Silent Night 2019

1^st December

I was in the front room with big sis and little sis, watching the television. I’m twelve, my big sister is fifteen, and my little sister nine, and we were all wearing white tops and jeans. Mine was a classic t-shirt, and black jeans turned up to the knees, while my big sister had on a vest top and faded jeans which were ripped at the knees.

As for my cute little sis, she had on a sleeveless top and faded jeans – oh, and we were all barefoot. That became important later. Anyway – we were watching television when Mum came in and asked if she could take one of those “Silent Night” photos with us. We’d seen them online, of course, and we were usually game for a laugh, so we agreed, which was when Mum asked us to sit on the floor, with our legs crossed. I went to one side, then little sis, then big sis.

Anyway – she put Santa hats on all of us, and then took some strings of fairy lights, before she wrapped the first one round my arms and upper body, as I sat with my legs in the lotus position and my arm folded in front of me. She looked at me as she tied the lights into place and said I needed to set an example for the other two – so I nodded to show I would, while she took the second string and tied them round little sis, going from her shoulders to her elbows and smiling as she did so.

Big sis was looking supremely bored by it all, but she didn’t object as Mum took the third string of lights and tied them round her so that her upper arms were held against her sides, before Mum tore a strip from a roll of red tape and pressed it over her mouth. I could tell something was on her mind, but before I got a chance to ask little sis and I had tape over our mouths as well.

We looked at Mum, wondering where the camera was – and then she said “I’m so sorry, they’re making me do this” before she used the red tape to tape our wrists to our elbows, and our ankles together. My sisters were wondering what was going on – and then I saw the man in the doorway, a gloved finger to his lips, which were covered by the stocking he had pulled down over his head.

“Hthllrhhtmhmwhllwht,” I said, my sisters looking at me as I nodded and said “Lhttskhstwht.” They both nodded as Mum turned the television on and left us to watch a film as she left the room. I could see them walk upstairs, two men with her, but said nothing.

It was an hour later when the door opened, and Mum jumped in, bands of red tape round her arms and body, her legs, her ankles and over her mouth. She sat on the couch and looked at all three of us, saying “hruhlhrht” and we all nodded. Somehow, we weren’t afraid, and less so now she was with us.

Dad arrived an hour after that and freed us – the men had robbed our house, and made Mum keep us put of the way, but she didn’t want to scare us, so the photos story…

2^nd December

If you've got to make your getaway
And two kids
Are there in your way
Then you have to find a way
You have to leave them there like this
With no way to even hiss
Then you can get away

Just sit down
On the floor, back to back
And I’ll use
These lights to make sure you cannot stray
Don’t call out now for
Your Mum and Dad
This green tape, will make sure they do not wake
I've only just begun
To bind you
All I can say is
Is I’m sorry it has to be this way

If you've got to make your getaway
And two kids
Are there in your way
Then you have to find a way
You have to leave them there like this
With no way to even hiss
Then you can get away

I’ll tape your ankles and your wrists too
Hold each other’s hand
And then you’ll be there to help each other along
Just remain calm and soon
It will be over
And as for the dogs
They’ll keep you from more harm

I know it’s Christmas day
And I know
Your presents are all safe
But you need to stay this way
Now we’re going to leave the lights
On to keep you bright
Have a peaceful Christmas Day…

3^rd December

“She’s finally fallen asleep,” Susan said as she carried her two year old daughter into the house, the little girl’s eyes closed as she rested her head against her mother. Putting her down on the couch, she brushed her hair away from her eyes and smiled.

“Seeing the lights tired her out,” Steve said as he took off his jacket, revealing his blue checked shirt over his beige pants. “But do you know what I really could do with?”

“Coffee?”

Steve smiled at his wife as she stood there, her scoop necked purple top over the long sleeved grey one, the black leggings visible from the hem of her skirt to her knee length beige suede boots. “Coffee – going to make some?”

She nodded and left the room, as Steve closed the curtains and turned the light on in the rear – then stepped back, slowly raising his hands in the air…

“Here we go,” Susan said as she carried two mugs into the front room – and then stopped as she saw Steve sitting on the floor, on a large red cushion in front of the Christmas tree. His hands were behind his back, and as she looked down she saw the white cord tied round his ankles, holding them together. She could also see the blue tape covering his mouth, and the expression in his eyes as a female voice said “very kind – put the mugs on the coffee table, and then put your hands behind your back.”

“Who… What…”

“You don’t want to wake your daughter up, do you,” the voice said as Susan felt a small metal disc against her back. “Just do as I say.”

“Phlsss,” Steve mumbled, Susan nodding s she slowly put the cups down, and then moved her hands behind her back, looking at her husband as she felt the cords being tied round them, forcing them together. Whoever this was, she meant business, as she felt the cords going between her arms and then the fingers as the knots were tied off.

“Go and sit behind your husband, and stretch your legs out.”

As she sat down, Susan saw the intruder – a young girl, barely twenty if that, but she had some sort of gun in her hand, and she could see her daughter sleeping, so she offered no resistance as the woman bound her ankles together, the rope sinking into the soft suede.

“Just my luck you got back before I left,” the girl said as she tied the knot off, and then picked up a string of white lights they had meant to put on the tree, wrapping it round their waists and then plugging it in before she tore strips of blue tape from a roll on the floor, and covered Susan’s mouth, leaving her only able to whimper as the girl stood up.

“Have fun,” she said as she picked up a pillow case, and left Steve and Susan on the floor, struggling to get free…

4^th December

This was one of those rare occasions where a visit I made involved the whole family…

It was a week before Christmas, and the Woods family had been in the local news because of the fact Jack Woods had won some awards for his writing. He was married to Abigail, and they had a nine year old daughter called Rose.

And it was Abigail and Rose that I was watching getting out of the car outside their house. Both of them had long coats on, but I could see the dark red boots Abigail was wearing, and the black felt boots Rose had on as they went into the house. I smiled as I locked the car door, and walked up to the front door, pausing to pull the stocking down over my head before I let myself in. I was dressed for the occasion – a red jacket and pants, the jacket over a white top, the legs of the pants tucked into knee length white boots, and a white stocking on my head.

I could hear laughter in the front room, but I could also hear sounds in the kitchen, so I made my way down to see Abigail at the sink, washing some mugs. She was wearing a long white jumper and red pants, the legs tucked into the chunky boots she was wearing. I slipped my rucksack off and put it quietly on the chair, and then walked over, taking her by surprise as I put one gloved hand over her mouth and the other round her waist.

“Stay calm, Abigail,” I whispered, “and listen to what I say. I’m going to rob you, and that means I need to make sure you and your daughter cannot raise the alarm – but do it my way, and she won’t be scared. Nod if you understand.” I waited as she processed what I said, and then nodded before I said “good – when I take my hand away, put your hands behind your back.”

“What are you going to do,” she whispered as I took a length of white cord from my pocket, and tied her wrists together behind my back.

“We’re going to tell Rose this is a game of robbers, and get her to play along. Understand?”

“You’re that Games Player?”

“That’s tight,” I said as I tied the rope off, “now, let’s go into the front room – and remember, this is a game…”

I took Abigail into the front room, and saw Rose there, wearing a red sleeveless dress with white polka dots, the skirt gathered slightly, red tights and the black boots, her blonde hair in two pigtails – and she was decorating the tree.

With her father. Jack was wearing a red top with a silver star on the front, tan pants and black trainers, and was talking to Rose – until they turned round and saw me.

“Who is this, Mum,” Rose said, Jack nodding as his wife said “this is the special guest your dad and I asked to come and play a game with all of us, Rose. She’s going to pretend to be a robber, and …”

“And I’m going to take a special photo of your mum and dad Rose, to remember the occasion by,” I said as I looked round the room. “Would you like to help me get them ready?” I smiled as she nodded, and said to Abigail “go and sit on the floor, and your husband can come and stand in front of me.”

“What’s going on,” Jack said, but then he saw the way Abigail’s wrists were tied, and he walked over, whispering to me “you’re robbing us?”

“Hm-hm – now let me tie your wrists behind your back,” I said as Rose looked at her mother, and said “does that hurt, mummy?”

“No it doesn’t – so let the lady tell you what to do to help her,” Abigail said as I secured Jack’s wrists behind his back, and then said “go and sit with Abigail. Rose, do you have a Santa hat?” When she nodded, I said “go and get it would you, and bring it straight here?”

She left the room, as I said “keep pretending this is a game” and took more cords from my rucksack, binding the ankles of her parents tightly together, and then their legs below their knees before Rose came back. “Great – your mum and dad are going to sit back to back, and I want you to put it on mummy’s head.”

“Okay, lady,” Rose said as Jack and Abigail moved round, and Rose out the hat on her mother while I picked up some white tree lights that were on the floor. “Can you wrap this round your parents, Rose, at their waists, and I’m going to put some tape on their mouths to keep them quiet.”

And that is how Rose tied the two of them together with the lights, while I took some red tape from my bag, tore several strips off, and covered their mouths with them. They both looked at me as I took Abigail’s phone, and took photos of both of them, Rose smiling and clapping her hands.

“Htshhgghdghmm,” Abigail mumbled as I said “now, Rose, here’s my question – want to be like them?”

Which is why, when I came back in the room half an hour later, I could see Abigail and Jack still tied back to back, and Rose on the couch, her head resting on the armrest as she wriggled round. I’d tied her wrists behind her back, and her legs like her parents, and covered her mouth with red tape as well. I left them watching A Grand Day Out…

5^th December

“Welcome back to the special Christmas Edition of You Bet Your Life – and here’s Larry!”

“Welcome, welcome back to You Bet Your Life, coming today from the fine country home of the Grosvenor family. If you’re just joining us, you’ve missed the introductory round, but I have to tell you that so far the Grosvenor family have played very well, haven’t you Mister Grosvenor?”

“Please, don’t do this any…”

“Ah, but now it’s time to move on to the round the younger generation take part in, and I’m going to ask Jeremy and Natasha to come and join me. Come on up here. As you can see Jeremy is the twenty year old son, and wearing a black top and pants, and his nineteen year old sister Natasha is in a lovely red dress with a tartan shawl round her neck. Now how are you both feeling?”

“Scared…”

“Good, good – now we’re going to play the Silent Night game. Sit down back to back – and we’re going to ask your mother and father a series of questions – well, your father, your mother lost the last round, didn’t you Honoria?”

“PHllssdhnnthrrthmmm…”

“Well, we’ll ask the questions, and for each one your father answers correctly we do a bit of the Silent Night photo. So, for starters, what is the combination to the wall safe here?”

“It’s…”

“Well, that was correct – so we start by tying the wrists of both of you together with the fairy lights. Now, question two – inside the safe my lovely assistant has found a black box, does it contain pearls or gold?”

“You say pearls – Davina? And pearls it is – so we now tie the lights round the upper legs of both of you!

“Now then, question three – Davina has in her hands some legal documents. Are they negotiable bonds?”

“No – please…”

“Davina? Very well done, she will replace them, and as for Jeremy and Natasha, they get their ankles tied. Comfy?”

“Please, why are you…”

“Ah ah Natasha – I am afraid this is not your round, so we have to keep you quiet with this duct tape. And we need to make sure your brother stays quiet as well. Now, final question, Mister Grosvenor – how much are the gold coins worth?

“Davina?

“Excellent – and that completes this round. It only remains to secure your children together with these larger fairy lights, and plug them in, and they are the winners! We’ll be back after the break, where we ask the housekeeper where she keeps her valuables, and Mister Grosvenor plays the jackpot round! Stay right there…”

6^th December

“You are kidding, Mum – right?”

Laura looked at her children and shook her head, saying “go on, it’ll be fun – or are you both chicken?”

Twelve-year-old Lauren looked at her ten year old brother Carl and shook her head. “We’re not chicken, I just don’t know why you want us to do this.” She was wearing a white cardigan over a metallic blue sleeveless dress which came down to her knees, and black slippers, her long brown hair over her shoulders.

“No, I’m not chicken,” Carl said as she stood with his arms folded. His hair was cut short, and he was wearing a candy striped short sleeve shrt and grey cargo pants with trainers. His mother was wearing a blue dress with a knee length skirt, and high heels, as she said “well, why don’t you sit back to back in front of the tree – then I can use this blue tape, and these lights, before I take the photo?”

Laura and Carl looked at each other, and then nodded as they sat in front of the fir tree. “Well, at least it means we’re doing something this morning,” Laura said as her mother knelt next to them, and put their wrists together, before she used the roll of blue tape to secure them to each other.

“Yeah – and I guess it’ll be a fun thing to show our friends,” Carl said as their mother stepped over his legs, and then taped their wrists to each other at the other side. “So, are you going to tape our ankles as well?”

“If you want me to – Laura?”

“Oh, go on – what harm can it do,” her daughter said as her mother put her ankles together, and then wrapped the tape round them, before doing the same to Carl. She then picked up the long string of fairy lights, and wrapped it round her children, holding them together around their arms and upper bodies.

“Right then – put your lips together for me, I’ll put some tape over them, and then take the photograph.”

“Okay Mum – me first,” Carl said as he closed his mouth, and then felt the tape tugging on the skin round his mouth as his mother pressed the length over them. Laura nodded as her mouth was covered in blue tape as well, saying “Hmmrhddee, chrl?”

“Mhthhh,” Carl mumbled under the tape as they looked at their mother, seeing her smile as she picked up the camera and took several pictures, the white lights twinkling on them.

“Now who could that be,” she said as she heard the doorbell, Laura and Carl watching as she put the camera down and left the room. They heard a conversation, and then the door opened – only it wasn’t their mother who came in. It was a man, about five foot six tall, wearing a black leather jacket over a jumper, pants, shoes, gloves – and a balaclava over his head, so all that they saw were his blue eyes and his smile.

“Well now, it appears we have interrupted some family time,” he said as he knelt and looked at them. “Allow me to introduce myself – my name is Mister Small, and my friend Mister Tall is talking to your mother about something. Now, the bad news is you will need to stay like this for a while.

“The good news is your mother will join you soon – and she will be playing the same game as you…”

7^th December

Silent night is here, by golly,
Time for pictures that are funny,
Have a seat, and don’t you worry,
I’ll make sure you can’t object.
Put your palms in prayer together
There you go, now ain’t that clever
How the flex makes a tight tether
Now what hat did you select?

Now that I have your wrists neat in the ties
We take the flex right down your thighs
It’s no use making all those sighs
You volunteered to so this, right?

Now we make your ankles secure
You can struggle, but I am sure
You realise it is too late to demure
There – ready to have them plugged in?
Let me use this second lights set
Tie them round your arms and biceps
Now you’ll sparkle with the bright wit
Oh wait – there’s one thing I need to begin

See this tape, it’s white and soft
Can you guess where I it got?
I went to the pharmacist
And bought it just for you!
And now no one can hear you cry
As I plug the lights in, and try…

So now I’m gonna take your picture
Post it so that all can see ya
Any words you would like to say?
“JSHTTUHWHHTTHHHLIGHHFRHHH!”

8^th December

As you know, my – past experience as the Cat means I am sometimes consulted on home security. It was a few days before Christmas when I was asked to perform a security check on this particular house, as a favour to a colleague. His daughter lived there alone with her three children – a twelve year old girl, and twin brothers and sisters aged nine. I had discussed the issue with their parents, and they made it clear that my check had to include them – which meant I had to make it fun.

So I called on a Saturday morning, as requested by pretending to be a robber. I knew the kids had played these games in the past, but this was going to be slightly different, as I went into the kitchen to find their mother making come coffee, wearing a blue dressing gown with pajama bottoms visible. When I hand gagged her, she was shocked, but then she heard me say good morning and relaxed, before asking what I was going to do.

I told her to put her hands behind her back, and taped them together, before asking where the kids were. She took me to the front room, where they were still in their pajamas – red tartan ones on the older daughter and son, a nightdress on the younger one.

They immediately pegged this was a game, as I said Mummy wanted me to take a very special picture of them while she watched. So they stood up as I helped their mother to lie on the couch, and taped her ankles together, before I told the twins to put their hands together in front of themselves. I used the tape to secure their wrists together in front of themselves, and then told them to stand in front of their sister while she hugged them – and I then taped their ankles together, before taking a ling length of tree lights and wrapping it round all three of them.

It wasn’t tight – this was a game, after all – but I then wrapped it round their older sister’s wrists in front of both of them, before I plugged it in. I then covered their mouths with tape, as well as their mother – but all three were smiling as I took pictures of all of them with their phones, before I did my security check – then released them all as we had coffee and cake…

9^th December

“I bet you would not do it!”

Casey looked at her brothers and sisters as they stood in their pajamas – fifteen year old Angela, eleven year old Judd and ten year old Lucy. She was fourteen, and was wearing a pair of purple pajamas with a panda print on them, her long brown hair freely falling.

“Okay then – but you tell Mum and Dad what we’re doing,” she finally said as she stood on the table, Judd and Lucy standing each side of her as she held her arms up and using rolls of green and red tape to secure them to the wall. They had been challenged to take a family photo with a difference for school – and Angela had been looking on the web…

“Good job guys – my turn now,” Angela said as she picked up a roll of silver tape, and made sure Casey was even more secured to the wall with long bands across her chest and waist. She looked down and said “so far so good – so whathhthsthsnhthnthdhl.”

Judd laughed as he covered his sister’s mouth with the green tape, while Angela used more of the silver tape to fix her legs to the wall. The three of them then stood back – Angela in her purple top and pants with love printed on them, Judd in his red t-shirt and blue pajama bottoms, and Lucy in her lilac pajamas.

“What on earth is going on here?”

All three turned and looked at their parents, Casey rolling her eyes and giggling as they went “ah… Well…. Err…”

Their mother and father looked at each other, and then said “sit down in front of her…”

Fifteen minutes later, all four looked at their father as he took the photos. Angela and Judd now had Santa hats on, but all three had the fairy lights twinkling on them, the flax wrapped tightly round all three, red tape over the lips of Ashley and Judd and green tape over Lucy’s mouth.

“Think that will win the prize,” their mother said as all four nodded…

10^th December

Tanya shivered as she sat with her arms round Tommy and Tessa, looking at the four masked intruders. She had just finished clearing away the dinner plates, and come in to join them in watching a film when the knock on the door had come – and now there they were, as her husband was brought into the front room by the fifth intruder.

“There now,” he said, his voice soft and with a Geordie accent, “the family together. Now, allow me to introduce myself – my name is Jay Edwards, and these are my friends – especially my very good friend, Mrs McPhee.”

“Pleasure to meet ye,” the masked woman said in a broad Scots accent. All five were wearing blue boiler suits, black boots and gloves and black balaclavas over their heads, only their eyes and mouths showing.

“Oh my god – you’re Jay Edwards? So this is about my firm?”

“Indeed it is,” Jay said with a smile as he looked at Tanya, sitting in her black jumper and checked skirt. Ten year old Tessa looked at her mother, before she said “mummy, what’s happening?”

“Well, Lass,” Mrs McPhee said, “Jay wants yer mammy tae do some business fer him, and while she does that, ye twa and yer daddy are gonna stay here wi us.” She looked at Tessa, who was wearing a white top, red ballet skirt with red and white striped leggings, and red socks made to look like Santa boots, and then at Tommy in his long sleeved green top, black and white striped bottoms and red socks.

“What do you mean, stay here with us,” her father said as he sat in the chair, wearing a white dressing gown over his shirt and trousers.

“He means,” Tanya said quietly, “they’re going to hold you hostage while I rob my company.”

“Regretfully true – but we can make it fun as well. Tell me,” Jay said as he looked at the tree and the decorations, “would you like to do a special photo?”

“Just… Just do what they tell you,” Tanya said quietly as one of the masked men took her husband’s hands behind his back and started to tie them together with rope. The two children nodded as she kissed them both on the head, before Mrs McPhee said “Cum oer here and sit back tae back on the floor, then bend yer legs so yer feet are flat on the flair.”

“Like this,” Tommy said as he and Tessa sat on the floor, watching the masked man as he knelt down and tied their father’s ankles together, then watched as Mrs McPhee knelt next to them.

“Can ye both put yer arms round yer legs, hands under yer knees?”

As Tommy did this, he watched Mrs McPhee take a roll of red tape and wrap it round her wrists, holding them together under his knees before she moved over and did the same to Tessa. She then taped their ankles together, as the man taped over their father’s mouth, and Jay took Tanya’s hands behind her back.

“Are we going to be all right Mum,” Tessa said as she watched the other two masked men wrap a set of large Christmas lights round both of them, holding them together as Mrs McPhee put a Santa hat on each of them.

Tanya looked at them, the green flex round their upper bodies, arms and legs, before Mrs McPhee took the roll of red tape, tore several strips off and pressed them over the mouths of her children. “I know what you’re going to do later,” she whispered as Jay helped her to sit down and started to bind her ankles together, “I have your word they will not be harmed.”

“I swear they will not be, so long as they do as we say,” Jay said as Mrs McPhee said to the two children “look at the phone fer me”, then took a photo of both of them with their mother’s phone as Jay tape gagged her as well.

“Now, we have some time before your mother has to go with my friend, and the three of you go to bed – why don’t we watch a film together? I believe White Christmas is on…”

11^th December

We three kids of Caroline are
A Silent Night was her desire
A photo ready, bound and steady
And all we can do is stare

O wrist and ankles, bound in white
Tree lights round us shining bright
Green tape covered, voices muffled
We must be a glorious sight

Oldest am I all dressed in red
With white dots, I wear this to bed
Mum has tied me, tight as can be
Green tape for me, she said

O wrist and ankles, bound in white
Tree lights round us shining bright
Green tape covered, voices muffled
We must be a glorious sight

Little sister, that is my lot
Twisting round, that makes me hot
White with snowflakes, my bros start to shake
Because of the tickles they got

O wrist and ankles, bound in white
Tree lights round us shining bright
Green tape covered, voices muffled
We must be a glorious sight

Dressed in green, with thin white stripes
The green tape means that I am quiet
Mumbling, laughing, kept together with green
This is actually a riot

O wrist and ankles, bound in white
Tree lights round us shining bright
Green tape covered, voices muffled
We must be a glorious sight

Now that Mum has taken the shot
We can twist and see what he’s got
Hot Chocolate, Biscuits Great
Once she has us untied

O wrist and ankles, bound in white
Tree lights round us shining bright
Green tape covered, voices muffled
We must be a glorious sight

12^th December

It's beginning to look like Silent Night
Everywhere we go
All the Christmas Cards we see
Families by the tree
tape on mouths and fairy lights aglow

It's beginning to look like Silent Night
As we gather round
Our daughter and our sons
Ready to sit down for the picture with no sound

They’re all wearing jeans, their bare feet are clean
And their smiles are big and wide
They sit in a row, to put on the show
All five of them side by side
As Mum and Dad take the lights and wrap them round their chests

It's beginning to look like Silent Night
As the lights all gleam
All five of them wriggle and smile
As Mum holds the youngest child
And Dad puts the first strip on Jean

It's beginning to look like Silent Night
Soon the talking stops
And the tape means they all stay quiet
and that there won’t be a riot
While Mum takes the photograph

They’re all wearing jeans, their bare feet are clean
Aa they all mumble “Shilhnhnhtt”
They sat in a row, to put on the show
All five of them side by side
As the fairy lights twinkle and Dad says “all right!”

It's beginning to look like Silent Night
As the lights go off
And the children all laugh and sing
But you can’t her a thing
Until the tape comes off…

13^th December

I’ve got three kids – Steve who is twelve, Shannon is ten, and Kirsty seven. But last Saturday we had a trick played on us by my husband…

We had all been food shopping for the holidays, and the kids were dressed for the weather. Kirsty had on a red sweater with a Christmas tree on the front, and jeans, while Shannon was wearing a white top and a skirt with colored dots – both of them had a ribbon in their red hair. As for Steve, he had a blue checked shirt on over a white t=-shirt and jeans.

Me? I had a red gilet on over a white long sleeved top, and a grey scarf round my neck, as well as old jeans with the legs tucked into brown knee length boots. Anyway, we took the shopping in, and I started to put it away while the kids went into the front room. I could hear them talking to my husband, and Steve say “okay” but then nothing as I put the food where it needed to go.

It was when I walked into the front room that it got strange. Steve was sitting in front of the tree, his legs crossed as he sat there – but I could see that his wrists and ankles were tied together with some green ribbon, and what was more something was over his lips. It was only when I got closer and looked at him I saw they were covered with clear tape.

“Are you all right like this,” I said as I looked at him, but to my relief he nodded – and then I heard Shannon say “your turn Mummy – we bet Steve he could stay like this for fifteen minutes, and he said he would do it if you would.”

Now, I was a little afraid, but I knew my daughters would not really harm me, so #I sat with my back to Steve and bent my legs, wrapping my arms round my knees as Shannon took the roll of green ribbon she was holding, and wrapped it round my wrists, then took it down and wrapped it round my ankles. At the same time, Kirsty said “put your lips together Mummy” before she tore some strips of Sellotape form the roll and pressed them over my mouth.

I could have spoken, but I didn’t; want to spoil their fun, so I waited until they both stood up, and Shannon said “they’re ready Daddy!” That was when my darling husband stepped in, and wrapped the spare tree lights around me and Steve, then plugged them in so that they twinkled on us while Shannon and Kirsty posed behind us – for a photo!

Hubby smiled, and said that would make a great Christmas card, before Steve said something. I had no idea what it was – but I found out as he did the same thing to Shannon and Kirsty that he had done to us, their mouths covered as well…

14^th December

It was a surreal way to spend Christmas Eve, which was true. Laura and I were sitting in our home, drinking some wine and laughing at nothing, when we heard the noise of someone walking into the house.

It wasn’t as if we were expecting anyone – I was wearing a blue checked shirt, jeans and trainers, while Laura had on an old long sleeved white top and jeans, the legs of them tucked into brown leather boots. But there was someone coming in the door – and a moment later, Father Christmas appeared.

Yes, Father Christmas – red suit lined in white fur, red hat, big white beard, sack – and a gun in his black gloved hand as he told us both to stand up, back to back, and not move. Well, of course we did as he ordered us to do, as I held Laura’s hand on both sides. He laughed – really the ho ho ho bit – and then took out of his sack a roll of green tape, which he used to secure my left wrist to Laura’s right and them our wrists on the other side of our bodies. He then knelt down and taped our ankles together, as well as our legs above our knees.

But it was the last thing he did to secure us together that was the kicker – he actually took a long green flex with fairy lights from the bag, and wound it tightly round out arms and chest, then down our legs, so that we could only wriggle against each other.

He told us to lighten up – and then plugged them in so that they shone, before he covered our mouths with the green tape, and proceeded to steal our wallets and purse, then took our valuables from the rest of the house.

I mean, you know there is a risk of been robbed in your own home, maybe even tied up and gagged – but by Father Christmas? He came back in and checked on us, and then laughed a she left.

You would think it would be easy to get out of that, right? But our wrists were taped together, our legs secured with tape, the bodies and legs with that flex – and it was plugged in, so even when I tried to move Laura mumbled and was in danger of falling over. It was only when our neighbor across the landing saw our door was open, and found us that we could get free…

15^th December

Mum and Dad had gone out to a party, leaving the three of us with our babysitter, a local girl named Nell who is a Senior at the high school. I’m twelve years old, my next brother Ben is eleven, and Tom is nine.

Anyway, the house was ready for the holidays – the decorations up, the tree dressed, and we had all got ready for bed. I had on a grey top and bottoms, the bottoms covered with pictures of candy canes and gingerbread men, while Ben was wearing a darker grey top with a picture of a polar bear on it, and grey combat print pants.

As for Tom, he was in red pajamas with a polar bear and penguin print – and we each had a Santa hat, mine and Tom’s were grey and Ben’s white. As for Nell, she was wearing a white wool jumper and jeans with the legs tucked into white socks. She left us watching television while she went to get some supper for us – and that was when the evening began to be very different.

You see, it wasn’t Nell who walked back in a few minutes later – it was a young woman, but she was dressed in red – a jumper, pants, Ugg boots, and a red hat on her head. She looked at us and smiled, as she said Nell was a bit busy, but she wondered if the three of us wanted to play a game.

Tom asked what sort of game – and in reply, she tossed a roll of red tape at him, and said it was called Silent Night. We looked at each other, and then she told me and Ben to sit back to back, legs in a yoga pose.

I asked why as we did that – and then I found out, as she said Ben was going to tape out wrists and ankles, and then she would do that same to him, before Nell came back to see how we looked.

It seemed a bit unusual, but Ben said he would do this, so I put my hands together, Tom grinning from ear to ear as he taped my wrists together, and then taped my ankles in the same way. I then turned my head and tried to watch as he did the same to Ben, before he suddenly went quiet as the girl told her to put some tape over Ben’s mouth.

He then did the same to me. It felt a bit funny – the tape pulled on the skin round my mouth, and when I tried to talk it came out as a mumble, but Ben was laughing, and Tom was happy, so I played along as the girl then told Tom to sit down and hold his hands out. She then took the tape and wound it round his wrists and ankles, before he had his own mouth covered with the tape.

She then took some spare lights and wound the flex tightly round me and Ben, keeping us together before she plugged them in and turned them on. She then wound a second length round Tom, from his arms and down his legs before she sat him on the floor, and plugged them in as well.

She said Nell would be in in a few minutes, and she left the room as we wriggled round and tried to talk to each other. It was only when Nell jumped into the room, tape over her mouth and bands of tape round her arms, waist and legs, that I realized something else may have happened…

16^th December

Billy and I said good night to Mom and Dad as we made our way up to bed. I’m twelve, and he’s ten, and we both have dark hair and wear glasses. As for Mum and Dad, Mum has light brown hair and Dad none.

We also had similar pajamas on – but I was wearing the same style as Dad, red tartan jackets and bottoms. Billy and Mom were wearing red tartan bottoms as well, but theirs had white reindeer on them as well. Their tops were grey with the same reindeer motif on the front, over a red tartan heart.

Anyway – as I said, we went up to our bedrooms and settled down to sleep. It was about ten – I knew Mom and Dad would be sitting up for a while and we always went to bed before them. I took my glasses off, folded the legs and put them on my table, and then pulled the duvet over me as I drifted off.

I woke up at about half eleven, and I thought I could hear Mom talking to someone downstairs, but I guess I was still half asleep, because I did not think it was Dad she was talking to. As I drifted back off, I heard footsteps on the stairs, so I figured they were coming up…

When I woke up the next morning, I got out of bed and made my way to the toilet, meeting Billy as he came out of his room as well. He asked if Mom and Dad were still asleep, so we looked in their bedroom.

Only they were not in there – in fact, it looked as if the bed had not been slept in. So we walked down the stairs, and Billy went to get a drink of orange juice. I walked into the front room, to hear Mom say “Hlphssss”.

It sounded funny because she had red tape over her mouth - and so did Dad, as they sat on the floor back to back, with a set of lights wrapped round them – and the lights were blinking, at least for as long as it took me to go and unplug them.

They also had their wrists taped together in front of them and to their upper legs with green tape, and their ankles taped together as well. I peeled the tape away from Mom’s mouth, and called for Billy to bring me a glass of water as she thanked me. Turned out I had heard her talking – to two masked men who had tied them up, and forced them to tell them the combination to the safe in their bedroom.

I had heard one of them walk upstairs – and was grateful they had not come into our rooms…

17^th December

I watched Mummy tying Christmas lights
Around my little sisters last night
They were sitting on the floor
As I stood by the door
My other sister with me
As we watched them smile with glee

Then I saw mummy cover over their mouths
With red tape that glittered in the light
What a laugh it would have been
If daddy had only seen
Mummy tying up us four last night

I saw Mummy look at sis and me
And tell us both to sit with the other two
So we sat back to back
And more lights round us she wrapped
Then she covered both our mouths
So all four of us could only make a muffled laugh

Then I saw Mummy take a photo of us
Before she sat on the couch and laughed
What a laugh it would have been
If Daddy had only seen
Mummy take our Silent Night last night
Mummy take our Silent Night last night!

18^th December

I was asked to come and provide my counselling services to Alice and her sons – they had been the victim of a home invasion a month before, and Billy and Sean in particular were having problems sleeping. They were nine year old twin boys, and had been left with their mother on their parents’ bed for their father to find.

Given the time of year, I proposed that they have a special photo taken for their father – and when I explained what the photo would involve, it has to be said the boys were a little frightened. But then I said that their mother would get them ready for the photograph, and then I would make sure their mother was ready as well, so they nodded and said they would do it.

For the photo, I suggested they all put on what they would wear to bed – partly for their own comfort, and also because that was what they had been wearing when the invasion took place. So the red haired boys went off to their room, and came back a few minutes later – Billy in a pair of white pajamas with a red trim, and Christmas Dinosaurs on them, and Sean in a blue onesie with a picture of Santa Claus on the front. Alice came in after them, wearing a pair of red cotton pajamas with a Christmas Tree on the front.

I had put three chairs on the floor, wooden ones with a high back, and as the boys sat on to of the chairs I handed to Alice a long length of white rope, and told her to pass it round Billy’s arms, so that his arms were held against his sides, before she tied it round the chair back. He looked worried – and so did Sean – but I kept saying it was a game, and they had nothing to fear. So did Alice, as she tied the rope off and gently kissed his head, then did the same to Sean as he sat there. I then handed her another two shorter lengths of rope and told her how to tie their wrists together in front of them as the boys watched her.

They both wriggled in their chairs as Alice asked them if they were all right, smiling as they both nodded, and then watching as I handed her more rope and told her to tie their ankles to the front legs of the chairs. She did this, their ankles halfway down the wooden legs, as they talked to each other, both relaxing as I watched.

Once they were secured, I told the boys that Alice was going to cover their mouths with some silver tape, and then she would take a photo before I made her the same as them. They both nodded and then put their lips together as their mother tore strips of silver duct tape from the roll and pressed them over their mouths, before she picked up the camera and took a picture.

She then put the camera down and sat down, the boys watching as I tied her to the chair in the same way as she had tied them, except when I tied her ankles to the front legs of the chair her toes touched the ground, and then taped her mouth over as well before they tried to talk to each other as I took a photograph of her, and then all three of them as they put their ordeal behind themselves…

19^th December

Mummy looked at me, red tape on her mouth 
As well as sister Dee, red tape on her mouth 
I also saw Auntie Jean, red tape on her mouth 
I asked what did it mean, red tape on her mouth, 
tape on her mouth, tape on her mouth,

And he told me, red tape on her mouth, 
before my turn. 

Mum and Auntie, red tape on their mouths 
Were sitting on a seat, red tape on their mouths 
Their wrists were taped as well, red tape on their mouths 
And ankles to the chair, red tape on their mouths, 
tape on their mouths, tape on their mouths, 

My sister next to them, red tape on her mouth, 
Is it my turn? 

The lights around them, red tape on their mouths 
Twinkling as he came, red tape on their mouths 
He taped my wrists and feet, red tape on their mouths 
And then I could not speak, red tape on my mouth, 
tape on my mouth, tape on my mouth, 

“Silent Night” he said, red tape on our mouths 
Bound with the lights.

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