anneiskeepingbusy

December 22nd

Poppy is confident of getting her Christmas list. Mum is less sure. What with the bills and no post, Santa is looking decidedly dicey.

December 21st

“Don’t take risks,” the Minister says. Terry, now into hour ten waiting for an ambulance, thinks, but I was only coming down the stairs.

December 20th

Monika jams onto the train. After four cancellations, she opens a miniature gin, plugs in her headphones, and prepares to stand for two hours.  

December 19th

Molly is quite pleased with her sign for the picket. “National Hell Service.” It’s her first strike but she thinks she has a knack.

December 18th

Geena and Miles put up the Christmas tree watching the World Cup final. They hope neither team win. It’s been a strange old year.

December 17th

Carol has never cared for ballet, preferring words and eating, but she takes the little girls to The Nutcracker. They pirouette their way home.

December 16th

Amir watches the news. From Kharkiv to Hackney, everyone is freezing. It’s 2022, ffs. We were promised jet packs; now there’s not even heating.

December 15th

In this weather, they stay at home, eating M&S stollen. Later, they ask “Alexa” to play Al Bowlly and sing along to Goodnight, Sweetheart.

December 14th

Ken, their lovely postie, is striking.

When they say that Santa might be delayed this year, the children shrug. They’re Covid-kids. They expect disappointment.

December 13th

Her dad used to soak unmarked stamps from Christmas card envelops to reuse. “These days, the UV franking machines know. Another joy they’ve stolen.”