The Christmas Robin

Presents to buy, food to cook and a tree to decorate – could she create the perfect day?

- Rebecca Mansell

Tap, tap, tap, tap, tap. Elizabeth paused a moment and looked up from making her mince pies to gaze out of the frosty window.

There he was again, their persistent little red robin. He stared back at her with curious brown eyes, his head tilting from side to side, as if trying to understand what she was doing inside.

A lot, Elizabeth would have said, if only he could understand her.

For the last week she had been so busy, preparing for Christmas. There was always so much to do and she was beginning to feel overwhelmed. Would she ever get it all done in time?

Elizabeth’s thinking was broken by her husband entering the kitchen, scratching his head and yawning. She tried not to be annoyed by his lack of help, but she knew full well that he’d nodded off again while reading the newspaper. If only she could just curl up and read a book by the fi re.

‘Oh, he’s there again, I see.’

Jack stood looking out of the window and then smiled at his wife, giving her a quick hug. He glanced around the kitchen.

‘What are you looking for?’

Elizabeth felt a bit distracted. She had a lot on her list to do today. Tania and Amelia were arriving in the afternoon, bringing their respective partners and the grandchildren, and she still hadn’t fi nished the tree. Those last-minute presents needed wrapping, too, and she had forgotten where she put that ribbon she’d bought last week.

‘My glasses,’ murmured Jack. ‘I was going to do the crossword.’