Discovered in a Christmas Stocking Day 19
Dec. 19th, 2009 11:23 am![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
3745rule.livejournal.com posting in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
discoveredinaljWhen you were younger did you enjoy unwrapping the presents in your stocking? I did and still do! I think there is a little of the child we once were in all of us.
The first part of your present to unwrap today was inspired by the prompt “A Satsuma”.
Special thanks go to my lovely beta byslantedlight and my special support team (you know who you are, please don’t be embarrassed) without your encouragement I would have deleted this long ago.
Enjoy!
CHRISTMAS AT HOME
“Oi mister give us our ball back!”
“′Oi mister!′ who’s that then?”
“Sorry sir, what my mate means is please could we have our ball back?” A second boy pointed to the ball at Bodie’s feet.
Picking up the ball Bodie hesitated. “I thought I told you to call me Bodie.”
The boy looked at Bodie and then at the boy standing next to him. “You don’t know anything about Victorians do you? We need well, I need, some help with my homework.”
Bodie chuckled. “You didn’t have to throw the ball at me you could have just asked!”
Later William rushed over to where Bodie sat with a worried look on his face. “It’s got a rude word in it! I can’t use that!” He pointed at the book he’d been reading.
Bodie peered at it and began to smirk. “I think that’s how the Victorians shortened the name Frances back then. You could just write that Florence’ mother was called Frances and not write Fanny …” Bodie raised his eyebrow and William chuckled before going back to the desk he had been sitting at. He worked bent over for the next half hour, the only sound heard was of pencil scraping paper. Bodie watched him for a bit before returning to the sports pages of his newspaper.
It hadn’t taken long for the lad to worm his way into Bodie’s life and now into Doyle’s as well. How long had it been? Months - maybe almost a year now. Bodie smiled to himself as he recalled the day he had moved into his current flat.
The Capri had been loaded with boxes, all labelled of course. Doyle had disappeared on the pretext of getting some food and that had been hours ago. He had therefore made several trips himself and on about the fourth trip he had been surprised to see a young boy watching him intently.
“You moving in then?”
“Looks like it.”
“Want a hand with that?” The boy could only be about 10, he had fair hair with big blue eyes surrounded by long eyelashes and was looking up at Bodie with intense scrutiny. Bodie mumbled something about being fine and continued up the stairs to his new front door. He didn’t need a nosey young kid getting in the way.
Returning 10 minutes later he saw that the boy was now standing by the Capri and peering at the wheels. “Those the new pepper pot hubcaps? My Mum says we can’t afford a car but when I’m big I want a car like this.”
Bodie opened the boot and got another box out. Before he could stop him the boy had reached in and picked up a smaller box. He struggled up the stairs with it, a determined look on his face. Bodie sighed and followed him.
Inside the flat was clean but cold. “You worked out how the heating works yet? If it’s like ours it takes forever to get going and it’ll make a grinding noise as the pipes warm up!”
Oh joy thought Bodie, that's all I need. The boy disappeared before he could say anything in reply.
Ten minutes later the boy was back. “Mum says come round for a cuppa when you’ve finished.”
How could he refuse those big blue eyes when they were staring so imploringly at him? After all, he had no tea bags of his own since Doyle was still missing.
Bodie always liked to know who his neighbours were, but he hadn’t planned on meeting them quite so soon. Looking out the window he saw the boy’s mother for the first time. In the garden below was a thin, pale woman hardly more than a teenager herself, pulling washing off the line haphazardly as it began to rain.
Peering out the window to see what Bodie was looking at the boy exclaimed, and then tugged on Bodie’s arm. “C’mon, we’d better go and help or it will all be wet and she’ll have nowhere for the next load.”
Bodie looked at him quizzically but allowed himself to be dragged out of the flat and round to the back of the next door house. William started pulling at clothes and pegs and motioned for Bodie to do the same. A few minutes later three rather wet figures, laden with crumpled washing, staggered into what appeared to be a kitchen full of even more washing. The woman looked embarrassed but said nothing. William helped her put the washing down on the table in the middle of the kitchen while Bodie just stood there, helplessly holding his pile, wondering what to do next. William turned and took the clothes from him and placed them on the table beside the other pile.
The girl had moved to the sink. Picking up a kettle she filled it with water and returned it to the stove where she lit the gas and set the kettle to boil. She then produced three cups and saucers from a cupboard, together with a teapot from nearby. She busied herself making the tea. Bodie realised she still hadn’t spoken a word. He was just wondering what to do when she turned and shyly smiled at him.
“Thanks for your help. I’m Susan and I see you have already met William, my son.” She pointed to a chair covered in washing, which William removed, and, realising he was meant to sit down, Bodie sat.
“Mum takes in washing, but the machine is broken so we’re a bit behind today.”
“William! Don’t bore the man with our problems find the biscuits. I think we have some swiss roll somewhere, would you prefer that?” Bodie’s eyes lit up and before he could stop himself he found he was nodding.
A few hours later back in his own flat Bodie was unpacking the last of the boxes when the doorbell rang. Thinking it was Doyle he peered through the spy hole but could only see the top of his visitor’s head. Opening the door he looked down at William who handed him a casserole dish covered in tea towels and smiled at him.
“This is to thank you for mending the machine. Mum says there’s no rush to return the dish.” The boy smiled and then turned to walk back down the steps.
Bodie just had time to mumble his thanks when he heard Doyle’s voice. He sighed. Trust Doyle to turn up just as the work was almost finished! He ushered him into the flat, noting the lack of shopping bags. Ignoring him for a moment he took the towel covered dish to the kitchen and put it down on the side. “Just in time for supper, courtesy of my new neighbours.”
“What can I say mate, my timing is always perfect!
Hmm what did you do to get this? How long have you been here? Already chatting up the neighbours!”
“Well you pushed off and then the lad appeared and…” Bodie paused enjoying another mouthful of the casserole. “She can cook though can’t she? Where is my food, by the way?”
“Ah well! I was going to suggest you came back to mine for a break so I left your food there. Got a bit sidetracked sorry. I was just coming to get you when that lad beat me to your door with this.” He pointed to the remains on his plate and smiled. “I’ll go and get it when I’ve finished this and then we can watch the footie when I get back.”
“You’ll be lucky - I haven’t set the telly up yet!”
“Give you something to do when I’m gone then,” and with that, Doyle finished his food, handed the empty plate to Bodie and left.
Over the next few weeks Bodie settled into his flat and met his other neighbours but he especially kept an eye out for the lad and his mother. They appeared to be just about living above the breadline and yet were always generous, offering him, and Doyle when he was there, copious cups of tea and delicious casseroles, not forgetting the homemade swiss roll. In return Bodie helped the lad when he could and Doyle had showed him how to strip down his bike and put it back together.
Susan now did Bodie’s washing and never commented on the bloodstains or dirt, she just handed it back freshly laundered and ironed and wouldn’t take any payment for it. Bodie therefore felt it was the least he could do to keep an eye out for them, and had even looked after William when he had a day off that coincided with school holidays.
He was dreading having to move again, but had already decided if, and indeed when, that situation arose he was going to keep in contact with them.
Doyle was intrigued by the whole situation and found excuses to go round and help with jobs Bodie had either not done or hadn’t realised needed doing. They had done a bit of digging, and found out that Susan was a widow. It turned out that Susan’s late husband had died in a car accident when William was 11 months old.
One rare Sunday afternoon off duty found them round at Bodie’s neighbours again.
Doyle and William were standing in the gardens that joined Bodie’s flat and William’s house. It started to rain, so William led the way into the house. On entering he called out “Mum, is it ok if I show Ray my room?” before urging Doyle upstairs.
Susan appeared from the kitchen in time to see the two pairs of legs disappearing round the curve in the stairs. She smiled and returned to the kitchen.
“So this is your room - should I feel privileged to be allowed up here?”
William made a face at Doyle and sat on his bed. Doyle sat on the bed and then swung his legs up onto the bed lying back as he did. He stretched and smiled a lazy smile. “I could get used to this. What time would I have to be ready for school?” he winked at William who laughed.
“Duh – its’ school holidays. Anyway I want all the details. Bodie says I shouldn’t ask but I am.” He paused and looked at Doyle.
“You’ve been talking about me with Bodie? All good I hope!” chuckled Doyle.
“But of course mate! Here Susan made some tea”
Doyle looked up as Bodie appeared with three mugs of tea. He reached out his hand and took the mug Bodie was holding out to him.
William chuckled “Drinking tea lying down? Now this’ll be interesting. Don’t spill any on the bed covers or Mum’ll tell me off.”
Bodie handed William his mug of tea and leaned against the doorway. “Am I dismissed now or can I stay too?”
William rolled his eyes and Bodie laughed, then he rolled his eyes back at his young neighbour and, shrugging, left William and Doyle drinking their tea.
“I’m not going to get any peace am I?”
William tried to look innocent but failed. He burst out laughing as Doyle tried to look innocently back at him. They both collapsed on the bed laughing and only just avoided spilling their tea, which seemed to make the situation funnier. Eventually Doyle moved his hand over his face as if wiping his laughter away. He drank his tea aware that William was studying him closely. He stretched and sat up slowly, rummaging in his back pocket for his wallet, which he handed to William who looked enquiringly at him.
“If I let you see a photo of them will that shut you up?”
William waited and only opened the wallet when Doyle nodded encouragingly at him.
He took out a photo and studied it without saying anything. He looked up to find Doyle watching him closely. “Why aren’t you with them instead of here with us?”
Doyle hadn’t expected that and was floored for a moment or two; eventually he spoke “They don’t live in the UK now.”
“Hmmn”
“Hmmn, is that all you’re going to say?”
“You mean I’m allowed to ask more? Hmmn what was it Bodie said I should ask?” William chuckled. He studied the photo. “You don’t see your family then, like Mum and me”
Doyle closed his eyes.
William noticed he was smiling. “I’ll take the cups downstairs and leave you to your thoughts shall I?” A far away sounding Doyle responded, “Hmmn …” a big smile spread over Doyle’s face. He remained lying on the bed with his eyes tightly closed. William crept out of the room leaving him to dream.
Saturday 19 December
It was cold outside, well it was winter wasn’t it, and he was wearing his thick black coat and checked scarf but no gloves, so his hands were very cold by the time Doyle arrived. It seemed too cold for snow, but a frost was already forming.
In comparison Bodie’s flat was almost too warm - typical Bodie, he had the heating up full blast. Taking his coat and scarf off Doyle settled himself on the sofa while Bodie poured scotch into two glasses. He scanned the room and stopped suddenly in surprise.
“Hey mate, what’s with the orange?”
“What orange? This is pure malt, Cowley’s finest I’ll have you know.” Bodie’s eyebrow seemed to move and a wistful expression appeared, only to be quickly replaced with a blank expression. Doyle wasn’t fooled - something was different. But he’d only left Bodie on his own for a couple of hours…
“Anyway, it’s a satsuma”
“A satsuma?”
“That’s it mate, a satsuma not an orange.”
“Right let’s see if I’ve got this right. I leave you alone for a couple of hours and you put together a satsuma, and what is it?,” Doyle peered at the mantelshelf, “Four cocktails sticks, some raisins, sweets and um,” Doyle screwed his eyes up as if concentrating hard, “sticky tape, mate?”
“Yep, that just about sums it up”
“You take some sticky tape and put it around an orange, sorry a satsuma, and poke it with cocktail sticks and sweets”
“Don’t forget the candle stuck in the top Ray” Bodie chuckled at Doyle’s expression and drank his scotch down in one. He wasn’t going to tell just yet. He wanted some fun first.
Two hours later they had eaten, and drunk more scotch, and watched the football on the telly, and still Bodie hadn’t said anymore. Doyle was getting impatient. Why had Bodie taken it on himself to make Christmas decorations, correction one Christmas decoration, and a not very good one at that? Shouldn’t it have cloves and things and there be several in a bowl? Bodie was weird at times but this was bordering on bizarre. He moved the sofa cushion and looked behind it. No nothing there.
“What are you looking for?”
“Just checking to see if there are any more hidden home-made decorations.”
“Ray it is not a decoration! It is more than that, and it is mine!” Bodie leaned back in his seat and watched Doyle trying to look disinterested.
“You know Ray you only have to ask” chuckled Bodie. “Actually there were some sultanas and cherries but we ate them.”
“We?”
“Well it seemed rude not to offer him some, when I was eating them.”
“Now you really are beginning to worry me Bodie. Imagining you eating dried fruit with someone’s bad enough, but playing with sticky tape…” Doyle’s voice tailed off and he began to laugh his loud raucous laugh. Bodie let him laugh a smile on his face.
“I could hardly turn him away now could I? Not after all the trouble he’d gone to” Bodie got up and took a large book from his bookcase and handed it to Doyle. “Here mate, see if that’ll help your thick brain work it out.”
Silence or rather an expectant silence took over the flat while Doyle flipped through the book and Bodie waited and watched. Finally Doyle looked up “It says here, mate, that Christingles or Christ Lights are made by children. Note Bodie children, not grown men with an unexpected few hours off duty.” Again the raucous laugh could be heard. “I always thought you were weird, but now I have proof” Doyle punched him gently on the arm, grinning as he did.
“Yeah but what else does it say? If you look it says that the Christingle is meant to symbolise the meaning of Christmas, and yes it is made by children usually, I’ll give you that point, but it does say” Bodie pointed to the page and left Doyle to read the rest. He walked into the kitchen smiling to himself. A few minutes later Doyle joined him and watched him as he made two mugs of tea.
“So come on mate you can admit it you were bored and read the book so you made a Christingle. Come to think of it how did you come to have red sticky tape, dried fruits and sweets in the flat?”
“You forgot the candle and the cocktail sticks!” Bodie paused and then added “One word sums it up mate. William.”
“You made it for William?”
“No!”
“So you did make it for yourself then?”
“William and some of his friends made them in school and he brought one round for me, so we ate some of the sweets and looked it up in that Boys Own Book Of Facts you got me last year. He was rather disappointed that you hadn’t arrived when he had to go.”
“William?”
“William”
“That’s all right then, mate, for a minute or two I thought you’d cracked up.” Doyle looked in the book again. “Hang on - it says they are made with oranges!”
“Well the teacher couldn’t get enough oranges so she got some satsumas instead. And after all as William said what’s a satsuma if it’s not a small orange?”
Doyle looked at Bodie and rolled his eyes.
Title: Christmas At Home
Author: 3745rule
Pairing: None
Archive at ProsLib/Circuit: Yes please
Disclaimer: I do not own Bodie or Doyle, I'm just borrowing them.
Notes: Christmas Stocking Fun Part 1
The first part of your present to unwrap today was inspired by the prompt “A Satsuma”.
Special thanks go to my lovely beta byslantedlight and my special support team (you know who you are, please don’t be embarrassed) without your encouragement I would have deleted this long ago.
Enjoy!
CHRISTMAS AT HOME
“Oi mister give us our ball back!”
“′Oi mister!′ who’s that then?”
“Sorry sir, what my mate means is please could we have our ball back?” A second boy pointed to the ball at Bodie’s feet.
Picking up the ball Bodie hesitated. “I thought I told you to call me Bodie.”
The boy looked at Bodie and then at the boy standing next to him. “You don’t know anything about Victorians do you? We need well, I need, some help with my homework.”
Bodie chuckled. “You didn’t have to throw the ball at me you could have just asked!”
Later William rushed over to where Bodie sat with a worried look on his face. “It’s got a rude word in it! I can’t use that!” He pointed at the book he’d been reading.
Bodie peered at it and began to smirk. “I think that’s how the Victorians shortened the name Frances back then. You could just write that Florence’ mother was called Frances and not write Fanny …” Bodie raised his eyebrow and William chuckled before going back to the desk he had been sitting at. He worked bent over for the next half hour, the only sound heard was of pencil scraping paper. Bodie watched him for a bit before returning to the sports pages of his newspaper.
It hadn’t taken long for the lad to worm his way into Bodie’s life and now into Doyle’s as well. How long had it been? Months - maybe almost a year now. Bodie smiled to himself as he recalled the day he had moved into his current flat.
The Capri had been loaded with boxes, all labelled of course. Doyle had disappeared on the pretext of getting some food and that had been hours ago. He had therefore made several trips himself and on about the fourth trip he had been surprised to see a young boy watching him intently.
“You moving in then?”
“Looks like it.”
“Want a hand with that?” The boy could only be about 10, he had fair hair with big blue eyes surrounded by long eyelashes and was looking up at Bodie with intense scrutiny. Bodie mumbled something about being fine and continued up the stairs to his new front door. He didn’t need a nosey young kid getting in the way.
Returning 10 minutes later he saw that the boy was now standing by the Capri and peering at the wheels. “Those the new pepper pot hubcaps? My Mum says we can’t afford a car but when I’m big I want a car like this.”
Bodie opened the boot and got another box out. Before he could stop him the boy had reached in and picked up a smaller box. He struggled up the stairs with it, a determined look on his face. Bodie sighed and followed him.
Inside the flat was clean but cold. “You worked out how the heating works yet? If it’s like ours it takes forever to get going and it’ll make a grinding noise as the pipes warm up!”
Oh joy thought Bodie, that's all I need. The boy disappeared before he could say anything in reply.
Ten minutes later the boy was back. “Mum says come round for a cuppa when you’ve finished.”
How could he refuse those big blue eyes when they were staring so imploringly at him? After all, he had no tea bags of his own since Doyle was still missing.
Bodie always liked to know who his neighbours were, but he hadn’t planned on meeting them quite so soon. Looking out the window he saw the boy’s mother for the first time. In the garden below was a thin, pale woman hardly more than a teenager herself, pulling washing off the line haphazardly as it began to rain.
Peering out the window to see what Bodie was looking at the boy exclaimed, and then tugged on Bodie’s arm. “C’mon, we’d better go and help or it will all be wet and she’ll have nowhere for the next load.”
Bodie looked at him quizzically but allowed himself to be dragged out of the flat and round to the back of the next door house. William started pulling at clothes and pegs and motioned for Bodie to do the same. A few minutes later three rather wet figures, laden with crumpled washing, staggered into what appeared to be a kitchen full of even more washing. The woman looked embarrassed but said nothing. William helped her put the washing down on the table in the middle of the kitchen while Bodie just stood there, helplessly holding his pile, wondering what to do next. William turned and took the clothes from him and placed them on the table beside the other pile.
The girl had moved to the sink. Picking up a kettle she filled it with water and returned it to the stove where she lit the gas and set the kettle to boil. She then produced three cups and saucers from a cupboard, together with a teapot from nearby. She busied herself making the tea. Bodie realised she still hadn’t spoken a word. He was just wondering what to do when she turned and shyly smiled at him.
“Thanks for your help. I’m Susan and I see you have already met William, my son.” She pointed to a chair covered in washing, which William removed, and, realising he was meant to sit down, Bodie sat.
“Mum takes in washing, but the machine is broken so we’re a bit behind today.”
“William! Don’t bore the man with our problems find the biscuits. I think we have some swiss roll somewhere, would you prefer that?” Bodie’s eyes lit up and before he could stop himself he found he was nodding.
A few hours later back in his own flat Bodie was unpacking the last of the boxes when the doorbell rang. Thinking it was Doyle he peered through the spy hole but could only see the top of his visitor’s head. Opening the door he looked down at William who handed him a casserole dish covered in tea towels and smiled at him.
“This is to thank you for mending the machine. Mum says there’s no rush to return the dish.” The boy smiled and then turned to walk back down the steps.
Bodie just had time to mumble his thanks when he heard Doyle’s voice. He sighed. Trust Doyle to turn up just as the work was almost finished! He ushered him into the flat, noting the lack of shopping bags. Ignoring him for a moment he took the towel covered dish to the kitchen and put it down on the side. “Just in time for supper, courtesy of my new neighbours.”
“What can I say mate, my timing is always perfect!
Hmm what did you do to get this? How long have you been here? Already chatting up the neighbours!”
“Well you pushed off and then the lad appeared and…” Bodie paused enjoying another mouthful of the casserole. “She can cook though can’t she? Where is my food, by the way?”
“Ah well! I was going to suggest you came back to mine for a break so I left your food there. Got a bit sidetracked sorry. I was just coming to get you when that lad beat me to your door with this.” He pointed to the remains on his plate and smiled. “I’ll go and get it when I’ve finished this and then we can watch the footie when I get back.”
“You’ll be lucky - I haven’t set the telly up yet!”
“Give you something to do when I’m gone then,” and with that, Doyle finished his food, handed the empty plate to Bodie and left.
Over the next few weeks Bodie settled into his flat and met his other neighbours but he especially kept an eye out for the lad and his mother. They appeared to be just about living above the breadline and yet were always generous, offering him, and Doyle when he was there, copious cups of tea and delicious casseroles, not forgetting the homemade swiss roll. In return Bodie helped the lad when he could and Doyle had showed him how to strip down his bike and put it back together.
Susan now did Bodie’s washing and never commented on the bloodstains or dirt, she just handed it back freshly laundered and ironed and wouldn’t take any payment for it. Bodie therefore felt it was the least he could do to keep an eye out for them, and had even looked after William when he had a day off that coincided with school holidays.
He was dreading having to move again, but had already decided if, and indeed when, that situation arose he was going to keep in contact with them.
Doyle was intrigued by the whole situation and found excuses to go round and help with jobs Bodie had either not done or hadn’t realised needed doing. They had done a bit of digging, and found out that Susan was a widow. It turned out that Susan’s late husband had died in a car accident when William was 11 months old.
One rare Sunday afternoon off duty found them round at Bodie’s neighbours again.
Doyle and William were standing in the gardens that joined Bodie’s flat and William’s house. It started to rain, so William led the way into the house. On entering he called out “Mum, is it ok if I show Ray my room?” before urging Doyle upstairs.
Susan appeared from the kitchen in time to see the two pairs of legs disappearing round the curve in the stairs. She smiled and returned to the kitchen.
“So this is your room - should I feel privileged to be allowed up here?”
William made a face at Doyle and sat on his bed. Doyle sat on the bed and then swung his legs up onto the bed lying back as he did. He stretched and smiled a lazy smile. “I could get used to this. What time would I have to be ready for school?” he winked at William who laughed.
“Duh – its’ school holidays. Anyway I want all the details. Bodie says I shouldn’t ask but I am.” He paused and looked at Doyle.
“You’ve been talking about me with Bodie? All good I hope!” chuckled Doyle.
“But of course mate! Here Susan made some tea”
Doyle looked up as Bodie appeared with three mugs of tea. He reached out his hand and took the mug Bodie was holding out to him.
William chuckled “Drinking tea lying down? Now this’ll be interesting. Don’t spill any on the bed covers or Mum’ll tell me off.”
Bodie handed William his mug of tea and leaned against the doorway. “Am I dismissed now or can I stay too?”
William rolled his eyes and Bodie laughed, then he rolled his eyes back at his young neighbour and, shrugging, left William and Doyle drinking their tea.
“I’m not going to get any peace am I?”
William tried to look innocent but failed. He burst out laughing as Doyle tried to look innocently back at him. They both collapsed on the bed laughing and only just avoided spilling their tea, which seemed to make the situation funnier. Eventually Doyle moved his hand over his face as if wiping his laughter away. He drank his tea aware that William was studying him closely. He stretched and sat up slowly, rummaging in his back pocket for his wallet, which he handed to William who looked enquiringly at him.
“If I let you see a photo of them will that shut you up?”
William waited and only opened the wallet when Doyle nodded encouragingly at him.
He took out a photo and studied it without saying anything. He looked up to find Doyle watching him closely. “Why aren’t you with them instead of here with us?”
Doyle hadn’t expected that and was floored for a moment or two; eventually he spoke “They don’t live in the UK now.”
“Hmmn”
“Hmmn, is that all you’re going to say?”
“You mean I’m allowed to ask more? Hmmn what was it Bodie said I should ask?” William chuckled. He studied the photo. “You don’t see your family then, like Mum and me”
Doyle closed his eyes.
William noticed he was smiling. “I’ll take the cups downstairs and leave you to your thoughts shall I?” A far away sounding Doyle responded, “Hmmn …” a big smile spread over Doyle’s face. He remained lying on the bed with his eyes tightly closed. William crept out of the room leaving him to dream.
Saturday 19 December
It was cold outside, well it was winter wasn’t it, and he was wearing his thick black coat and checked scarf but no gloves, so his hands were very cold by the time Doyle arrived. It seemed too cold for snow, but a frost was already forming.
In comparison Bodie’s flat was almost too warm - typical Bodie, he had the heating up full blast. Taking his coat and scarf off Doyle settled himself on the sofa while Bodie poured scotch into two glasses. He scanned the room and stopped suddenly in surprise.
“Hey mate, what’s with the orange?”
“What orange? This is pure malt, Cowley’s finest I’ll have you know.” Bodie’s eyebrow seemed to move and a wistful expression appeared, only to be quickly replaced with a blank expression. Doyle wasn’t fooled - something was different. But he’d only left Bodie on his own for a couple of hours…
“Anyway, it’s a satsuma”
“A satsuma?”
“That’s it mate, a satsuma not an orange.”
“Right let’s see if I’ve got this right. I leave you alone for a couple of hours and you put together a satsuma, and what is it?,” Doyle peered at the mantelshelf, “Four cocktails sticks, some raisins, sweets and um,” Doyle screwed his eyes up as if concentrating hard, “sticky tape, mate?”
“Yep, that just about sums it up”
“You take some sticky tape and put it around an orange, sorry a satsuma, and poke it with cocktail sticks and sweets”
“Don’t forget the candle stuck in the top Ray” Bodie chuckled at Doyle’s expression and drank his scotch down in one. He wasn’t going to tell just yet. He wanted some fun first.
Two hours later they had eaten, and drunk more scotch, and watched the football on the telly, and still Bodie hadn’t said anymore. Doyle was getting impatient. Why had Bodie taken it on himself to make Christmas decorations, correction one Christmas decoration, and a not very good one at that? Shouldn’t it have cloves and things and there be several in a bowl? Bodie was weird at times but this was bordering on bizarre. He moved the sofa cushion and looked behind it. No nothing there.
“What are you looking for?”
“Just checking to see if there are any more hidden home-made decorations.”
“Ray it is not a decoration! It is more than that, and it is mine!” Bodie leaned back in his seat and watched Doyle trying to look disinterested.
“You know Ray you only have to ask” chuckled Bodie. “Actually there were some sultanas and cherries but we ate them.”
“We?”
“Well it seemed rude not to offer him some, when I was eating them.”
“Now you really are beginning to worry me Bodie. Imagining you eating dried fruit with someone’s bad enough, but playing with sticky tape…” Doyle’s voice tailed off and he began to laugh his loud raucous laugh. Bodie let him laugh a smile on his face.
“I could hardly turn him away now could I? Not after all the trouble he’d gone to” Bodie got up and took a large book from his bookcase and handed it to Doyle. “Here mate, see if that’ll help your thick brain work it out.”
Silence or rather an expectant silence took over the flat while Doyle flipped through the book and Bodie waited and watched. Finally Doyle looked up “It says here, mate, that Christingles or Christ Lights are made by children. Note Bodie children, not grown men with an unexpected few hours off duty.” Again the raucous laugh could be heard. “I always thought you were weird, but now I have proof” Doyle punched him gently on the arm, grinning as he did.
“Yeah but what else does it say? If you look it says that the Christingle is meant to symbolise the meaning of Christmas, and yes it is made by children usually, I’ll give you that point, but it does say” Bodie pointed to the page and left Doyle to read the rest. He walked into the kitchen smiling to himself. A few minutes later Doyle joined him and watched him as he made two mugs of tea.
“So come on mate you can admit it you were bored and read the book so you made a Christingle. Come to think of it how did you come to have red sticky tape, dried fruits and sweets in the flat?”
“You forgot the candle and the cocktail sticks!” Bodie paused and then added “One word sums it up mate. William.”
“You made it for William?”
“No!”
“So you did make it for yourself then?”
“William and some of his friends made them in school and he brought one round for me, so we ate some of the sweets and looked it up in that Boys Own Book Of Facts you got me last year. He was rather disappointed that you hadn’t arrived when he had to go.”
“William?”
“William”
“That’s all right then, mate, for a minute or two I thought you’d cracked up.” Doyle looked in the book again. “Hang on - it says they are made with oranges!”
“Well the teacher couldn’t get enough oranges so she got some satsumas instead. And after all as William said what’s a satsuma if it’s not a small orange?”
Doyle looked at Bodie and rolled his eyes.
Title: Christmas At Home
Author: 3745rule
Pairing: None
Archive at ProsLib/Circuit: Yes please
Disclaimer: I do not own Bodie or Doyle, I'm just borrowing them.
Notes: Christmas Stocking Fun Part 1
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}