Boxing Day Blues by Kirsty Gill
26 December 2022 { General Fiction }
“Thank God that’s all over with again for another year!”
“You can say that again!
“Thank God, indeed!”
The three of us have taken up our usual pews in the snug at The George and Dragon. It’s become a Boxing Day tradition to get together in our local and chill out over a pint or two after the busiest time of the year. There’s been little to no chance for any of us to chill out over the last six weeks or so . It comes with the territory.
“Santa’s not the only one who’s glad to put his feet up!
“Amen to that”
“I’ll get the round in” says Peter, “The usual, George? And mulled wine for you, Alison? Or have you had enough of that for this year? Would you rather a pint, too?”
I settle for the latter. Peter knows that I do enjoy the first spicy cup or two of the warm, winter wine but the strong, sweet taste of the festive drink does begin to cloy after a while. There comes a time when you just want to get back to normality and the refreshing taste of a cold beer.
As soon as we’ve settled comfortably over our pints, I can’t help but steer the conversation round to the obvious topic
“Time for the post-match analysis then! How did it all go for everyone? Any nativity play disasters this year? I don’t suppose any of us will ever forget how George’s innkeeper happily announced there was plenty of room at the Inn last year! I don’t know how you managed to keep a straight face, George!”
Peter is the first to reply to my question,.
“But, of course: there are mishaps at nativity plays just about every year – it’s part of the tradition!. Be something amiss if something didn’t go wrong. Keeps us on our toes, I suppose. And don’t tell me the parents don’t love it too! Though a couple of mine weren’t quite so happy this year. One of my angel’s wings nearly poked Mary’s eyes out! Both Angel and Virgin were inconsolable. We had to have an “add break” while each were comforted by attendant mothers. Got the idea of the “add break” from you, George. Showed a PowerPoint about upcoming services and events. Didn’t forget what you told us - that during your “add break” last year the inn mysteriously filled up with last minute online bookings. Genius!”
“ Ah! Yes, not my idea, I have to admit. The stroke of genius was on the part of Helen Hastings! She gave the innkeeper some new lines to that effect during the break. He relished ending up having a bigger part and delivered them with humour and aplomb. He lapped up both the laughter and the applause as if it was his very own idea! Totally saved the day (and the play!). Cheers Helen!
We’re all church leaders, men and a woman of the cloth as we might have been called in days gone by. Although we go by different titles according to the traditions of our denominations, those are just names and we’re all on first name terms, in any case. We’ve become friends and there’s not a dog-collar in sight today. Peter is the Rector at the Anglican parish church of St Mary’s, George is the Pastor at the local Baptist church and I’m the Minister at the Methodists. We do, however, joke that we’re all “C of E” or rather “C and E “at this time of year, as each and every one of us sees people we only ever do see at Christmas and Easter in our churches during this season.
“Suppose you all had your fair share of Christmas merrymakers keeping up the tradition of making a last-minute, boisterous entrance just in time for Midnight Mass?, I continue
“But of course! St Mary’s is just across the road from the pub!”
“At least they come” admits George
“Indeed and they’re usually full of bonhomie!”
“More than can be said of some of us, I suppose!”
“Oh! I always get a bit grumpy at Christmas!”
“Me too!”
“And I feel bad that my kids always get upset on Christmas day because we’re the last family to leave the church.”
“Oh! Yes, that’s a sore point for my family as well! We’re always the last ones to get home and start opening presents!”
“ Yeah, mine get fed up with all the handshaking and festive greetings and I have to admit, I do too. We all just want to get home and start being festive ourselves!”
“ “I have to say that I weary of the same old jokes every year. Someone always makes reference to the Two Ronnies’ sketch when we light the candle on the last Sunday of Advent – you know the one – four candles/fork handles! Anyone else have to put up with that one?”
“Oh! Yes! Same here I have to admit my patience wears a bit thin with that one too. But you have to laugh and act as if you’ve never thought of the connection before – cos whoever makes it always thinks it’s ingenious
“It’s funny the first time – but after that!!”
Just as we’d given up on him, (although Father Patrick was habitually late), a loud and jolly voice greets us heartily from the other side of the pub where he’s just come in, accompanied by a couple of friends:-
“Greetings Brethren! And a very merry St Stephen’s Day to one and all!”
“Father Patrick! Great to see you! So glad you could join us!
“Likewise, likewise and I don’t come alone! Let me introduce you to Sister Helen from our Convent and Sarah, here, who’s one of the leaders of the Christian Fellowship which, as you all know, is new to our area.
“The more the merrier. Great to see you both too.” says Peter
“Heard good things about the new Fellowship! Welcome! Welcome!” George adds
“Perhaps you can help us to lighten the mood a little”, I add. We were in danger of becoming a tad cynical. You know what it’s like. The Christmas season always takes its toll. I’m sure you’ve all got some tales to tell too”.
The said Christmas season starts way back in November for all of us, starting with nativity play and choir rehearsals. Most of us have our Christmas fairs in November too, mainly to get them out of the way before the season starts in earnest. The number of services we have to prepare for in December is usually more than double the number of other months. They include the usual Christingle (always have my heart in my mouth for that one with all those naked flames) and Carol Services, Nativity plays and Midnight Mass to name but a few. Only this year we’ve been let of a little more lightly what with Christmas Day falling on a Sunday.
This year we also introduced a special joint Blue Christmas Service for the recently bereaved or for those who feel the loss of a loved one particularly keenly at this time of the year. It was a Churches Together effort and proved extremely popular and gave people a chance to share treasured memories and to reflect quietly in what can otherwise be a hectic period. Naturally, people die on every and any day of the year but, of course, it’s always a little more poignant for most, if it happens at Christmas time.
“Any real heart-breakers this year? There’s usually a few.” Peter continues.
He always does like to ask questions. He never cares if they’re difficult ones. Perhaps he should’ve been a journalist. Sometimes he says he thinks he might have missed his vocation. But we all know he didn’t. We all ask questions of each other and like to be listening ears for one another. We know we can unburden ourselves in confidence if we need to. I’d had a sudden death on Christmas Eve in my congregation last year which had been a great shock to everyone. And , of course, this year had been particularly difficult for that family, although I have to say I believe they coped admirably. It had helped considerably, that there’d also been a wedding and a new baby for the same family this year.
“I have to admit, it saddened me greatly when I popped round to see one of my flock” said George, “She’s an elderly lady who lives alone in her council flat. Her daughter just lives on the other side of town and her son lives round the corner. But neither of them had invited her to join them on Christmas Day. When I went to visit her, I was heartbroken to see that her living room was stacked to the rafters with beautifully wrapped gifts for her children and grandchildren – there were far too many. She must have spent money that she didn’t have. I hope that she didn’t get into debt. I suspect she did. But the saddest thing of all was that her children couldn’t even be bothered to come and collect them before Christmas. They plan to see her sometime this week. After all the effort she’d gone to! All she wanted was to see them!”
“It’s such a difficult time for so many people”, said Sarah. “As you know, we’re new to the area but we’re learning that so many people round here live alone. It’s great that you do the Churches Together meal on Christmas Day for anyone who want to come and we loved joining in with it this year. But I wonder if it might be a little bit like the Warm Spaces so many places, (not just churches), are offering this year. I suspect that, although some do come, many people are simply too proud or timid to.”
“It’s seldom easy to admit that you need or want help. Especially at Christmas. People don’t like to admit that they’re lonely.” adds Sister Helen. There’s a lull in the conversation – a brief pause. I’m sure we’re all thinking of someone who might feel like that. I’m the one who breaks the silence -
“On a cheerier note, before you joined us, we were talking about nativity play mishaps – they can be hilarious sometimes, can’t they? Have you got any to regale us with? Father Patrick soon pipes up:-
“Well there’s the common one that Baby Jesus is forgotten and isn’t lying sweetly in the manger when he’s supposed to be there.”
“Oh yes! I’ve had that one – Baby Jesus was then promptly sent flying across the room from the back of the hall like a rugby ball, but I have to admit, thankfully, then caught expertly by Joseph and placed remarkably gently in the crib.”
“Ours was, unfortunately, not caught but proceeded to bounce noisily down the steps leading from the stage to the church hall, hitting his head on every single one as he went. Just as well he was made of plastic or he would’ve ended up in A&E with severe concussion and perhaps worse.”
“You’ve got to laugh, but of course I’m sure the irony isn’t lost on any one of us that Jesus is the one who is so often forgotten”
“Indeed, indeed, even though so many loudly proclaim that it’s about time to put Christ back into Christmas, he’s so easily forgotten – let’s face it – by all of us!”
“It’s been said before, but never mind putting Christ back into Christmas, I’d be quite happy to put Christ back into Christians – including me!”
“Amen to that”
“Amen indeed! And cheers everyone!”
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