And lo the infant was found ..in a Barbie shoe!

Monday, December 22 08

The Bennet children’s excitement and anticipation were rising as Christmas Day loomed near. Their festive spirit was contagious and it rubbed off on Mrs Bennet. She fondly thought back on Christmas Past and wondered what Christmas Present and Christmas Future would bring. Christmas Day two years ago, Mrs Bennet, then four months pregnant with the twins; had been persuaded by aspiring actress, Miss Bennet Number One to play the part of Mary in a home impromptu nativity production, inspired by three grass skirts – a dressing-up present from Africa – which transformed into a realistic manger and stable straw. Jannie, Mrs Bennet’s mum, obediently wore a t-towel on her head and carried a lamb; Mr Bennet played the part of all three kings while Grampie, Mrs Bennet’s dad, took great delight in being horrid Herod. He was so convincing he made Miss Megan Bennet, then two, cry.
Last year, Mrs Bennet endeavoured to be a “yummy mummy” and bake her own mince pies, but outbursts from the lounge prevented her culinary skills reaching perfection. An angel in the form of a small tornado appeared before her, whizzing into the hallway and coming to a sudden halt. Deliberate in its actions, the angel demanded a listening ear.
“Something terrible’s happened Mummy! We’ve lost baby Jesus! He fell into the toy box and we can’t find him!” the tornado cried.
Mentally ordering her curling lip to stay straight, Mrs Bennet tried to speak, but Miss Emily Bennet got their first.
“What are we going to do? We can’t possibly have Christmas without baby Jesus!”
“Well, that can’t do. I’ll come and help you find him,” replied Mrs Bennet, knowing this mission to find a 2cm-long baby, required divine intervention.
An hour later, mince pies long burnt and thrown in the garden to prevent a fire, Christmas was saved. Baby Jesus was discovered wedged inside a modern form of crib - a pink Barbie shoe.
But the highlight of Christmas 2007 had to be Miss Megan Bennet. Whilst the older Bennet girls wanted High School Musical gadgets and dolls, she had one desire.
“Mummy,” she announced, her face serious, “I want a real baby Jesus for Christmas. Do you think Father Christmas can get me one?”
Mrs Bennet smiled, reliving the memory.
"It’s moments like these which keep the true spirit of Christmas alive,” she muttered.