“Hello, ladies!” Santa smiled expansively as the girls approached him, having passed their coats to Josh so they could show off their pretty Christmas outfits for the photographs. “You both look very festive!” he beamed. “What are you names?” The both told him in the polite, slightly awed voice that children always seem to fall into when talking to Santa, even if they are no longer true believers. “Amelia and Samantha!” Santa repeated in his rich, deep voice. “Very pretty names indeed! Now, tell me, are you looking forward to Christmas?”

“Oh yes!” Amelia grinned as they both nodded. “Especially Christmas dinner!”

“Excellent!” Santa beamed. “I do love Christmas dinner too! I’m lucky Mrs Claus is such an excellent cook! So,” he asked warmly, “what are you having for Christmas dinner this year?”

“Me!” Samantha declared gleefully. “With all the trimmings!”

“I say!” Santa exclaimed jovially as both girls giggled. “That sounds like quite the treat! Although I must say you look like a pretty big turkey for one little girl to eat all on her own! I hope you’ll be sharing?” he asked Amelia.

“Oh yes,” she confirmed quickly, “lots of people are coming!”

“Well that’s very good!” Santa nodded sagely. “Wouldn’t want you going pop!” The earned him more happy giggles from the two girls. “I know people like to eat a lot at Christmas but there have to be limits!”

“Oh yes! My Mummy and Daddy will be there,” Samantha informed him enthusiastically, “and my Gram and Gramps and Grandma and Grandpa and my Aunt and Uncles and all my cousins and Daddy’s friend from work and his daughter and two friends from school and my friends from across the road and their mum!”

“Oh so quite a party then!” Santa exclaimed approvingly. “I’m sure you’ll provide them quite the feast!” Samantha beamed proudly at this endorsement.

“My meat’s going to help Amelia fatten!” Samantha informed him excitedly. “For her own big day!”

“I see!” Santa turned to Amelia. “And when will that be? Or aren’t you sure yet?”

“Some time in the Spring,” she replied happily, “for my little cousin’s Christening. I’m going to be a spit-roast!”

“And a most delicious one I’m sure you will be too!” Santa beamed, apparently not at all phased by the conversation and leading Josh to suspect that hearing little girls talk excitedly about their upcoming deaths was something he had a reasonable amount of experience with. “Well since this is the last Christmas for both of you, I think it’s even more important that we get some nice pictures! Would you like to do them together or one at a time?”

“Can we do both?” Samantha asked politely. “Some together and some on our own?”

“Of course! Of course!” Santa beamed, holding out his arms behind the girls as they stood on either side of him.

“Would it be okay if they sat on your knee?” Josh asked when the elf had clicked the button a few times.

“If you say it’s okay and if they want to?” Santa looked quizzically at the girls then spread his legs a little wider so that they could both sit on his lap, slightly facing each other. With Josh’s insistence that it was okay, he put an arm around each of their waists and they put their arms around his shoulders, leaning their heads in towards him as they smiled for the camera.


To be continued...