The changeling

”I am glad you thought of it. They will be thrilled. It will make an exciting Christmas Day for them.”

“Well, let’s get to work. First the clues. We’ll hide ourselves away. What about the summerhouse? It will be warm in there with the door shut and they won’t think of looking for us there.”

“All right. Now do you mean?”

“Well, we shall have to get busy and this afternoon we shall go into the village for the prize.”

It was great fun in the summerhouse. Together we worked on six simple clues and distributed them in appropriate parts of the garden. Then we went into the village and bought a large box of chocolates tied up with red ribbon.

When we returned Lucie and Belinda, who were in the garden, came rushing up to us.

Belinda caught Oliver Gerson’s arm.

“Where have you been?” she demanded.

“Ah,” said Oliver, looking mysterious. “On secret business.”

“What secret business? And what’s that?”

He put his fingers to his lips and smiled at me secretively.

Lucie hung on my arm. “What is it, Rebecca?” she pleaded.

“This,” said Oliver, holding up the parcel, “is the prize.”

“What prize? What prize?” shrieked Belinda.

“Shall we tell them?” asked Oliver, looking at me.

“I think so,” I replied judiciously. “It’s about time they knew.”

Belinda was jumping up and down, unable to contain her excitement. Oliver said: “On Christmas Day ... after the feast... there is going to be a treasure hunt.”

“Treasure ... what treasure?”

“Miss Rebecca and I have planned it for you.”

“For us?” cried Lucie, as excited as Belinda.

“For you and all the children who are here. There will be others so there will be fierce competition.”

“Tell!” demanded Belinda.

“This, as I told you, is the prize ... the treasure, you might say. The one who wins it will bring us the clues. We shall give you one to start with and then you will go off and search for the other five. They are all in the garden. When you have them you bring them to us... that is to Miss Rebecca and to me. We shall be in the summerhouse waiting for the first one to come in. When she ... or perhaps he ... as there will be other children ... arrives with the six then the treasure will be handed over.”

“What a lovely game,” said Belinda. “You do think of the loveliest games, Mr. Gerson.”

“It is my pleasure in life to please you, Miss Belinda.”

“And me?” asked Lucie.

“You too, Miss Lucie ... and Miss Rebecca, of course ... and all the others who will join us on Christmas Day.”

“When can we have the clues?” asked Belinda.

“Not until you are all assembled. This has to be fair, you know.” They talked about the treasure hunt for the rest of the day. There was no doubt that it had been a good idea.

“Now we have to pray for a fine afternoon,” I said. “Disappointment would indeed be bitter if the weather put an end to the treasure hunt.”

Christmas Day dawned dry but dull. There was a dampness in the air, but we hoped that the rain would hold off. At least it was not particularly cold. We all went to the church in the morning and as soon as we were back the carol singers came. “The First Noel,”

“The Holly and the Ivy,”

“The Twelve Days of Christmas” and “O Come All Ye Faithful” - it was always moving to hear the well loved words and music. After the performance the singers came into the hall; my stepfather made a little speech of thanks; and all were served with hot punch and mince pies, which were handed round by the children, supervised by Celeste.

After that we dined ... the children at the small table with Leah, and the rest of us at the great oak one in the center of the hall. There was a great deal of laughter. I watched my stepfather at the head of the table being very charming to his guests and I asked myself: Why cannot he be like that with his family? Celeste, at the other end of the table, was trying to do what was expected of her. I found myself next to Oliver Gerson. I think he had arranged that, but I was not displeased. It meant that I could enjoy a certain amount of lighthearted conversation.

Every now and then he would glance over to the little table. I saw him catch Belinda’s eye and lift his hand in acknowledgment. A smile immediately lightened her face. I warmed towards him. He had succeeded admirably in making hers a happy Christmas. How different from my stepfather who was so completely immersed in his own ambitions that he had no time to spare for others.

I said: “It looks as though all is set fair this afternoon.”

“It must be. Otherwise we should have to devise some other entertainment.”

“It must keep fine. There is so much enthusiasm for the treasure hunt. Belinda and Lucie have been talking of nothing else since they heard of it. Even the excitement of Christmas gifts has taken second place.”

The meal seemed to go on for a long time but at last it was over. All the children had been told of the arranged treasure hunt and were all eager to be there.