Gabs’ good news

Steve and Debbie are proud of their angelic creation for the Christmas Fayre but he seems determined to spread his wings

L“ ove the curls!” Debbie exclaimed as she reached out to flick them. “Very blonde and bouncy!” she admired. Steve was pleased with his final touches to his angel, Gabriel. “Yes, quite a stunner, our Gabs,” he laughed.

The village Christmas fayre was featuring a nativity scene. Debbie and Steve’s neighbour had produced a rather plump baby Jesus by adapting one of their children’s cast-off dolls. The vicar’s wife had made the donkey. Debbie thought the head was a bit too large but, ever the diplomat, she’d found a positive, “He’s got a really cute face.”

Mary had been modelled in the primary school art lessons and Joseph in high school, during design and technology lessons! They had all been given the instructions – life-sized characters – but that had resulted in a 6ft Mary and a 5ft Joseph! Gabs’ wingspan was rather wide but it just served to emphasise his awesome nature. He glowed in his fluorescent gown and his golden glitter halo shone.

All the rest of the gang had been put in position in the village hall. They were waiting for Gabs to join them now, ready for tomorrow. After that the plan was to leave them in place until Twelfth Night.

Debbie felt quite maternal towards Gabs as they left him centre stage. She even had to wipe a tear from her eye as she promised they’d collect him on January 5. She’d already decided that they would keep him in the loft and bring him out each Christmas!

“Can we pop into the fete tomorrow?” she checked with Steve. He squeezed her hand as he noticed her sniffing. “Of course! You are a big softie,” he laughed, “but guess that’s why I love you.”

In the morning Debbie popped into the local supermarket. A string of deluxe gold tinsel caught her eye and she could just picture it around Gabs’ neck. Before you could say, ‘Christmas cracker’ she’d popped it into her trolley.

Steve got caught up in polite conversation with the vicar’s wife as they arrived at the fayre. Debbie rushed to find Gabs and quickly adorned him with the new tinsel. She just couldn’t resist stroking his curls. “You look fab,” she whispered.

A photo shoot was taken of the nativity scene by the daily local paper, The Press. Debbie felt incredibly proud as Gabs watched over his precious crew.

A few days later it was Debbie’s book club get-together and she was running late. She managed to slip into her seat in the village hall just before they started to discuss the book. She glanced over to smile at Gabs and her heart missed a beat. He was gone!

She asked the vicar’s wife, “Where’s Gabriel gone?”

The donkey’s creator looked nonplussed, “Haven’t a clue. I hadn’t noticed. Probably fallen over and broken so maybe pushed in the storeroom?”

The book discussions just floated over Debbie’s head as she sat worrying. Gabriel wasn’t the sort of angel to fall over and break! Steve was a very skilled craftsman. She was quite surprised that the donkey’s massive head hadn’t fallen off, in all honesty...

As soon as refreshments were being served Debbie knew nobody would notice her popping into the store cupboard as they’d all be too keen to sample each other’s baking. Gabriel had clearly taken flight. Debbie knew Steve would be bitterly disappointed – all that effort – and now Gabs had literally disappeared into thin air.

Determined to get him back, Debbie contacted the paper, who’d taken the photo, to ask if she could have a print of Gabriel to keep. Always short of a story, they decided

‘Gabs had literally disappeared into thin air’

to run a piece with the headline ‘Gabs’ gone fly about!’ accompanied by a before and after angel picture of the nativity scene.

Debbie and Steve were miffed, but Christmas preparations had to continue.

“Hey look Debbie,” Steve called through to the kitchen as he picked up the local paper. “Gabriel has been spotted in the shopping centre!”

Wiping her floured hands on her apron, Debbie grabbed the paper and sure enough there on the front page was Gabs smiling up at them! “Well, I never!” said Debbie. “Grab the car keys. I’ll finish the mince pies later.”

Debbie went rushing up to the security guard at the shopping centre. “Where’s Gabriel?” she demanded.

“Does he work here?” the perplexed man asked. “What shop does he work in?”

Debbie rolled her eyes. She spotted the huge Christmas tree from the photo in the paper. Gabs had been spreading his wings in front of it. She’d been delighted to notice he’d still been wearing his tinsel. She marched off to the foot of the tree, Steve in hot pursuit! No Gabs but, horror of horrors, the golden tinsel lay discarded at the foot of the tree. The angel had clearly flown again.

Somebody was clearly having a laugh, Debbie decided, because the following three nights Gabriel made the headlines again with supporting colour photos.

‘Gabriel descends at maternity hospital entrance.’

‘Angel greets drinkers at The Angel’s Arms Public house.’

‘Holy Messenger visits OAP residential home.’

Debbie desperately rang each location but, as always, the angel had already flown.

Christmas Eve was the village party night followed by the church midnight service. As she pulled a cracker with Steve, sitting at the brightly decorated trestle table, Debbie looked anxiously around. Would Gabs make his reappearance and rejoin the nativity service?

She scanned the smiling faces of all the other guests as she tried to guess which one of them might have been the joker who’d kidnapped Gabriel in the first place.

At 11.30pm they all made their way into the church for Midnight Mass. The church appeared unusually full. The vicar’s wife was overjoyed and she willingly moved the donkey and his enormous head to make more space for the overflowing congregation.

Still they flooded in; people with shopping bags, several very elderly folks, some on mobility scooters, several parents carrying tiny babies, crowds staggering in from the Angel’s Arms.

Suddenly Debbie understood; just like the real Gabriel had visited the shepherds to deliver his message Gabs had chosen groups from all of the community to share his Good News. The best bit of all was that they had clearly chosen to come and seek it themselves.

As the congregation left to the tune of, ‘Hark the Herald Angels Sing,’ Debbie was not in the least surprised to discover Gabs stood shining, in full glory, in the church porch. She popped the golden tinsel round his neck one more time.

‘Gabrielle has been spotted in the shopping centre!’