Gillingham & Shaftesbury Guide December 2018
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A Visit to Santa by Rik Lonsdale<br />
‘Where are we going, mum?’ said Emily.<br />
‘I’m taking you to see Santa, I told you I would.’<br />
‘Hooray, hooray, hooray.’ Emily danced around the kitchen. It’s hard to contain excitement when you are<br />
five.<br />
‘Did your mum take you to see him when you were little?’ said Emily.<br />
‘She did, and I think I was almost as excited as you. And I never forgot what he told me.’<br />
‘What did he tell you, mum?’<br />
Julia remembered, word for word, the long-ago conversation. ‘That’s a secret,’ she said. And she would<br />
not tell despite Emily’s most plaintive pleading.<br />
Mother and daughter arrived at Santa’s Grotto and joined the queue of excited children.<br />
As they inched towards the head of the queue the excited hubbub was replaced by uncertain anticipation.<br />
‘What’s he like, Santa?’ said Emily, nervousness crossing her brow.<br />
‘He’s very wise, and very kind,’ said Julia.<br />
Emily stayed quiet until it was her turn. The Elf took Emily by the hand and led mother and daughter into<br />
the Grotto. There, bedecked in red with a huge white beard and bright blue sparkling eyes, sat the same<br />
man Julia had seen all those years ago.<br />
‘Ho, ho, ho, you must be Emily,’ he boomed.<br />
‘But, how do you know?’ a quiet Emily said.<br />
‘I know all the children, and all those who used to be children,’ and he looked at Emily’s mother.<br />
‘Hello Dr Julia, I hope you are well. You have a beautiful daughter. But please stand back, as you know the<br />
conversation between Emily and I must be secret.’<br />
As Julia stepped back Santa began to talk quietly with Emily.<br />
‘What would you like to be when you grow up, Emily?’<br />
‘I want to be a princess,’ said Emily.<br />
‘Then I am certain you shall be,’ said Santa.<br />
Emily looked doubtful. ‘Are you sure?’<br />
‘Oh yes, very sure. If that is what you really want to be. But here’s a secret. You can change your mind if<br />
you want to. People often change their mind as they get a bit older. You might decide you want to be an<br />
explorer, or an astronaut, then you will be one. All you have to do is tell yourself that’s what you really<br />
want to be.’<br />
‘I don’t have to do anything else, just tell myself?’ said Emily.<br />
‘There may be other things to do, but they’ll be easy. The first thing is to tell yourself. Now here’s another<br />
secret. When your mother was your age, she<br />
wanted to be a ballerina.’<br />
‘But she isn’t one,’ said Emily, a little too<br />
loudly.<br />
‘Well, she changed her mind when she was<br />
ten, and decided she wanted to be a Doctor.’<br />
‘And she is a Doctor,’ said Emily incredulously,<br />
‘it really does work.’<br />
On the drive home Julia said, ‘did you have a<br />
good visit with Santa?’<br />
‘Oh, yes,’ said Emily, ‘I told him I wanted to be<br />
a princess when I grow up. But I may change<br />
my mind later.’<br />
Julia smiled.<br />
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