A VILLAGE CHRISTMAS TALE PART SIX

 

"Where have you been Bruno ? " asks Granny " I finally got those bears delivered from that Raquel Thieves woman ! I had to ring again yesterday and ask for Raquel in accounts ! "

" That's good " smiles Bruno " We were running low on the soft toys especially the bears "

"But while I have been restocking the window " Granny continues " just what have you been up to for the last half hour? "

" I've been dealing with a customer " Bruno says getting excited " and  . . . . I sold the big camel ! "

"Never ! " Granny says stunned ! " I thought we'd still have that camel for years ! "

"Well it's sold and I have a bag of cash to prove it ! "

"Cash! " exclaims granny " Let me look !"

" Wonderful !"

"Well done Bruno " Granny praises patting his shoulder " Who bought him? "

" He wanted to ride him to go see some baby "  Bruno replied " he said his name was Sheik Ya Booty from Scunthorpe " 

"Well best take that money inside and lock it in the safe " Granny says gleefully .

The window now has new items for sale.

Meanwhile Mr Mossy is looking into Fortuna's shop window at the new display.

" I knew it " he mutters then shouts " EDWARD EDWARD ! What are you doing in the window ?? " 

The panda he's shouting at, stay still and silent " EDWARD ! " Mossy shouts as loud as he can, for a small bear , but the panda stays silent and still .

" What are you shouting about dear boy? " enquires Diggory " That's a toy "

" I'm sure it's Edward " insists Mossy staring intently at the Panda, trying to catch him blinking " I know it's you " he stares harder

"Get down before you fall dear boy !" Diggory advises " You'll do yourself a mischief if you fall off that high up "

Mossy starts to wobble, so decides it might be best if he did get down for now.

Once he's sitting back down next to Diggory and caught his breath " he looks the old bear in the eye and asks 

"Where did you say that Edward said he was going ? "

"Edward dear boy, whose Edward? "

Mossy sighs " You know Edward ! He's the bossy Panda who thinks he's in charge of us bears "

" I thought you said you were called Bossy ? " says Diggory confused 

" I said I'm MOSSY not Bossy !" 

" Oh Mossy not Bossy right " repeats Diggory

" So where did that pain in the butt Panda say he was going ? " Mossy says trying to hold in his temper " when you saw him waiting for a taxi "

" Oh that Panda ! " cries Diggory " Why didn't you say that Panda !"

Mossy counts to ten, then ten again " That Panda "

" Oh he was off to have a smoke on the common " Diggory answers " I think that's what he said "

Mossy bites his tongue to stop him yelling at the old fool ! It's not his fault he's so old and cannot remember , he sighs again but where could Edward and the others be? It's Christmas eve and he's been missing for days ! Edward would never miss their Christmas eve get together ! Never ! Something was going on! He was sure that was Edward in the shop window ! He'd know that ornery old bossy boots anywhere ! He just needed to work out what was going on !

Meanwhile inside the shop 

The shop was quite busy with last minute shoppers.

"No!" states a very young voice. Bruno decided he's needed out the back when he sees whose voice it is !

" Want toys !" Lucas demands looking up at Santa from his position on the floor. " NOW!"

"Look Lucas ! " Santa says " It's not Christmas until tomorrow, so no toys "

"T O Y S "

"Lucas you know full well I'm not the real Santa ! " says Santa getting annoyed " Who am I ? "

" Atti ccccuss"

" Exactly Atticus your brother ! So get up or I'll be late to give out the presents at the 

church hall old age pensioner club ! "

"Lucas enough ! " calls out Saffy who is over with Valentine selecting some last minute extras.

Granny had moved off to leave Santa to deal with Lucas and was talking to Ragnor.

" So you are in charge of finding something for that Mrs Mum ! I mean Mrs Mum this year "

" Yes " Ragnor confirms  " but I cannot see anything for her here I'm afraid. I'd best go into town "

"There is not need to go into town Lad, I have just the thing for your Mum "

" You do ? " Ragnor looks around 

"Yes Look there " says Granny pointing to the large pink bear sitting at the side 

" What that huge bear!"

" What's wrong with the lovely pink bear " enquires Granny " She may seem big to you but to your mum she'll be perfectly sized "

"And I can let you have her for a good price " entices granny " Since it's almost Christmas "

"Well . . .  " mutters Ragnor , thinking it would save him a trip into town and fighting the crowds 

 " Now you take care getting that teddy home young man " Says granny from the shop doorway.

Now he's out in the fresh air, Ragnor starts wondering if he's done the right thing ! He hopes the others will like it and agree Mum would love it ! 

"So lucky I had that sled available for sale " says Granny with a smile " and remember no returns unless damaged "

Ragnor starts heading home wondering if they have enough wrapping paper to wrap up the bear or should he stop at the newsagents for another roll or six ! 

" Come back anytime " calls Granny 

Granny cannot quite believe she's sold that bear and Bruno the Camel ! They have had some great sales this last week in December ! For once they can shut for Christmas and Boxing day ! 

The story will continue after Christmas  . . .