Festive Fever

Tilly's mum always took Christmas preparations too far. It was time to make a stand!

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AT the sound of the bell, Cheryl wiped her hands on her apron and went to answer A the door.

It was Tilly, her nine-year grand daughter. old "This is a nice surprise!" Cheryl exclaimed.

She looked out into the street, but there was no-one else there.

"All on your own?" she asked.

"Yes," Tilly replied.

"Well, come on in- it's freezing." As Tilly stepped into the hall, she heaved off a backpack and left it at the foot of the stairs.

What was going on, Cheryl wondered.

"I've left home," Tilly declared.

Cheryl heard a wobble in her granddaughter's voice.

"I see." "It's like this every year when Christmas is near.

"It's supposed to be all merry, but there's no chance of that in our house.

"Mum goes Christmas crazy, and not in a good way," she continued.

"She went berserk because the trunk of the Christmas tree turned out to have a tiny bend in it.

"She made Dad take a day off work to shampoo all the carpets, and there's a constant stream of people coming in to sweep the chimney and steam the sofa and hang up new curtains.

"It's like she gets Christmas fever!"

Cheryl sighed.

Tilly's mum - Cheryl's daughter, Caroline - was a perfectionist.

It sounded very like her to have everything just so for the festive season.

"Does she know where you are?" Cheryl asked.