“I’m freezing,” muttered Max.

“So sing louder,” whispered Mary.

It was the first year that the children had been old enough to join in with carolling around the village and the reality of standing in the cold was setting in. Max’s songbook wobbled as he shivered. The tall man next to him sang so loudly that Max was beginning to feel a ringing in his ears.  They came to the end of the first noel and a glimmer of hope twinkled in Max’s mind. Perhaps that was the last song, and maybe, just maybe they could go home and have a hot cup of cocoa. 

“Just a short break before Hark the Herald,” announced the tall man. Max rolled his eyes. There were to be another set of carols before the end of the night.  Mary nustled her chin into her scarf. She was enjoying being away from the nursery. Bossy Miss Prudence would be waiting to put her straight to bed when she returned home.  She looked in awe at the two ladies in their fur rimmed scoats and petite hats. She’d be glamourous like that one day; a real lady. Mary’s eyebrows raised of their own accord as the lady she had been gazing at burst into a full octave. 

“La, da, da, da, daaaa.” 

“Glorious Darling!” said the tall man “You really have the voice of an angel.”

“Oh really George, you mustn’t flatter me so.”

“Right, let’s move on to the next house.”

The group responded and moved along to a beautifully lit house with fir trees that stood like soldiers guarding the front door.  Max sniffled as his nose was bright red, but before he could complain, Mary turned the page in his songbook and they joined together in Hark the Herald.

The faint sound of footsteps and bangs from behind the door drew Max’s attention and he peered at the glass panels of the door. Little faces looked out of the windows gleaming with smiles. Just as the carollers finished with a final high note, the front door was flung open. 

“Come in, Come in! You must all have a mince pie and some mulled wine!” 

Max smiled, just what he had been waiting for.

___