The Miracle on Ebenezer Street by Catherine Doyle

Author:Catherine Doyle [Doyle, Catherine]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780241434284
Publisher: Penguin Random House Children's UK
Published: 2020-10-02T00:00:00+00:00

The Obstruction in the Hallway

Less than five seconds later, Randolph skidded to a stop outside the bathroom. George crashed head first into the reindeer’s neck. His father went nose first into his shoulder blade, both of them groaning from the sudden impact.

‘This bloody thing should really have seat belts,’ said George’s father as he righted himself.

Hugo gingerly pressed his fingers against his nose to make sure it wasn’t broken.

‘Weeeee-oooooo weeeee-oooooo weeeee-oooooo.’ Tricksie, meanwhile, was doing her best impression of a siren. ‘Obstruction in the road! I repeat: OBSTRUCTION IN THE ROAD!’

She took her hat off, rummaged inside for a yellow hazard vest, then promptly shrugged it on. ‘Nobody move,’ she said, fastening the Velcro straps over her onesie. ‘This could be a gremlin for all we know.’

George ducked his head round Randolph’s antlers to find his nan standing in the middle of the hallway. Her hair was puffed up in rollers, and she was wearing her frilly pink nightgown. ‘Well, well, well,’ she said, a cup of tea clutched to her chest. ‘What’s all this, then?’

‘Are you all right, Mum?’ called George’s father in a high-pitched voice. ‘I can explain everything. Please, just try not to panic!’

‘I’m not panicking, Hugo,’ said Nana Flo calmly.

‘Then call the police! These creatures have kidnapped us against our will!’

‘Actually, I’m very willing,’ said George.

Nana Flo’s eyes twinkled. ‘I can see why. It all looks like such fun.’

Tricksie glanced at George over her shoulder. ‘I like this lady very much.’

‘Nan loves adventures,’ said George, remembering their conversation from yesterday evening. ‘Can we bring her with us?’

‘Great idea.’ Tricksie turned back to Nana Flo and drew herself up to her full height, which was 12 ¼ inches (in shoes). ‘Flower-headed lady,’ she announced, in what George assumed was her most formal voice, ‘we are about to embark on an adventure of positively Christmas proportions. Would you like to join us?’

‘Where are you going?’ said Nana Flo.

‘It’s a secret,’ said Tricksie.

‘All right, you’ve convinced me.’ Nana Flo set her cup of tea down by the skirting board, and then pottered into her bedroom. ‘I won’t be a moment,’ she called over her shoulder, and Tricksie, despite her earlier urgency, sat cross-legged on Randolph’s head and waited for her.

‘I thought we were in a rush,’ said George’s father pointedly.

Tricksie shrugged. ‘Some adventurers are worth waiting for.’

‘And some are worth kidnapping against their will, I suppose,’ he said sourly.

Tricksie nodded. ‘Precisely.’

‘How can you tell the difference?’ asked George.

‘I am very wisdomous,’ said the elf solemnly.

When Nana Flo emerged from her bedroom, her holly-branch hairclip was nestled snugly between two hair rollers. ‘Splendid,’ said Tricksie approvingly. ‘You’ve dressed for the occasion.’

Nana Flo flung her hands out. ‘Don’t just sit there gawping at me, boys. Help me up.’

With the help of Randolph, and the explicit refusal of his father, George managed to haul Nana Flo up on to the reindeer’s back, where he helped her settle in the space directly behind him.

‘Lady and gentleman and disgruntled Scrooge, prepare for take-off!’ said Tricksie, stepping up to the antlers.

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