he says anxiously ‘Stand still so’s I c’n get this thing off’ he moves behind her to undo the knot in his scarf. ‘There yer go, gal’ he rests his hands on her shoulders, turning her slightly as the scarf falls away ‘Appy Christmas’
‘Oh George!’ Jessie stands agape, her eyes shining with excitement as she looks up, down and around, her tiny feet beating a tattoo of delight ‘Santa’s Grotto! You’ve brought me to see Father Christmas! Oh George!’ she turns to fling her arms around his neck ‘Father Christmas! Thank you, thank you, thank you!’
‘Give over, woman’ he reddens as a sea of tiny faces and the larger ones of their escorts turn to see what the commotion is about.
‘This is the best thing...the best thing...anyone has ever done for me!’ he voice starts to crack ‘Look at all the elves, look at them! And the snow...and a Bambi, a real live Bambi!’
‘I never meant fer yer t’bawl’
‘I’m not, I’m not! Come on...Where do we go? What do we do? Where is he?’
‘Calm down fer gawd’s sake, yer’ll ‘ave ‘eart attack’ George chortles ‘I done alright, then?’
‘Shush! I can’t hear. Listen! What’s it saying?’ Jessie cocks her ear towards the entrance to the grotto.
‘We’ll find out in a minute, we’re in the next lot, I reckon. You’ll miss summat the way you’re carryin’ on. You got time t’see all wha’s out ere first’
‘Isn’t it beautiful?’ she breathes in wonderment as they follow the queue beneath arching branches of frosted trees twinkling with fairy lights ‘The snow looks so real...and it crunches!’ she looks down at her feet, scuffing the snow side to side ‘There’s more Bambis, look! And there’s...Thumper!’ They pause, Jessie’s hands gripping the snow glistened barrier at one edge of the fashioned path ‘Lots of Thumpers....bet there’ll be a few more after this is all done ‘she giggles and nudges George in the ribs as they are ushered through a doorway into relative darkness by Snow White ‘Oh! And I know what this is’ the volume of the piped music rises as they stand and look in the lighted windows of a cottage ‘They’re not in’ she observes.
‘Who int?’
‘Them!’ she spins round as the area on other side of the gangway becomes bathed in a warm red glow and she almost squeals with glee and claps her hands together as The Seven Dwarves arrive through a tunnel on a series of sleighs.
‘This’ll be yer ‘Magic Trip’’ George says, fetching the tickets from his trouser pocket and peering at them, having to hold them to the light in the hopes of making out what they say. ‘Ang on!’ he grabs Jessie’s sleeve ‘Let the kiddies get on first’
‘Bags me a seat with Doc, he looks a bit of all right’ her eyebrows jump up and down.
‘Behave yerself woman!’
‘Yes dear’ she hunches her shoulders with excitement ‘This really is the best th...’
‘Go on! Yer missing yer turn’ he gestures towards the low picket gate with a flick of his head and, welcomed by Doc, they are shown to the last in the line of sleighs.
Jessie smiles up at George ‘I got my wish’ she giggles ‘You be in front, I’ll be next so I can sit by him as well’ she pushes him ahead of her.
‘I know you don’t I?’ Doc says very quietly as he helps her get into the sleigh and settles himself in the last seat.
‘You do?’ she blinks in astonishment ‘I don’t think I recognise you’
‘No, you probably wouldn’t’ he replies glumly ‘I was the Bog Monster...
Jessie snorts with laughter
‘You know...at the book signing a while back’ he explains more fully ‘You are Myrtle aren’t you?’
‘I am’ she grins at him ‘I didn’t think anyone would ever recognise me...and I do remember you. Not your face but I remember you looked smelly and horrible’
‘Thanks’ he grimaces a smile.
‘Wha’s goin on?’ George asks from the other side of her ‘This is my treat t’yer. It int fer you t’be chattin blokes up’
‘Nooo’ she whispers, leaning back as the dwarf leans forward ‘This is my husband’ she smiles proudly ‘and this is his Christmas treat to me. Isn’t it wonderful! George...this is...’ she bites her lip ‘The Bog Monster’ she snorts again ‘Ohhh....we’re moving!’ she forgoes any further introductions to grip the rail in front of her, her eyes alight with anticipation as the sleighs slowly glide around the circular narrow gauge track to disappear into another tunnel opening ‘George, look!’
‘Blimey!’ Even George looks amazed as they appear to be travelling downwards as the scenery rushes up and past them to the sound of tiny picks echoing in the distance. Jewels sparkle from glistening rock and here and there glowing miners’ lamps light their path.
Jessie joins others in the chorus started by the Dwarves. ‘HEIGH HOOOOOOOO!’ she warbles ‘Come on, George, join in!’ she bounces on the seat ‘IT’S OFF TO WORK WE GO!’ She puts her mouth to his ear ‘I know a rude version of this but I’ll sing it you later’ she faces forward again, her eyes aglow ‘Isn’t this fantastic?’
George shakes his head slowly, the biggest grin spread over his face at her obvious enjoyment.
‘Aaw’ for a moment her face falls as they appear to slow ‘I was enjoying that. Is it over?’ she asks Doc the Dwarf but before he can answer the lights come up ahead of them to illuminate a cavern shimmering in gold. She cranes her neck to see ‘It’s HIM! George, George! It’s HIM!’
‘Shussshhh’ he pulls on the back of her coat to get her to sit down properly as much smaller caves light up each side of the track.
‘If we’d been on the first one, we would have been there by now!’ she sighs.
‘But yer wouldn’t a been sittin next ter one yer fancied the look on, would yer?’ George points out in something louder than the whisper he intended.
Jessie slaps his thigh and shushes him as the Dwarf laughs quietly ‘They’re doing photos’ she raises herself again to peer over the heads of those in front ‘Can I have a photo, George, can I, can I?’ she grins as she deliberately, but without much effort, mimics an excited child, sitting down as the sleighs move slowly forward and the second group are ushered forward. ‘This is going to take ages!’
‘It doesn’t take that long really’ Doc whispers ‘You’re supposed to be watching all the other dwarves working away in the caves. That’s all the little ones can see just yet’
‘Sorry’ Jessie realises her mistake ‘Of course they can’t. It’s just that I’m so excited’
‘I wouldn’t have guessed’ he says with a wry grin before turning his attention to the small child sitting on the other side of George and pointing out for all of them the buckets loaded with gold and jewels being raised from the bottom of a cave in a never ending relay to the top and out of sight. His eyes wide with wonder, the boy watches mechanical dwarves chip ceaselessly at the rock while others push small barrows to feed the belt which fills the buckets, returning to the rock face in a continuous loop to load up again.
‘That was so clever’ Jessie remarks, as the sleigh moves forward again and another tableau comes into view.
The hubbub of excited voices grows louder as they pass slowly by a further four glimpses of dwarves at their work. ‘It’s us next!’ Jessie can hardly contain herself as their sleigh finally draws forward and stops level with the shimmering gold cavern.
‘And Doc has brought some friends to see me too!’ Father Christmas greets them with his arms spread wide and a deep voiced ‘Ho, Ho, Ho’ of pleasure. ‘Hello children and welcome to my very special friends’ caves. Did you enjoy the ride?’
A chorus of small voices and Jessie agree they did as they line up to face the seat hewn from the golden rock where Father Christmas sits surrounded by piles of presents wrapped in jewel coloured foil. One by one they are led forward and introduced by Doc. Suddenly shy, Jessie hangs back when it comes to her turn.
‘Go on’ George prods her forward.
‘I feel daft now I’m here’ she hisses from one side of her mouth.
‘You are bloomin daft’ he agrees with a chortle.
‘Everyone’s watching’
‘Them’s too busy openin their presents t’be lookin. Get on wi’yer’
‘And who have we got here?’ Father Christmas asks, his beard quivering with suppressed laughter.
‘This is Jessie’ Doc says, reading from the ticket George gave him when they first got onto the sleigh ‘And she tells me she’s been very good this year’ he has difficulty keeping his face straight too.
‘Is that right?’ he beckons her closer
‘I’ve been very, very good. You ask George’ Jessie’s hesitancy disappears and she giggles as she moves to stand to one side of him.
‘Then I had better bring you something extra nice on Christmas Eve, hadn’t I? Have you made a wish for anything special?’
‘Only another day like today’ for a brief second, her mouth quivers ‘I’ve never come to see you before’ she admits ‘I’ve brought someone to see you but I’ve never been for myself and it’s been......magic!’ she finishes with a beaming smile, a camera flashes and makes her jump ‘Doesn’t anyone say ‘Cheese’ or anything?’
‘Not always’ he surreptitiously raises the toe of one of his boots to reveal a domed rubber pad set into the floor ‘there’s one of my little elves down there and when I tap my foot, he knows it’s time to take your picture’ his head tilts closer to confide ‘You can’t see him because he’s magic too’
She giggles again ‘Don’t I get to sit on your lap?’
He rubs the knees of his voluminous red trousers ‘My poor old knees are not what they used to be, so I’ve got to say no...but how about I choose you a nice present to take away with you?’ his arm curls around her shoulders.
‘Yes please’ her head nods repeatedly and the camera flashes again.
Chapter Thirty-four
Hartley's Department Store, Woodbury
