A Welcome Guest

Back in the early sixties when I was young, my mother would have a pre-Christmas party about three days before the 25th December. She always said that she would like to concentrate on our immediate family on “the day.” Throwing her big event beforehand ensured that her conscience was clear when she told relations that it was “just us” for Christmas. The day before her party was spent cooking little pies, sausage rolls, vol au vents and baking a cake. Not a Christmas cake, that was for “just us” made ages ago, but a fancy sponge with plenty of raspberry jam through the middle. I was in charge of making a cheese and pineapple-chunk hedgehog with cocktail stick spines stabbed into an orange. There was always an enormous trifle, tinned fruit in a cut glass bowl, squirty cream lay in wait in the fridge.

Young and old cousins, aunts, uncles, friends and some neighbours were all invited for the whole day. They often contributed to the feast bringing cup cakes, large bags of crisps, nibbles and plenty of drinks. We children loved this casual come-as-you are party. One of the aunts would bring a game of guess the film stars. She had cut out photos of famous people from the TV Times and Womans Own, sticking them on a roll of wallpaper which she would pin to the curtains. We then spent most of the day writing the answers, changing our minds and deciding it wasn’t him or her. Keeping our sheet of writing pad secret in case the others copied. Later in the evening my aunt would read out the answers, and the winner would get a prize. Usually a box of maltesers. Our oldest uncle always brought Pin the Tail on the Donkey and he gave a prize of sugared oranges and lemons in a round box.

A particular year stays in my mind, I would be about 12. We were all being very noisy, talking, drinking, singing, dancing and there was a huge amount of food. People were arriving intermittently, and everyone shouting greetings “Hello, Merry Christmas, nice to see you.”

They all “mucked in” as mother used to say, serving the food, passing round plates and a general good feeling was generated. Our cousins would bring their latest“squeeze” as my father called them jokingly. A chap called Bob was in the kitchen stirring a big pan of chicken curry saying it needed a touch more coconut milk pouring in, and Mother agreed as she boiled up the rice. It was absolutely delicious. He really had a knack with the cooking. Later he and my older brother took our dog for a walk and called in at the pub on the way back.

My father said “Bob’s a good bloke, he has really settled in. Is he with your Janice?”

“Not sure, he might be a friend of Ron’s, I saw them looking at his posh car together. They seem to know each other.” replied Mother.

When most of the guests began to leave, Bob took his overnight bag upstairs. Mother assumed that my father had invited him to stay over. Perhaps he had had a drink and didn’t want to drive home. It was a very posh car, it would be dreadful to bump it. My aunt began the washing up in the kitchen and Bob came down and got on with the drying. They were chatting happily and making a wonderful job of the kitchen. My Mother raced upstairs and prepared MY BEDROOM for Bob, telling me I had to share with my little brother. “It’s only for one night” she said. “I have moved your nightdress and toothbrush in there ready for you.”

When she came back downstairs Bob was making my aunt laugh so much she got quite giddy. He ran the vacuum round in the lounge and made us all a cup of tea. They had forgotten I was still up, so I kept quiet. I was eating my maltesers as I had won the Famous Faces competition. To make the game more difficult Auntie had included pictures of butterflies and a few animals. We had been doing butterflies in nature class that term, therefore I recognised the Painted Lady and the Speckled Wood, so I won! I beat my older brother by two points.

My little brother had gone up to bed a while ago, he didn’t get anything right in the competition. I thought I should help him a bit more in future as he is interested in animals. Mother was packing the few leftovers away, and had to stop Bob from mopping the kitchen floor. She said, “We can do that in the morning. Goodnight, sleep well. And thank you for all your help today.”

***

Bob made us a delicious breakfast of mushroom omelette and used the left over bread to make French Toast. My Mother was getting used to this very helpful guest. After clearing everything away and washing up, Bob, my brothers and I took our dog out for a frosty walk. We went up the big hill at the back of us, and had a race down the other side. I remember wishing it would snow, and hoped our new friend would stay a bit longer he was so much fun.

As we were coming back up our path, the next door neighbours saw us through the window and came running outside.

“Bob there you are, whatever happened to you,where have you been? We were getting worried. How do you know Bob?” she asked us “He was meant to come to us for Christmas. We haven’t seen him for 20 years because he has been working abroad somewhere.”

“Hi Auntie Barbara,” Bob looked abashed as he gave her a hug “I must have come to the wrong house, but everyone was so nice and welcoming.”

Later on that morning Barbara invited us all round for coffee to hear the story.

Bob had obviously come to the wrong house, and he thought his Aunt and Uncle were hosting a surprise party to welcome him back home. He was embarrassed that he had forgotten what they looked like after all this time. He thought if he chatted to everyone he might find out who they were without appearing rude. There was a lady at the party called Barbara but she seemed much too young. He was having such a good time that he decided to carry on and wait to see what happened. The longer he tried to guess who were his relations the more awkward it became to mention it. He had gone up to my bedroom thinking it was Barbara’s spare room like last time he visited all those years before. Bob said that he was surprised it looked a bit girly, and wondered about the teddy on the chair.

“So Bob,” said his Auntie Barbara “You have stayed the night next door and gate crashed their party.” she erupted in giggles. My mother said that he can come and stay whenever he likes for as long as he likes, as the kitchen has never looked so sparkly.

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NorthernLife Dec/Jan/Feb 24/25