A Foreboding Christmas

Exerpt from Damien Smiths diary:
The way he looked as the words hit him was absolutely unforgetable. His usually sharp, stoney featues softened with shock and his face crumpled, as if his dad had been a bulldog! His breath left him as though he had been hit in the stomach with a bulldozer. In a matter of minutes my idol was absolutely destroyed. And i was glad. I will never forget that fateful day.

25th December 2009. The day that shook my world. We sat around the table, all twelve of us: me, Mum, Dad,Granddad Ben+Grandma Meg, Granddad Paul+Grandma Shirley, Auntie Lisa+Uncle Paul Jnr, Cousin Jill, Auntie Gail+Uncle Bob and finally Toff our pet dog. Talk floated round the room, as me and Jill muttered to each other in an undertone about who had got what. The table was heaving, laden with the most scrumptious food imgainable including Goose fat roasties, but pride of place was the gigantic Wild Boar, that Uncle Paul had supposedly 'shot'.

As me and Jill argued about who had the better presents and why, the loud, abrasive voice of Granddad Ben wafted over.
"Look at those two squabling over blooming presents like starved dogs. In my day you were luky to get a satsuma, let alone a bloody television. You got what you were given and that was that. Any lip and the slipper would come out!" He spoke with growing anger his voice rising to a hoarse shout as he finished, spittle splating into my face. His eyes flashed red and he got out of his seat.
"Ben!" Grandma Meg spoke with growing warning."Don't you dare shout at Damien! He WAS being gracious about what you got him, but you've had a little too much to drink."
"I'll shout at who i bloody well like, thank you very much!" and with that he chucked the gravy boat straigt into Grandma Meg's face.
"Get out, Now!" Dad roared the words with utter hatred.

Three hours were pulled away from me in a blur. Finishing lunch, washing up (although gudgingly), getting gloves, scarves and coats on before seting out into the swirling snow, for a 'brisk walk'. While me and Jill had a mini-snowball fight, a man stumbled over to grandma meg. He put his arm around her shoulder and started belting out 'I wish it could be christmas every day' at the top of his monotone voice. She shrugged him off but he grabbed her arm, swung her roung and snarled:
"Listen to me you ungrateful cow, this is the last time you will get rid of me. I'm going to get rid of you. Soon we'll be all on our and there will be no-one to hear you scream." Grandma Meg's face was absolutely petrified.

Before i could stop myself i was running towards him. I pulled back my right arm and prepared to throw the now Ice-Ball cupped in my hand. My arm snapped forward and the ball flew out hitting the Stranger on the left ear. He howled in agony and twisted round, lashing out with a karate kick. His size 12 Doc. Martins hit my knee as though it was a twig. CRACK!! My Knee. Pain. Shattered. My mouth opened in a scream but shock took the noise right out of my mouth. It was Granddad Ben! After an eternity i hit the floor and groaned. Granddad Ben turned round and dad's fist smashed into his shiny temple. He landed face down in the now muddey snow.

As i sat up i realised i was in hospital. Every one was huddle protectivley around my bed. Well, not quite everyone.
"erm, hello?" The voice was shocked and twanged with pain. Granddad Ben.
Grandma Meg got to her feet and spoke with pure venom.
"Get out, Now!" she ecohed my dad from earlier.Same voice.
" I Never want to See you again! I WANT A DIVORCE!!!!!" Her final bellow took it all out of her.

The way he looked as the words hit him was unimaginable. His usually sahrp, stoney features softened with shock and crumpled. his breath left him as if he'd been hit by a car.

I will never forget the day my Idol found out that ther IS Another Way To Die.