“This is amazing, Tane.” Kelly was dressed in a fluffy red sweater with white trim and black buttons sewn down the front. “Thanks for inviting us.”
“Of course.”
She hugged me and then let go, turning to the kids and waving them forward. “Come on, goblins!”
“Are these all yours?” I was a little boggled at the sheer number of kids.
“Fosters, yeah,” Kelly said. “My wife and I just love kids, and we figured this was a good way to get as many as we wanted.”
“That’s awesome. I have a big extended family back home.” I led her and the gaggle of kids into the hall.
“You must miss them, this time of year,” she said.
“Yeah, but... this is really helping. Your wife couldn’t come?”
Kelly chuckled. “No, she’s at home making sure Santa comes.”
“Gotcha. Well, we have Santa this way if you want some pictures?” The kids headed towards Morris and Kelly hung back to snap pictures with her phone.
“I can’t believe how big a turnout there is, I always thought this was just a little town. We’ll have to come by more often.”
I smiled, feeling ridiculously proud of Foggy Basin and all the folks that lived there. “Yeah, it’s a magical place.”
The kids went to grab some food.
“Why don’t we load you up with some gifts and food while they’re distracted?”
“Tane, this is, we don’t needmoregifts.”
“Look at the piles, we still have plenty left. People donated these to ensure everyone has a great holiday.”
Kelly bit her lip and I sensed she was close to crying so I led her over to Evelyn to get her sorted.
The fire fighters helped load up the back of her van with food and gifts.
Once the kids had finished eating, Kelly gathered them together. “Tane, they’d like to do a little song for you.”
“Oh real? Are they brave enough to go up on the stage?” I asked it of Kelly but I directed the question to the kids.
“Yeah!” One of the redheads led the others up onto the stage.
I found Dillon, introduced him to Kelly as the kids organised themselves into an orderly group.
I put my arm around him as the kids started to sing. They sangWe Wish You a Merry Christmas, and although it was far from a polished performance, you could see they were really into it.
There were a few misty eyes in the hall.
When they were done, the fire fighter’s choir took the stage and brought the house down with a spirited version ofGod Rest Ye, Merry Gentlementhat got faster and faster as they went.
Dillon kissed my cheek. “We have to do this every year.”
“Agreed.”
Dillon
The fire fighters insisted on doing all the clean up,. Evelyn took what was left of the food parcels and gifts to drop off at a shelter in Hartsville in the morning.
Aster, Tane and I walked home together, happy.
