T
IIIS is highly im-
truth of
THE CHINA MAÍL. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 14, 1957.
A PRESENT FOR SANTA
by George Ramage
I'd
in black.
Very soignee, · very
possessive way, and sald. "We have every confidence in
yott - It's a proud moment." I made a teha noise, and heard Steve croak through a barrago aneezes, “Waten Robert-he's a
a brave wel- ́ large, heavy, and hearty, Stells, probable Christmas grinned, I didn't feel like putting on
with odd explaining.
actually come. Stella brooded on. As tells me he dances divinely. I've story grains
Welt, Steve arrived around cabled Steve Conway from we drew up at the Pantheon not had time to check on that. scattered here and there. It Calcutta, no I looked around entrance of the hotel I about eight and found us in the deals with the problem of for him, quite casually, of thanked December and took bar, Stella hnd garbed herself
menace." But no Steve ap- his telephone number. Stella Stella and myself; with an old ex-boxer, called, of all peared. Stella lifted a de- unbent sufficiently to
risive eyebrow, but my momber her party man December Jones; things, with his dreadful small guardian angel got busy, ners.
who und Steve
son;
with
course.
Te
A
of
a corrier
eye and informed me that Mr Jones had paychoanalysed her. I stopped questioning then, and muttored. a quiet Christmas... unbelievable",
she
Wos challing away gally to December who had obviously won her over. Steve crouched morosely in
bt the verendalt. I was supposed to hand dut presents, but us I advanced ponderously, sack and el, Roberi just happened to roli under. my feel, and down I went. In the sultant scrum- reserves esemed to pour la from All Ides- lost half my St John's Wood. She proceeded
whiskers took a fairly hefty wallop on the nose, and was to give him The Method, the
robbed of all my presents. When whole bag of tricks the
I saw Robert and Just William fluttering, eyelashes, the admir-
tossing my zack around it was
as the fat-boy *ing
gape, the hand-clutch on
the end. I grabbed Robert and ran screaming through the room a strange character Well, we were receptioned sleeve,
only the lot. I was
gave him a pretty sound boats hotly pursued by the sherrifs caught a cold; and with a shuffled up. This who De- with due solemnity, and semi-amused, but quite helpless.
ing. He took it very well, and posse. Who
Then my toes were Robert room and Steve didn't mind.
the Menace most benevolent Sunta cember Jones, the twelfth once installed in our
was proceeded to demolish me by stamped on quite deliberately, would? I left the somewhat December's son and heir and saying, "You're the best Santa and I looked down at a serious Claus who used to like chil. offspring of parents who we settled down to a little engrossed pair, and made my ostensiby the hoa! of this we've ever had-usually he has little girl, all horge'o tall and
found an easy way out for of the well-known Barrett way to the lift, “Ng,”
I said party, which had dren....
all the no sehse of huhou." December spectacles. "I've got a present names. Well, up shuffled bilss. Stella had the floor. carelessly to the lift-boy, "Flith ingredients for trouble: the patted my shoulder, and Our aircraft glided into
Immacu grendy fat-boy, the
for you, Santa Claus, bossy at wheezed, Thanks, Mr Barrett. lisped. I Kai Tak right on time.
this fellow, a big man who "It's bad enough having a floor, al?" he asked To
walted expectantly, lately, and smiled ke
girl, the Just Willam toughle, A the exhibition," Stella was
essing my squashed toes, and be precise 1105 hours, 23rd had shrunk with age so that soul-destroying trip in your
Fun. "Ho ho," midday
Robert, and, of course, lashings milli smiling, and I know that, a
she handed me a large red card. December. Stella and i had is skin hung about him in uninspiring company growled, and left him to work of FOOD. And me, a
very, minor miracle had taken place I looked at it and smiled. Ол
without ang dssistance from me. wrangled successfully from folds. He was like a Great she began, but I wasn't that one out I went straight inexperienced Sants.
jt in gold-letlering was "On room and rang
I asked. carth hour "What's happened?" that, to
goodwill London Airport with brief Dane. He had the ugliest having
peace, He was at home December. that's
Stella looked me straight in the men". stops for breath at Beirut
and pleased to talk, but was Was there too busy to come over, which and Karachi. We've known
obvious was disappointing. However, each other fairly well for almost ten years. We spark
mot he invited Steila and me over to his place the following afternoon, to off our quarrels with no
刮 children's Sho slopperi pacing and Christmas
Ev trouble at all. Something
party of nu swung round with perfect things, probubly hoping to put to do with chemical reaction
timing and an arresting swirl the right ideas into our heads.
"Jones? It
waa Steve," he hissed, "will act of skirt. December ́t moment ago. Do as Santa Claus, as usual, you have to drool about a' a great favourite with my broken down Bruiser?" I boy," Such popularity. couldn't tole any more. Ho'd thought, and went to bed. been one of my boyhood heroes,
The following morning I I mode for the door. duet. I
maintained scrupulously I've always turned back for status quo. Not for me to give that special pleading tone. But in Stella, who appatmally had I gave her my stern District returned to base the previous Attorney stare.
"I'm sorry I evening without noticeable Gold all that. He's
probably damage, appeared to quite a nice both go down to the bar and given no scope by me.
old thing. Let's weakening a
Uttle, but was In a all lost voice she volunteered the news that Steve had talked to December after I left and that he was picking us up at two-thirty.
I'm told.
Stella is dark, willowy, well-groomed, shade too sophisticated. 1, 80 he frequently tells me, am an untidy, sandy-haired stodge. I don't know what we see in each other. We've been married nine years eleven months.
any
of
face and the kindest oyes "Coming from you I've ever seen. I recognised very funny. him from Steve's letters, any
tation
need for the
but gave him first ko. "Ex- boredom when wo cuse me-Mr Barrett?" he Jones?" asked in a hoarse, conspira- torial whisper. "Correct," I answered, avoiding the tem- to whisper back, "and I bet you're December Jones." His throaty, "That's right," and Stella's unlady- like, "December! Blimey!" sounded like a turned to Stella, and could have slapped her. She had assumed that bored, little. man-what-now pose, so I
barked with some ferocity, "For your information, my good woman, this is Mr Jones, Steve's friend. It ob- viously means nothing to As the plane swung away you that December Jones from a murky, freezing was the finest welterweight London we both settled we've ever produced, and if back, and Stella drawled, it hadn't been for a car "Now what shall we bicker smash he'd have been World about first? There's Me, Champion." December wavel You, my Career, our Home. a massive pay of denin, your Secretary" I, pro and Stella yawned, "Don't voked of course, suapped, my good woman" me, and "Leave me out of it. Let's mind your blood-pressure," Whilst I silently counted discuss, sensibly if we can,
was ex- your dress bills, your late ten December
Steve had night parties, your latest plaining that
And been suddenly called into a angry young man'." so on, all the usual rhetoric. conference and that he was Yes, I agree,
we're old deputising. He did it very enough to have more sense, well. His car was waiting But that's how it is, or outside, and as we bowled rather, was, And thereby along to our hotel I prattled hangs he tale....
away extra hard to cover silenco. But I When we alighted at Kai Stella's Tak a brilliant sun-splashed didn't deceive old Decem- morning
said, "This is ber. I could see his eyes Hongkong. Stella looked flicking across to her, and I around and muttered, groaned inwardly. In the "What? No snow?" I just harbour the junks
were
"BU"
have that drink you need so badly." What can you do with a wou like that?
CLU
He's
I
tho
Whilst waiting for zero I was gratified to see that Stella
bе
SENIOR
MID-WEIGHT
IRON
Steve duly arrived complete with roadster, and looked not GO well. This cheered me up tremendously, although wasn't the least bit unnoyed with hina. The drive 10 Shek- was a strange com- bination of hair-raising bursts
thunderous
We'd just finished lunch when Steve ring, and I arranged for him to drop in about eight. When I'd replaced the receiver I found a starry-eyed Stella at of
and speed my elbow. Was that Steve?
from Steve. As wo When do we see him?" she bab czes bled. I was a bit on edge I sup announced gravely, "I think pulled up. at December's he pose because, forgetting our
I've got Asien fu,” I was a. idyllic pre-lunch episode, I little angry. "Why couldn't snapped, "Relax. He's just aa- you have honest-to-goodness other man. Like ile aleazy British du?" I snorted.
were gling in the type you bar." It always shattered me, December welcomed us, and but I must confess that Stella was duly sympathetic about looks absolutely magnificent Stove,. He gave ine a quick when she's angry. And angry look-over and stated quite she was. She set herself like a calmly, "There's nothing else pointer and snapped, "Alright, for it. Steve's not t. You'll Barrett. Watch mo welcome have to be Santa Claus." your dear friend Steve. And a spite br all my objections it was Merry Christmas to one and settled, and I climbed unhappily all" And with that she made a spectacular exit.
Now, I must put you in the picture about Steve, He's an old college friend of mine. He's
Into
the costume provided. Stelia stuck my whiskers on end used, I thought, a lot more glue than was necessary. How- ever, she smiled in a sort of
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