Jingle BELLS

Memories flooded back for Jeff, but maybe it was time to make new ones

- Linda Lewis

I like Christmas songs, but that one…’ Jeff shuddered as Jingle Bells filled the shop. Again.

‘I love it!’ Helen replied. ‘It’s such a cheerful tune.’

‘You wouldn’t say that if you were here six days a week. I must have heard it a thousand times.’

As the last bars faded away, Helen’s phone rang. Jeff flinched. ‘Jingle Bells! I don’t believe it,’ he said.

‘Sorry. I changed the ringtone last week, for Christmas.’ Helen hurried out the back to take the call.

The toy shop was busy with last-minute present buyers so Jeff didn’t notice the next couple of times the song played.

At closing time, it wasn’t only Jeff who sighed with relief. The entire shop seemed to as well.

When the last customer had left, he turned the sign to ‘Closed’.

‘You might as well go,’ he told the sales assistants. ‘I can finish up. Happy Christmas!’

‘You too!’ they chorused.

As soon as they’d gone, he set to work – tidying, emptying the till… too late, he realised he hadn’t turned the music off.

Before he could reach the control panel, Jingle Bells flooded the shop.

It sounded louder and even more annoying when the shop was empty.

‘If I never hear that tune again, it will be too soon,’ he muttered crossly as he turned off the machine.