Writer's Notebook

They all said it would be the worst time of the year and she knew they were right. So why had she refused the children's help when one by one they offered to come and spend the holiday with her. Right now, she wished she hadn't but a few weeks ago, she felt strong and resolute, capable of affronting whatever demons may lay siege to her mind. She had given herself a task. She would work on those photo albums she had been wanting to get done all year. But with Sam's illness, then the long hospital stay she had just never gotten around to it. It would be a labour of love and would provide her with many wonderful memories. But memories are double-edged they lift up but they can also suck down and right now they were taking her on a downward spiral.

The phone rang. It was her eldest daughter. How are things Mam? Ellie hadn't felt like telling her the truth, she wanted to be brave. But there was no hiding anything from Gloria and she'd soon broken down. Hardly had she put the phone down, it rang again. Phil, her son, calling from the other end of the country. How many people had he helped face the future after traumatic happenings in his practice? Could he help Ellie, now? She did feel better when she put the phone down and hardly had she done so, it rang yet again. Ellie had no trouble guessing who it would be this time. Sonia was the energy bundle of the family, always on the go, yet never to busy to think of her lonely mother. What she was not prepared for, however, was Sonia's message. She was obviously in deep trouble.

"Mam, I'm at the Angel hotel in Newtown. I need you to come, right now, Mam. I need you straight away, please Mam!"

Ellie was horrified. Without hesitating she got into her car and began the ten mile journey into town. 1001 different scenarios sprung into her mind, each one worse than the other. Then she remembered Sam. He would have done exactly the same thing. He doted on Sonia, and still called her his baby even though she was now over 20. She remembered all the little scrapes, he had got her out of. Treasured memories and ones that would help her face up to whatever trouble Sonia was in now. Sam would be there to help.

Meanwhile, at the private dining room Gloria and Phil Wilkens were putting the finishing touches to the table decorations, when Sonia came in.

"It worked! She swallowed it hook and line. She's on her way over now; the party can begin."

You see the one thing Ellie forgot about her daughter was her acting capabilities, and so this was going to be another Christmas to remember.