Engaging Father Christmas by Robin Jones Gunn

Author:Robin Jones Gunn [GUNN, ROBIN JONES]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: FIC000000
ISBN: 9780446544740
Publisher: FaithWords
Published: 2008-10-30T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter Thirteen

The hospital staff at the front desk had big smiles and hellos for us when we entered and they saw Ian in full costume.

“What did you bring us, Father Christmas?” the admitting nurse asked.

“Good cheer and merry greetings,” he said in a robust voice. Some of the faithful employees seemed to be looking behind Ian for his sack of gifts. A childlike shadow of disappointment crossed their faces when they didn’t see a bag slung over his shoulder filled with goodies.

“We do have biscuits left over from the play tonight,” Mark said. “My mum is bringing them.”

A few minutes after Mark announced the biscuits, Ellie, Edward, and Julia entered the hospital carrying the promised goodies.

The lobby suddenly became cheerier. Night staff appeared from behind swinging doors and file cabinets.

“We’re going to visit my father,” Ian said to the head nurse. “You won’t mind if we’re above the limit for visitors, will you?”

Ellie held out the bag of cookies as potential bribe material.

“We’ll look the other way this time.” She reached for one of the shortbread stars. “Katharine is already in there.”

Ian led the way down the hall of the quiet hospital. Mark looked up at the sign that read Children’s Ward over the doorway of the first wing we passed. As we kept walking, Mark asked Ian, “Are children staying in there, in the children’s ward, tonight?”

“I would imagine so.”

“Will they be going home for Christmas?”

“Perhaps. If they’re too ill, though, they will be staying here.”

Julia, who had been holding my hand as we made our way down the hall, asked, “If the children don’t go home for Christmas, how will they get any presents?”

“I’m sure they receive their presents here,” Ellie said in her optimistic voice.

Mark stopped walking. “How many children are in the children’s ward?”

“Hard to say,” Ian said.

“We need to find out how many children there are, and we need to bring them some presents,” Mark said decisively.

“That’s very considerate of you, Mark,” Ellie said. “It’s a lovely idea. First, we must pay a visit to Uncle Andrew, though. Shall we do that? We can check on the children’s ward on our way out.”

Mark picked up his feet, still deep in thought. All six of us entered Andrew’s room quietly. As soon as weary Katharine saw us, she motioned for us to enter and come closer.

“How’s the patient?” Ian asked.

Andrew’s distinct voice rose from the bed. “The patient is growing impatient. That’s how the patient is.”

We gathered around, all saying our hellos at once. The rhythmic drips and beeps of the machines seemed as hypnotizing as a swinging pocket watch. Andrew’s deep-chested breathing carried the steady ruffles of air flowing in and out at a comforting pace.

“You’re looking more yourself than you did earlier,” Ellie said.

“Am I, now?” Andrew smiled weakly.

He looked up at Ian in the convincing costume and added, “What’s this? A visit from the man himself?”

“It’s really Uncle Ian,” Julia said with a twinkling grin.

“Is that so? Well, I was convinced he was Father Christmas himself.

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