A Family Christmas

A family Christmas can be delightful but despairing at the sight of the growing washing up pile I took a moment to myself to write this little festive tale… for anyone just about pushed to the limit.

Unsplash image @scott_umstattd

Sue surveyed the mountain of washing up from Christmas dinner. Her daughter’s family had descended, eaten like the proverbial locusts, and disappeared before it got dark.

“Colin hates driving in the dark, otherwise we’d stay longer,” said Mandy who navigated her own tightrope, balancing family life.

Why do we do it to ourselves thought Sue?

Just as she was dialling up her mood to full martyr level, her neighbour Seamus wandered into the kitchen carrying a rustling bin bag.

“You’ve got a grand family there Sue. Little Mia brought me all the joys of the season. Thank you for inviting me over to share a family Christmas with you. Now let’s get this clearing up out of the way and we can settle down with a rather nice bottle of brandy my son sent me. If I’m not being too forward?”

Sue didn’t know whether to burst into tears or hug him but in her momentary confusion and inaction there he was, her Christmas angel, snapping a pair of marigolds on his hairy hands, while whistling Joy to the World.