When I was ten

 Foxgloves and silver stars,

The moon that shines so bright,

Playing in the garden

In the middle of the night.

Writing on my ruler

So happy to be ten,

Writing in Italics

With my smart new fountain pen.

 'Daisies are our silver

Buttercups our gold',

Oh I can't imagine

Ever growing old.

Going to my auntie's

On a Saturday afternoon,

My cousin is a courting

In the smart front room.

Going with my brother 

On the bus into the town,

Shopping for our mother

With a shiny new half crown.

Going to the sweet shop

With our pocket money,

Buying shrimps and wagon wheels

And liquorice for a penny.

Going to the seaside,

Swanage, Studland Bay,

Off to Burnham Beeches

But only for the day.

Looking for the evening star

Before we go to sleep,

Making wishes constantly

Promises to keep.,

Sausage rolls and madeleines,

Learning how to bake

Coconut ice and chocolate fudge

And Dad's Madeira cake.

Playing in our tree house,

Trying to fly a broom,

If only we'd wished hard enough

We could have reached the moon.

Digging to Australia

With a little plastic spade 

In the car outside The Hour Glass

With crisps and lemonade.

Bunty, Judy, Eagle, Swift

We'd eagerly devour.

Watching children's television

But only for an hour.

Lucille Ball and Benny Hill

Would have us both in fits.

Learning how to twist away

Trying to do the splits.

'You were made for me',

We'd sing and dance and play,

'I feel fine' 'Twist and shout'

And 'Summer Holiday.'

'Return to Sender 

Address unkown,' 

Washing up 

With our Auntie Joan.

'The Wayward Wind' and 'Please, please me',

Salmon sandwiches

On Sunday for tea.

'Stranger on the shore'

Sunday Roast.

In front of the fire

Making toast.

'Like a mashed potato, I can do the twist'

Oh I loved the world like this.

 

 

'Venus in blue jeans'

I loved that song

And I could go on,and on,

Being that little girl again

The one I was

When I was ten.

 

 

 

 

 

 

It can be Christmas every day.

    The car park was full and a long queue had formed. Jack turned to his wife Claire and whispered nervously, 'Are you sure we need to do any more shopping for Christmas? I think Father Christmas has already been very generous.'

    Claire glanced at the kids in the back seat and put her finger to her lips. He turned towards her and frowned. Probably she was still feeling a bit hurt by him after last night. He felt uncomfortable at the memory. He had made the mistake of opening their bank statement in the kitchen right as she was trying to feed Sam the baby, while making tea for the three year old twins, Freddy and Hector, and five year old daugther Emma. Claire's hair was in a mess, her face smeared with something orange. He'd glanced at the statement and started to rant about money, Christmas, his parents, and on top of that his horrible childhood Christmas memories. Claire had sat up straighter and stayed very still until he had finished and stomped out of the room, like a grumpy teenager.

    Suddenly, the car in front started to reverse into them and Jack blasted the horn and swore in fear. The car stopped. The twins went into hysterics and tried to repeat what Jack had said. 'Ugger, ugger' they shouted, while Emma giggled. Jack's heart lifted at the sound of his daughter's laughter. Last night while he was going on about all the Christmas expenses, he had turned to see Emma's little face looking worried and he had felt embarressed about his behaviour. He'd always vowed that he would never argue in front of his children. Memories of his parents constant rowing and bickering still distressed him.

    Claire put  the twins favourite Cd in the car radio and the kids started up a rousing chorus of 'Jingle bells'. She put her hand on Jack's leg and squeezed it. He immediately felt calmer and realized she had forgiven him and he turned to smile at her. One of the many things he loved about her, was her amazing ability to stay calm and speak with kindness.

    'Look! There's a space daddy,' Emma shouted and the twins started chanting 'Space daddy, space daddy, we're going to the moon.'

    Jack swung into the space and tried not to catch the eye of the driver in front who by then had got out of his car and was glaring back at him with a menacing look. 'I was first mate, that was my space.' the man growled.

    Claire as usual came to the rescue with her most winning smile and pointed further along, 'Look, that van's going and leaving a much bigger gap.' she said in a reassuring voice. The man relaxed and smiled back and even waved, 'Merry Christmas!'. Such was the effect of Claire's ways.

    Jack grabbed her hand, 'I'm so sorry about yesterday, please forgive me Claire.' For an answer she planted a kiss full on his lips and the twins made kissing noises and shouted, 'Daddy's eating mummy, yum yum.'

    As soon as they were out of the car, Claire said she was going ahead with Emma and the twins to look at shoes for Emma and would meet him in the cafè in twenty minutes. 

    'Tell you what, darling' said Jack. 'You girls go looking for shoes, while I look after the boys, so you have some quality time together.' 

    'Ok, my love. Are you sure that's not too much for you?' replied Claire eyeing the baby in the buggy and the twins who were running circles around them. Then she smiled and said. 'Well, actually that's a great idea.' while giving him the list of presents to buy at the Perfume counter for his mother and sisters-in-law.

    'Come along boys, let's go'. said Jack as he pushed the buggy into the revolving doors and caught sight of his reflection in the glass. He thought he looked like Father Christmas with his sleigh. He looked quite silly. He was wearing a red hat with a white pom-pom, the twins had reindeer antlers and the baby had a brown teddy bear hat. The twins clung to either side of the buggy and looked around them like two miniature bodyguards daring anyone to touch the baby. Jack manoeuvred them all round to the perfume counter and got out Claire's list.

    In front of him was a tall smartly dressed man with his arms round a stunning blond. She was wearing a short white fur coat and hot pants, sheer tights and black suede stiletto boots. They both turned as Jack reached out to stop the baby from pulling down a display of shiny glass bottles. It was his colleague from London, Matt.

    'Hi Jack, Merry Christmas, I say ho! ho! ho! Have you lost your way? Where have all these children come from? You've been busy.'

    'Hi Matt, very funny, Merry Christmas to you too.'

    Matt put his arm around his companion and beamed at Jack.
    'This is Flora. We're doing our last minute shopping then we're off to the Caribbean for two weeks.'

    Jack gaped as Flora's fur coat fell open to reveal a very low cut top that left nothing to the imagination.
    The twins looked up at him to see what he was staring at.

    'Titty, titty' they shrieked.

    They blew their cheeks out and made loud popping noises.
    The baby tried to join in but only managed a few bubbles.
    Jack put out a restraining hand and stroked the baby's head.

    'I'm meeting Claire in the café would you like to join us?'

    'No thanks Jack, we've got to meet some friends at the Oyster bar and we're already late.'

    There was a loud ripping noise as the baby succeeded in his attempt to tear off a poster showing a beautiful busty blonde and buried his face in the paper cleavage. The twins jumped up and down.

    'Baby Sam kissing lady!'

    The young assistant rushed round to help Jack as he struggled to put the poster back, his hat had fallen off and his thick fair hair tumbled round his face.

    'OOH,  aren't you gorgeous,' she simpered and touched his arm.

    One of the twins took his antlers off and waved them in her face.

    'My daddy, my daddy. Don't touch'.

    She stood up still transfixed by Jack and turned to Matt and Flora.

    'You don't mind if I serve this gentleman first do you? I think he's got his hands full.'

    When Jack had paid for his shopping, he turned to thank Matt and Flora. He was taken aback by the look of admiration on Matt's face and.. could he also detect a hint of envy?     

    Once if he'd been asked he would have gone to the Caribbean for Christmas in a flash. He had hated Christmas as a child, dreaded all the bad will that seemed to surround his parents. When he left school his parents went their separate ways and he always found an excuse to be away for Christmas. 

    Then, a few months ago, thanks to Claire, his parents had come back into his life after years of silence. In the Summer, Claire had invited them to a family gathering. By some miracle they both came, his father from Spain and his mother from Scotland. By the end of the afternoon Emma and his mother were inseparable, sitting together in an armchair and reading fairy tales. His father was pretending to be a lion and chasing the twins, who were giggling hysterically and then climbing all over him, delighted with their new cuddly toy.
    That evening in bed Jack had turned to Claire still stunned by the day's events.
    'How did that happen? What did you do to them? My father laughed more today than during my whole childhood.'

    Claire drew him towards her, 'You always have to give people a second chance. Anyway they're your parents Jack, so they can't be all that bad.' She'd grinned mischievously and tossed her long dark hair over his chest. He felt a quiver at the thought of what had happened next.

    Jack swung the bag of presents onto the handle of the buggy and held his free hand out to Matt and Flora.

    'Gotta go guys. Come round one evening when you get back from the Caribbean. Claire would love to see you both.' As he walked away he could see them gaping at him and the kids as if they came from another planet.

    As Jack made his way towards the lift for the café, he paused by the jewelry counter. He knelt down to the twins.

    'Would you like to choose a nice sparkly bracelet for Mummy?'

    They ran to the counter and peered up at the glamorous young assistant.
    Jack quickly pointed to three that he liked and asked her to display them so the twins could choose.

    'This one, daddy, the one with all the hearts,' they both called in unison. They held it out so the baby could see.
    'Sam likes it too. We want that one, and silver paper and a gold ribbon.' The silver bracelet sparked, four little hearts dangling from a delicate chain.

    The young girl smiled at them.

    'Ooh! aren't you just so cute, just like your daddy, really handsome.'

    She gave Jack a sidelong glance and a slow smile.

    'It's perfect for mummy' Jack said  quickly looking at the three boys. 'Four little hearts just like our four little wonderful children.'
Jack paid and went to call the lift. Then he took the children to wash their hands ready for the café. 

    A few weeks ago Claire had suggested that they ask Jack's parents for Christmas. She had it all planned out. Claire's mother had enough room for his parents both to sleep at her house. Emma and the twins could go to the pantomime with them. They could have a party with some of their friends so they could all meet each other. His mother had rung to say how excited she was, she'd had a book made for Emma with her name as the main character, she'd knitted the baby a cardigan and got the twins a train set. Then when she had said,'  Your dad and I really miss you Jack, we're so proud of you, and Claire is just so lovely', he'd had to put the phone down, he couldn't speak because of the lump in his throat.

    The girls and boys working in the café were all dressed in red outfits with matching hats. There was a huge tree in the corner covered with bright coloured twinkly lights. Christmas music was playing and drawing all the customers into a festive atmosphere.
    He could see Claire and Emma sitting at a table near the window. Claire had made it look so inviting and welcoming like she did with everything. There was a highchair for the baby and booster seats for the twins. There was a bag next to Emma with her new shoes. She was looking at her mother with a rapt expression, hanging onto her every word. Jack knew what that felt like, he never tired of staring at Claire's lovely, kind face and listening to her wise and thoughtful conversation.. He moved slowly towards Claire and Emma, enjoying the sight of the two of them sitting there together. Claire wouldn't turn heads like Flora, with her hair scraped back in a pony tail and her jeans and jumper, but he knew what wonders there were underneath. Jack had watched his lovely Claire this morning carefully putting on her red Christmas underwear, he knew later that evening there would be laughing and posing and kisses under the mistletoe that she'd hung above the bed.

    The twins caught sight of Claire and Emma and ran towards them, clambering over the chairs and  climbing over them like two little puppies. Baby Sam waved his hands and blew bubbles. Mariah Carey sang out. Claire looked at Jack, he caught his breath as her face lit up at the sight of him. The waitress came and took their orders and soon they were all covered in hot chocolate and cream and the twins were saying it looked like poo and Emma was showing him her new shoes and Jack's heart swelled. He reached out for Claire's hand, 'It really is christmas every day with you.' and she looked at him with such adoration and love that he felt his heart would burst.

A Change of Heart

 

The Perfume counter was right in front of the revolving doors. Customers, on entering the store, were hit by a tantalizing mix of exotic spices and floral aromas to lure them towards the counter. Once there,  they were surrounded by  a dazzling array of posters showing beautiful women on the arms of handsome elegant men. 

The perfumes were displayed like potions with the  promise that whoever wore this or that perfume  would be transported to a magical kingdom of seduction and elegance. 

Gemma raised her wrist to her nose and breathed in the heady mix of vanilla and patchouli that Max had chosen for her.  It was an early birthday present. She thought back to the conversation she'd had with her friend Marsha at lunch time. They were sharing a croissant and as Marsha brushed the crumbs away she had leaned forward and  whispered;-

' Gemma have you ever noticed how many men buy two bottles of the same perfume.? Don't you think it's funny? Maybe it's one for the wife and one for the lover, so as not to get caught out.'

Gemma felt herself redden. Was it possible that Marsha knew Max was married? She shrugged in response to Marsha's question and dabbed at her mouth with a napkin.


She pushed back her chair and stood up and turned back to Marsha.

'If a man has a lover then he wouldn't be in love with his wife any more would he? He wouldn't care what she thought.'

'Oh don't you believe it Gemma. It's all about having your cake and eating it with them isn't it?  Some of them are full of  baloney, just like the perfume ads, they have the gift of the gab all right.We watched 'Love Actually' last night for the umpteenth time and I told Mike that if he'd better not ever buy me a CD, poor Emma Thompson, I cry every time I watch that scene. It doesn't take much to tempt a man you know. I've seen so much heartache caused by broken relationships. Personally I can't understand why a woman would want to steal someone else's man, but there you are.'

Gemma felt very uncomfortable. She'd watched 'Love Actually last night too, wrapped in Max's arms. He'd kissed her long and hard and promised he'd leave his wife straight after his son's birthday.  gemma had been seeing Max for almost two years now. A weekend away once a month and snatched evenings when he told his wife he was working late. He'd promised to take gemma to Scotland for her birthday and he would tell his wife he wanted a divorce.

Gemma realized that Marsha was still talking.

'How are you getting on with your course? I think you'll be a great Nursery teacher. My little Sam adores you. It's Auntie Gemma this and Auntie Gemma that. He'll be going to Nursery school in September.  If you hurry up you'll be in time to teach him.'

Gemma noticed an elegant couple approach and went to serve them. The man was very tall and had thick dark curly hair, a bit like Max. How she loved running her fingers through his hair and looking at the way it curled over at the base of his neck. She shivered with excitement just thinking about it. The young woman was tall and blond with a very low cut top and a white fur wrap. Just as she was about to serve them, a very handsome man  pushing a baby and holding on to two little boys  collided into a large poster of a beautiful woman. Gemma went to help and then served the man who looked quite relieved. As he walked away she thought how lucky his wife was and how she would love a family like that.

When she'd finished serving the couple she thought about Marsha's advice. It was true that she'd been really enjoying the  Childcare and Nursery teaching course. She had always loved being around little children. Her sister was ten years younger than her   and she had  looked after her while her mother went out to work.  Gemma had  taken the job at the Perfume counter to help finance her studies and that's where she had met Max. He had looked so lost and helpless trying to find  a perfume for his grandmother.  When Gemma had suggested Old English Lavender he had been so grateful and asked  if he could take her out for a drink to show his appreciation.

The next thing she knew she was inviting him in to the flat which she shared with two other girls. It had all been so exciting. He was so much more sophisticated than the other boys she'd dated. He knew how to order the right wine in the fancy restaurants they went to, and he took her to the opera and the ballet in London.  By the time Gemma had  found out that Max was married she was completely obsessed with him. He reassured her immediately saying how his wife only thought about their two small boys and her job in the hospital. He was on his own all the time and it was over between them.  Gemma believed him and was determined to make up for all the neglect he had suffered from his wife. 

Marsha walked by and helped herself to a free spray of J.Lo's new perfume from the bottle on the display.

'Would you like to come to us this evening Gemma? I've made a cake and  Mike's going out to watch the match in his brother's new man-cave.. We could watch a  film and maybe let Sam stay up a bit as a treat.'

Gemma picked up a glass bottle and dusted it with a cloth.

'I think Max is coming to pick me up and then we were going to....'

She stopped, not really wanting to say what they were going to do.  Just lately they'd done nothing but go back to her room. A strange feeling came over her, she felt cheap and used. It wasn't a nice feeling at all. She looked at Marsha and took a deep breath.

'That sounds nice Marsha, thank you. Maybe I could give Sam his bath and read him a bedtime story. It would be good for my training.' She smiled  at Marsha as she moved away and then started to tidy up the  counter. She didn't see Marsha 's grin and victory sign.

A voice whispered in her ear, low and deep. Yesterday it would have sent a shiver of excitement down her spine but today it made her feel sad and lonely.

'Hello young lady, could you please help me choose a perfume for my poor old grandmother. I' d be ever so grateful.'

Gemma turned to Max with a bright smile.

'Sorry Sir but it's closing time.' His brow furrowed and he looked puzzled at her brisk tone. He put his arms out and she stepped back

' By the way which  is your wife's favourite perfume ?''

The silence that followed and the embarrassed look on Max's face told her all that she needed to know.