GENESIS (GODS CHAIN) (76 page)

The
s
chool choir
was
smartly dressed in grammar school blazers, each displaying their school logo
—
that of the “Standing
Stones” found outside the village
on the hilltop
. All badges displayed a golden motto underneath
:
“Flexible of Intellect, Conceptual of Idea and Strong of Spirit.”
O
n their front breast pockets and sleeves
were
gold braid
,
with
cuffs and collars to match.

Headmaster
Collins sat proudly near the front
,
unsuspecting as the solitary shadow stood static and unmoving above the congregation
.
I
t was a vague image and partially hidden behind a solid stone pillar
that
support
ed
the high
-
arched ceiling.
The shadow moved and shimmered in the darkness, and for a short moment it was silhouetted against the candlelight, projecting its wavering dark grey form against the deep reds and rich blues
of
the stained glass windows
, and
then it was gone
.

Did it ever exist?

Underneath
,
the quiet visitor sat and all his senses agreed.
It was time to leave
...
.

The hymn finished and Reverend Graham began a final prayer
.
B
efore he closed his eyes
,
the man narrowed his
gaze
to the back of the narthex,
seeing
a glint of light and a figure?
Who is that?
It was a silent movement that he saw, at the back of his church, recognising it to be
a
man’s profile.
Could he identify him?
The Minister though
t
hard for a moment and then closed his eyes and bowed his head in prayer.
I am sure I know that person
...
.

Not able to recollect
the memory,
the minister had no sooner finished praying then the bells rang out loud and audibly
from the tower belfry!
Loud and far the chimes could be heard across the whole
p
arish
.
His attention
was
completely distracted.

‘Blessed are all his children, go forth and enjoy this happy Christmas!’ he shouted.
The people cheered in excitement
,
happiness coming over their faces
.

‘H
appy Christmas
!’
they shouted with much laugher and hand shaking as many other people hugged each other warmly
.
All
the c
hoirs chorused together
“
Silent Night
”
as everyone began to slowly leave the church.

Out they went into the cold night, pulling up collars and hoods, buttoning up their warm duffel coats, shov
ing their gloves
on quickly
,
throwing
bright and colourful scarves around
their
necks as the
y
braved
the
Scottish elements.
Their eyes water
ed
as a bitter wind began to suddenly blow
.
The
y tramped along the
c
hurch path
, which was
fashioned with old Victorian styled lamps and made of wrought iron.

Without warning
,
something smacked into Scott’s head!
The boy turned quickly around in complete surprise
,
his body hunched by the sudden impact
as snow showered around him.

What the
…
?
he wondered, and then saw
Charity laugh
ing
loudly!
The boy grinned
at her cunning.
He knew what was happening
, now—s
nowball fight!
Scott’s eyes widened again
as he realised he
could not possibly avoid the second snowball!
Right on his face!

‘Got you that time, ha, ha, ha!’ she laughed
.
‘Have a nice Christmas
,
Scott!’ The girl’s mother and father were horrified and immediately attempted to apologise to Scott’s mother.

‘Charity, see you!’ Scott though
t
this was great fun!
H
e was happy that Charity and he were now good friends.
Charity and her family quickly headed home.
Scott skidded down the church path and was hit again from behind a tree by another friend.
Well
,
that was that!

Scott quickly made his own snowball and accurately placed it squarely onto Ross’s laughing face!
A full scale war ensued between parishioners old and young
;
everyone was laughing and trying to avoid one missile after the next!
Even the Minister threw
a snowball
and hit Scott’s mother on her way out from the church grounds.
That was no mistake!

‘Sorry about that! I do apologis
e
, Mrs Hrycuik. I should really know better, a bit of the boy still in me
,
I think!’ he said
,
laugh
ing
heartily.

Scott’s
mother seemed surprised as the likeable minister turned and walked back towards the church entrance
.
A
missile hit him right on the back of his shoulders
and he
turn
ed
to see Mrs Hrycuik
,
her back now bent in fits of laughter!

‘Have a Merry Christmas
,
minister!’
Mrs Hrycuik said,
and threw another one for good measure,
al
though the reverend was far too quick for her
and he
easily ducked
,
avoiding the large snowball
that flew
straight past him and
struck
bang slap into the emerging regal figure of
F
ather Polletti
.

Father Polletti’s surprised face was a picture as his snowbound mitre lifted
,
exploded into the cold air and burst in a cloud of white powder!
The man looked taken aback for a moment
at
being caught in the crossfire
.
The Reverend laughed loudly
,
holding the smiling father.

‘Oops
,
sorry Father!’
Mrs Hrycuik
exclaimed
,
her eyes wide with complete surprise
.
She
raised her
woollen
-gloved hand to her mouth in a panic.
Scott and his mother ran off in complete hysterics as the battle raged on!

**********

Rising early
the
next morning and
on
Christmas day
, the
s
un
peeked
over the
e
astern treetops over the hill; everything was covered in a layer of thick snow so white
that
it hurt to look at it for any length of time.
The mass of dappled grey and white standing stones could still be seen standing out on top of the hill with fine and clear distinction.
It was freezing
outside, but
a
more
perfect
ly
breathtaking picture you could not ask for!

With great excitement and mixed anticipation
,
Scott
pulled open his bedroom door, running down
the
stairs two at a time!
He o
pen
ed
the living room
door, stepping into the
still
-
dark
room quietly, admiring
the candles flickering on the mantelpiece and
the
fairy lights on the Christmas tree
.

The tree
was
decorated with fine silver
and
red tinsels and coloured with blue, red and numerous gold and silver shiny glass balls. A smell of pine was inside the room
—
fresh and sharp. Christmas crackers were hidden somewhere
...s
ome old
-
fashioned wooden figures of a train and walking stick, a red apple and Santa
’s
sleigh hung from different branches.
A large cardboard cut-out of “Father Christmas” stood two f
ee
t high,
and
sat by the fireplace as did
the
woollen
socks filled with goodies and surprises!
Christmas cards hung on strings on all
the walls of the large sitting room.
The television was switched on and a choir was singing.
On the large brown leather sofa were two large kid Santa sacks, filled with more presents!