Page 57 of A Merry Little Christmas
Macca threw Daz a look of disbelief. ‘This one’s a mentalist. She thinks a bit of butt-licking’s going to change our minds.’
Daz gave a snort of appreciation for his mate’s wit, and next minute, they were both rolling around laughing their heads off.
Macca grinned at Maddy. ‘How about I knit you a balaclava without an opening at the front? So no one can hear the bollocks that comes out of your mouth?’
Cue more hysterical laughter.
Maddy just stood there with a smile on her face. Then she quickly whipped out her phone and held it up.
‘Hey, what are you doing?’ Macca frowned, clutching his knitting, as the camera clicked.
‘Needed a photo. Of your creative efforts,’ said Maddy calmly.
‘You can’t just go taking photos of people,’ said Daz. ‘You need to pay him for that.’
Macca grinned. ‘Yeah. That’ll be an extra tenner each.’
‘Yeah. Pay up and we’ll forget we ever saw youthieving from the village hall.’ Daz shouted these last words at the top of his voice.
More cackles of laughter and now they were now sauntering towards us for their pay-off.
‘I’m afraid we’re out of the readies, boys,’ said Maddy calmly. ‘I mean, who carriescashthese days?’
‘She’s obviously never heard of acash point,’ mocked Daz.
‘Actually, I’m going to give you something even better than money.’ She shrugged. ‘I’m so impressed with your creativity, Macca, I’ve decided I’m going to post on social media what a truly fantastic knitter you are.’
There was a stunned silence, during which Jaz gave a snort of mirth.
Daz stared at us for a moment, then he started creasing up with laughter.
Macca just looked quietly horrified.
‘I think talent of this kind should be applauded,’ said Maddy. ‘You really shouldn’t be so modest, Macca. The wholeschoolshould know what a fabulous knitter you are. And look, I’ve even got the picture to prove it! What do you think, girls? Instagram?’ She held up the image on her phone of Macca clutching his knitting and looking surprised.
‘Tiktok,’ said Fen. ‘Definitely tiktok.’
‘You wouldn’t . . .’
‘Wouldn’t I?’
I laughed. ‘Oh, she definitelywould!’
Macca hopped off the gate with a casual shrug. ‘Look, we were only winding you up. Come on, Daz.’
Without another word, they ran off along the lane.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
It was the day of the WI Christmas sale and members of the café crew had converged on the pop-up skating rink that an enterprising local farmer had set up in one of his fields.
Darkness had fallen several hours ago, but the scene was wonderfully festive with fairy lights twinkling in the hedgerows, tall spotlights trained on the rink, and fresh snowfall sparkling in the trees and crunching beneath our feet.
Catchy Christmas numbers were blaring out from the speakers and a mobile pizza and pancake truck was proving to be a popular and colourful focal point. The foodie aromas drifting over were making me feel very hungry.
‘I thought Ellie said she’d be here after she closed up the café,’ remarked Fen, zipping her padded coat further up, to her chin, and clasping her gloved hands together.
We were standing in a semi-circle, facing the rink and stamping our feet against the cold, our breath emerging like wisps of smoke.
