WHY CHRISTMAS IS HAPPIEST IN A MESSY HOUSE
IN ADDITION to being the daily Mail’s advice columnist and an experienced writer and broadcaster, Bel Mooney is a bestselling children’s author. Her best-known series of books are about a little girl called Kitty, which is the name of Bel’s own daughter. In this story, Kitty learns a valuable lesson about the real meaning of Christmas . . .
CHRISTMAS was the best day of the whole year, of course, and this time it seemed better than ever. Kitty’s stocking had been crammed with funny little toys and jokes.
After breakfast, when they opened their main presents, Kitty was so pleased. mum and Dad had what she wanted — a huge art set, with lots of different paints, paper of all sizes, felt-tips, crayons, pencils and rubbers — all packed into a lovely carrying case.
she had plenty of books too, because she loved reading, and a lovely long scarf from Gran, in rainbow colours.
Dan gave her three more soldiers and horses for her castle. she was very happy.
Kitty and Daniel were sorry about one thing, though.
this year mum and Dad had arranged to go to Christmas dinner with aunty susan and Uncle Joe. that wasn’t so bad, although they said they would rather have their own turkey.
But going to that house meant something that made them both moan.
‘melissa,’ said Daniel, making a rude face. ‘Yuk,’ said Kitty. they had to leave all the lovely clutter of wrapping paper and ribbons and glittery pom-poms, and go out.
‘aunty susan’s house is so tidy,’ groaned Kitty in the car.
‘Just like melissa. maybe she vacuum- cleans melissa when she does the carpets,’ grinned Dan. Kitty giggled. ‘ that’s enough,’ said Dad.
there was a delicious smell of food when aunty susan opened the door. they all said happy Christmas and hugged each other, although Daniel and Kitty ducked out of hugging their cousin.
‘Why don’t all the children play upstairs till dinner’s ready?’ said Uncle Joe. But Dan asked if he could practice on his new skateboard on the garden path, and so Kitty was left with melissa. ‘Don’t you like to wear your best dress on Christmas Day,’ asked melissa, ‘ instead of old jeans?’ they aren’t old, they’re my new cords,’ said Kitty indignantly. ‘and this is a new jumper.’ it wasn’t a good start.
‘Oh, well, i suppose you’d like to see all my presents,’ said melissa, throwing open her bedroom door. Kitty gasped. there was a toy cooker with plastic pots and pans, and a multi-way pram for melissa’s dolls, and a little pink wardrobe crammed with doll’s clothes on hangers, and a hairstyling set with pink rollers, brushes and combs, and a funny dummy-head to work on.
‘ Who gave you all those?’ asked Kitty.
‘mummy and Daddy. and i’ve got lots of ordinary things like paints and books from aunties and uncles.’ ‘Gosh,’ said Kitty ‘ What did you get?’ asked melissa. Kitty told her. ‘is that all?’ asked her cousin. suddenly Kitty felt like a balloon that has gone pop. the turkey tasted delicious, and the crackers were fun, and aunty susan and Uncle Joe gave her a big noticeboard in the shape of an elephant for her bedroom. ‘so you can pin up your lists,’ said aunty susan, picking up the paper right away and folding it neatly. ‘ then you won’ t forget things,’ smiled Uncle Joe. Everybody laughed. Except Kitty.
at last it was time to go home. Kitty was glad to get back to their own, comfortable, messy house. But mum and Dad could tell that something was bothering her. she sat by the Christmas tree, looking up at the coloured lights. and one thought was going through her mind — something so bad she wouldn’t have told it to anyone. it’s not fair she’s got more presents than me. that was what Kitty thought.
JUST then Dan came up. ‘What did you think of melissa’s stuff then?’ he asked. ‘she had lots of nice presents,’ said Kitty, in a small voice. Daniel threw back his head and laughed. ‘What? all those nimsy-mimsy things in pink plastic for dolly-wollies? Not your sort of thing, Kit. You’ve got more taste.’ and Kitty realised he was right. there wasn’t a single thing in melissa’s room that she would have wanted. Not one. she stared up at the tree again. it had a warm, Christmassy smell. already, showers of little pine needles fell down when you touched it. aunty susan had an artificial tree because she said the real ones made too much mess. and they didn’t have paperchains in each room, or a Christmas candle in the window, dropping wax all over the place, but giving a warming glow. Kitty grinned slowly. ‘ Our tree is much better than melissa’s tree,’ she said. and melissa might have said, ‘Not fair!’