Date: Tue, 26 Jan 2016 09:11:11 +0000
From: honey_im_back@hushmail.com
Subject: A Christmas Karol Part 2 By Peter Pumpkin Eater

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Anyone looking for a quick thrill, you might be
disappointed with this story, it is about the love between
a man and 2 brothers. Please take a moment to email me
and let me know what you think, I am aware that there are
some geographical errors, it's fiction, so get over it!
So with a nod to a world famous, local, author here is my version of;

A Christmas Karol 2 by Peter Pumpkin Eater

From Stave 1

I heard a distinct rumble from the tummy of Pawel, and he held his tummy
and giggled. Janet excused herself and I heard her drive off, only to
return about a quarter of an hour later loaded up with Mc Donalds. The
boys, Pawel, Karol and Brian all tucked in, and despite language
differences soon became firm friends. While we adults sat down to plan a
strategy for the weeks ahead.

Stave 2, Christmas Presents

In no time atall the giggles and squeeks from the three boys went over to
the gentle breathing, punctuated by the odd snore, of 3 tired boys away in
the land of Nod. Leslie and Linda, the two Social Workers had made a quick
inspection of the house and agreed that the guest rooms would be fine for
the boys, I pointed out that I felt it better, for now at least, to let
them share one room.

"Technically we cant agree to that, as there is not room for 2 beds in
either room, but as far as we are concerned they each have their own room!"
Linda told me with a smile and a wink. I had the feeling that the chances
were that if the boys woke in the night I might end up with both in my bed,
but I said nothing. Linda went online and checked available court dates and
said, "we will arrange an emergency hearing for the 6th Jan, the Judge on
that day is far better at making the 'RIGHT' descisions in cases like this"

"Fine with me" I replied, " will the boys, or I need legal representation?"

"Good Lord no!" she laughed, "it will be a pure formality, they will go
with my recomendations, and they are that, as long as the boys want to,
they should stay here. That is what you want isn't it?" She asked a little
concerned, "We have been assuming that you would want them to remain here!"

I looked at her as if she had just asked the impossible of me, "Linda!"

Janet laughed, "Linda, this is what Peter needs, and what those boys need,
they are a match made in heaven!"

"I just didnt want to get to court and find that you were happy to help,
for the weekend, but were not up for the 'long haul'" she explained.

The others packed their things and got ready to leave as Rob and I picked
up the 2 sleeping orphans and carried them to the larger spare room. We
removed outer garments and tucked them in, in just underwear, and returned
downstairs to hear a very uncharicteristic argument from Brian, "But MUUUM
they need a friend!"

My look of surprise must have been a picture until Janet explained "Brian
wanted to sleep over to be near the boys but I told him that you have
enough to do without another mouth to feed!"

"I could run home in the morning for my breakfast Uncle Peter!" he pleaded.

"Look Brian, if your Mum and Dad don't mind then I'm sure the boys would be
glad of some company while I do the animals in the morning!"

Janet shrugged and pulled a resigned face while Rob said "If you're sure
mate?"

Brian rushed over to his parents and hugged them as I said," whats one
extra mouth to feed?"

"And I can help with the animals, and show Karol and Pawick what to do!"
Brian added, a little excited.

"His name is Pawel, the Polish version of Paul, and if the boys want to
help with the animals, I'm fine with it!" I said, ruffeling his hair.

As his parents said their goodbyes Brian took Peter Pans lead and some bags
and went to take him out for his evening nature call. "It's OK Brian, I can
do that"

"No Uncle Peter, I do it at home, and I can do it here too!" he scolded me,
so I let him go. A few minuits later there was a gentle tap on the door as
Brian and PP returned.

"Thanks for that Brian," I told him, "go on up to bed, in the other guest
room!"

"Oh, I don't have any PJ's" he told me with a worried expression.

"Well the other guys are sleeping in their undies" I told him.

"Mum says it's not hygienic to sleep in the same undies as I wore all day,
I'll have to sleep nuddy, if you don't mind?" he asked, looking to me as if
he was hoping I would allow it.

"Sure kiddo, I usually sleep that way too!"

Lights off, doors locked and alarms set I made my way upstairs, checking in
on Brians room first, the bed was empty, so I assumed he was on the
toilet. I took a peek into Karol and Pawels room, to see 3 figures huddled
together under one duvet, so I thought, what the heck!

I went to my room, stripped and allowed myself a small shot of an 18 year
old Pure Malt Whisky from a distillery in Scotland that I had done some
security work for, they send me a bottle every year for Christmas, and I
have a stock of about 4 or 5, as I seldom drink anything.

In bed sleep came quickly, though it was troubled. I dreamt first of my
wife and kids, and the accident that had so cruelly taken them from me. In
the flaming wreckage Sue, my wife, turned to me and said "You are doing the
right thing Peter, those boys need you!" she smiled and then I woke in a
sweat.

I dropped off again and experienced the screams of to people I did not
know, then the woman turned to me and said, in a thick Polish accent, "Mr
Peter, look after my boys. Try and contact my parents, they have a farm in
Pawlowek near Bydgoszcz, where we used to live. Tell them that I am sorry,
and that you are looking after their Grandchildren please" she screamed
again as a figure I could not recognise dumped her, bleeding in a car, and
set fire to it. I woke again in quite a state and reached for my laptop, on
the dressing table in my room. I quickly made noteas of what I had dreamt,
and checked it online. Sure enough the places existed and I once again
drifted off. Only to be visited by a third dream, an elderly lady, frail
and infirm came to the door of a beautiful old farm. "You are to look after
my Grandchildren?" she asked, "please get in touch" she added, telling me a
phone number. Then she took me by the hand and led me to a small private
burial plot under some Oaks. "Here is my Husband, Pawel Brzezicki, he would
want the boys to have the farm, now my daughter is no longer under the hold
of that no good gangster Poplawski. Can you farm Peter?" I was unable to
say a word but she smiled at me and repeated her phone number again and
again, as I awoke, this time not in a panic. I added the phone number she
had given me and did a directory search for Poland finding a Pawel
Brzezicki (Rolnik) with the number I had dreamt. I was shaking like a leaf,
and took a second dram of my scotch.

Just them I heard some movement outside my door and 3 naked elves crept
into my room and slipped into my bed, "We thought you might be lonely,"
Karol explained, " and since Brian was not wearing clothes we decided to
not wearing them too!"

I hugged them all to me, but whispered to Brian, it might be better not to
tell your parents that you were naked in my bed!"

"Why, we are naked at home all the time?" he asked, "we go on nudist
camping holidays too"

"Being naked is OK, just not with a strange man naked in bed" I tried to
explain.

Brtian looked a little confused, but turned over and hugged Pawel and soon
both were fast asleep. Karol did not fall asleep so quickly, "Can we really
stay with you Papa?" he whispered.

"I hope so munchkin!" I told him. "Have you ever heard of a town called
Bydgoszcz?" I asked him.

"Yes that is where we lived" he replied.

"What about a village called Pawlowek?" I continued.

"That is where Mama came from, why?" he asked worried

"It is crazy but I had a dream, your Mama told me that her mama and Papa
came from there, then I dreamt that an old lady, Mrs Brzezicki, told me
that she was your Grandma, and she wanted me to look after you! Oh and what
is a Rolnik?" I asked

"Rolnik is a farming man, but how could you know about my Grandma? I don't
understand"

"Neither do I son, neither do I" I said hugging him to me.

The last I remember was a gentle kiss on my cheek, and a very stiff rod
poking me in the side!

I awoke to the phone ringing, grabbed it and answered.

"Peter, how was your night?" Janet asked.

I decided to take the bull by the horns, "I had some weired dreams and was
woken by 3 naked boys climbing into my bed, I hope that was OK? I tried to
get Brian to dress in his undies at least, but he said that you did not
allow sleeping in undies, and he thought, as you are Naturists you would
not find it wrong that he slept in my bed like that!" I blurted out.

Janet roared with laughter, "Thats our Brian! Listen, I'm about to put on
scrambled eggs and bacon, will you guyts please join us, 15 mins, no
later!"

"I'm not sure if I can get them ready that quickly." I started.

"If I know boys they will be ready before you, once you tell them. Then you
can tell me about those dreams!"

I hung up the phone and told the boys what Janet had said, Brian looked a
little disapointed "But we were goign to do the animals" he whined.

"You can come back after breakfast and help, OK?"

"Yes" he said with a fist pump. Karol had meanwhile translated what we had
said to his brother and they scurried back to their room to dress. True to
Janets prediction the boys were ready in less than 10 mins, and we arrived
as she was serving the food.

I had a steaming mug of Janets best Italian Coffee thrust in my hand, as
Rob led me away. We watched the 3 boys scurry aroud and lay the table, but
I did notice my 2, (God was I already calling them MY TWO?) look whistfully
at the tree.

I decided to ask Janet if she could keep an eye on them while I did some
last minute Christmas shopping, but she beat me to it, making that very
offer.

"Janet, are you a mind reader?" I asked.

Rob laughed, "yeah I get that too some times!"

"How about I take the boys back to yours and supervise them feeding the
animals while you go to town and deal with that 'Business Emergency' you
have?"

The boys cheered at this and she sent them off to Brians room to play for a
little while, so we could talk. "Now about these dreams?" she asked me.

I explained as best I could the 3 visits I had experienced and Rob double
checked the Polish things on the Police Internet pages. He asked if I had
called the grandmother yet.

"No not yet, I was still not sure. It all sounds so far fetched. I keep
looking round for the hidden cameras so everyone can laugh at my expense!"
I ventured.

"Peter" Janet said, "let's go back to your place and let this old lady know
her daughter is gone, and her grandsons are fine!"

I agreed and we gathered up the boys and drove back to my place. Janet took
Brian and Pawel out to the horses, while I explained again to Karol. He was
keen for me to call his Grandma so I took a deep breath and dialed the
number.

It took only seconds for the call to connect and a frail voice at the other
end said "Slucham"

 I had no Idea what this meant, and was about to hang up but Karol, who was
listening in on the speaker phone said,"Babcia?"

"Karol, Jest to naprawde ty ? Are you calling with England?" she asked in
the same thick accent she had used in my dream the night before.

"Mrs Brzezicki, my name is Peter, I am looking after Karol and Pawel. Their
parents had an accide... " I started.

"My daughter and that no good Maz, er husband, were most likely selling
drugs again and got shot by Police, it is the way I knew it would end." She
spat out, and before I could correct her she continued, "As I told you last
night I would like you to look after my wnukowi, my grandchildren, and if
you have the time, and the means please could you come to visit me, I do
not have long, I would like to show them their inheritance, before I go!"
She said. It was good that I was sitting, because I would surely have
fallen to the ground when she said all of that!

I left Karol to chatter to her while I quickly fetched Pawel in. He also
chatted to her for a while before she said again in English "Mr Piotr,"
using the Polish version of my name, "Thank you for calling me. Please tell
me if you can come and visit, but make it soon as the winter snow will soon
be a problem, and I don't have much more time."

"I will, I just need to get passports for the boys, and get the Social
Services to allow me to take them. The boys will telephone you every day,
if that is OK?"

"Thank you, thank you!" she wept and hung the phone up.

Rob grinned at me, "you'd better start booking a flight, or ferry, the boys
papers will be here by police 'courier' by this afternoon, along with the
boys things that were salvable in the car."

I stopped a moment and thought, "What about the anim..."

Rob raised his hand "Janet and I have looked after them before when you
have worked away from home, I'll call Linda and explain to her, you go and
look up flights or ferries."

Robs call to Linda was a sucess, she asked for me to call her back as soon
as I had travel details. With just 2 days to go before Christmas we decided
not to leave until after the 2nd of Jan, as the Horses would need special
care over New Years, because of the thoughtless idiots with fireworks. In
the end I got tickets on the Channel Tunnel for the 2nd, along with hotel
bookings for on the way, returning just over 2 weeks later. Linda asked me
to get some paperwork signed by the grandmother, which would negate the
need for so much interferance from her department.

A quick internet search led me to a polish Lawyer, specialising in Family
matters who agreed to meet with us when we were there, to arrange the
handing over of parental responsibilities from the grandmother to myself,
pretty much an instant adoption! By the time I was finished the boys were
back from feeding the animals. I had asked Rob if he could keep an eye on
the boys so I could do some Christmas shopping for them, he of course said
yes.

"Karol, Pawel I have to go somewhere for an hour, Uncle Rob will look after
you, and when I get back we can decide what we need to take to Poland when
we visit your Grandma!"

The boys didn't look to happy but Brian told them he would be there too,
and they could play on his X-Box. That seemed to be an acceptable solution
so I said that I'd bring the boys round in about 30 mins. Janet had to rush
as she had one last shift to work, but she told me not to worry about food
as she had already put a huge Lasagne in the oven and it would be ready for
lunch time.

I managed to get Janet and Rob alone for a moment to ask, "What the hell fo
boys that age get for Christmas these days?"

"Well you could easily spend a fortune, but I would go with a games consol
that both can use, and a couple of age suitable games. The boys did mention
that they used to like to ride bikes at home, though their dad sold their
bikes, for drugs, if I understood Karol correctly!" Janet told me. "Plus
both boys are very comfortable around horses, they might want to ride"

"Oh and some winter clothes, it's goingto be bitterly cold in Poland!" Rob
added.

"OK the clothes I'll leave until after Christmas as I'd want them to select
and try on, but I'll get some basics now too." I said.

So armed with my Visa Gold card I set off to the shops. I decided on an X
Box and a PS4 as I could not decidewhich was better, along with 5 games for
each one. Then I went to a bike shop in town, not one of these car spares
shops that sold crappy bikes and no real service. The guy recommended two
of his "Good as new" refurbished bikes, since the boys would outgrow
anything in a year of so. He showed me 2 identical boys mountain bikes with
disk brakes, 21 gears and all the other bits. I could not tell them from
new, but at £75 each they were less than half price. It then occored to
me that I might need a bike, to go with them for rides too. For£100 I
snapped up an identical one in my size, Then came helmets, waterproofs,
lights and so on, that was a further £100!

Lastly I visited a large discount clothing store where I found some nice
things for te boys to wear too. I will admit that I also chose some things
that I thought they would look very sexy in, as well as speedos for when we
go swimming, something I do twice a week!

When I was done I texted Rob to tell him that I was going to go home first
to hide the boys presents, he replied that they were all just at the shops
as he needed some things too. So I called in to the shop where I buy all of
my horse tack and picked up 3 boys helmets and gloves as well as some
wellies having been assured that I could exchange them if they didn't
fit. I hid everything except the riding things before Rob returned with the
boys, Rob and Brian kept me talking as my two slipped up the stairs before
coming into the lounge looking so innocent it was clear something was up! I
was about to comment when Rob shook his head, and the penny dropped.

Once we were all together I quietly asked Rob if he was happy to allow
Brian to ride with us, he of course said yes, adding that he wouldn't mind
a chance too. I showed the boys the helmets and wellies which they tried
on,it all fitted fine.

"Boys you are not to try and ride unless an adult is there, and you must
always listen to and obey any instructions. If you don't then you will not
be allowed to ride any more!"

Brian answered "Yes Sir" while Karol and Pawel responded both with "Yes
Papa!"

I looked at Pawel and realising he had spoken to me in English I lifted him
up and swung him round, "Pawel you have learnt some English, wonderful!"

Karol seemed very surprised too and he joined in our hug. Rob indicated
that he needed to get home, but I asked if Brian wanted to try out the
horses for an hour. You would thing I had given him a million pounds the
way he reacted!

The boys all dug jeans out of the black sack, Brian found a pair that was
slightly torn, and a wee bit tight, but he said they'd be fine for today I
went to my room to change into jeans too, and when I got back downstairs I
walked into the lounge to see them all groping each other. They pulled away
from each other the 2 older boys blushing, I pretended that I had not seen
anything.  Clad in wellies and wind jackets, we all carried our helmets
down to the stable. I was glad that I had not sold the horses after I lost
my family, and was pleased that they would be getting more regular exercise
again. A couple of local girls had been coming at weekends and holidays but
as both had now left for Uni, there was no one to ride.

 I had 4 Trakehner horses, a breed saved from extinction through the
dedication and guts of the villagers of Trakhenen who on 17 October 1944
made "Der Trek" (the flight) from the advancing Russian troops. Only 700
horses made it to Germany, and many more died before the end of the
war. These small gentle horses make for much better beginners and hobby
riders mounts than any pony!

Karol saw the moose antler shaped brand on the flank of the horse he was
getting ready to saddle and said, "Is this a Trakehner?"

"Yes, son, have you seen one before?" I asked amazed, since many horse
lovers in the UK know nothing about the breed.

"Mama used to tell us that her Mama and Papa had some that they bred after
the war." he explained

"These are all Trakehner, yours is a mare, a girl horse her name is
Illonka, Pawel will be riding on Snowflake, also a mare, Brian will have
Wendy the third Mare and I have a Stallion, Downlands Windfall. Now you are
never to go in with a horse, unless you have a helmet on, and I think, for
safety sake I'll get us all body protectors too. "

I went through the tack with the boys, and showed them how to fit it all on
mine and then Pawels horse, then I supervised the 2 older boys putting it
all on. Since Brian had ridden a couple of times before I used him as an
instructional dummy, to show the other 2 how to mount, sit and hold the
reins. Once they were all mounted I led all the mares out round the paddock
for a few circuits, before mounting Windfall and leading them round at a
slow walk. As we got to the bottom of the paddock a group of kids, mostly
girls, passed on ponies. The woman in charge of them called them to stop
and after asking my permission told the kids to dismount to look at the
Trakehner. I explained that it was the boys first time and that we were
finding our feet, the kids all made a fuss of the horses and, much to
Brian's chagrin, of the boys too! One of the two boys in the group came and
admired Windfall and, after checking that he was 'in tact' asked if it was
not dangerous to keep a Stallion together with the mares!

"Good God no, these are the gentlest of horses and know each other more
than 12 years now. I just have to keep them apart when the girls are on
heat!" I laughed.

The boy, who introduced himself as Thomas, kept checking out Windfalls
tackle, and the other boy in the group taunted him with " Bad luck Tommy
Boy, he's not going to show you his dick today!"

Thomas blushed and I could see he was fighting back his tears. I reached
into my pocket and passed him a business card, and whispered to him, "Call
me sometime Thomas!"

He blushed more, smiled weakly and returned to his pony. The Lady leading
the group smiled to me and nodded in recognition of the way I had tried to
make the kid feel better about himself. "May I come over some time and see
the Trakehner again please?"

"Of course" I replied, "maybe when the boys have a little more practice we
could all ride out together?"

"That would e very nice!" she replied.

"Of course we may not have the same refined technique that you teach at the
Pony Club" I joked, "but to me it's all about giving the horses the fun and
exercise that they need! We will be away for a couple of weeks, we're going
to Poland to see the boys Grandma, but any time after that would be fine!"

The same brat who had taunted Thomas asked "Why, are your kids Polacks
then?"

I gave him my most withering glare and said, "yes they are Polish, their
Grandma is a Trakehner breeder."

The Lady apologised most profusely for the manners of the boy, saying she
would speak to his parents.

"I expect THAT is where he gets his racist attitude from in the first
place?" I replied as the children returned to their ponies.

"Nouveaux Riche!" was all she said, rolling her eyes. And we parted
company, I led the boys round a couple more times and then we returned to
the stable to take the tack off, and groom the horses. I explained the
dangers of horses hooves in confined spaces and showed them all how to
brush and rub down their mounts, helping Pawel with the bits he could not
reach alone. Soon all 4 were tucked up for the night, fed and watered and
ready for some rest. We went together and fed all the other animals and
then returned to the house.

I phoned Rob to ask if Brian should shower here, or if he should come home
to do that; "It's up to you, he's welcome to shower there, at least he
won't stink the house out with his horse smells!" he laughed.

"OK I just wanted to check first." I told him before ushering the boys up
to the large family bathroom. I laid out shampoo, towels and clean clothes
for the boys, and Brian's clothes for him, while the boys happily stripped
off and climbed into the hot shower.

"Papa, please can you wash our hairs?" Karol asked,

"Well I'm not sure if Brian would be happy with me in the shower with you"
I replied but Brian simply nodded and held open the glass door for me to
join them, so I quickly stripped and, thinking of 'Margaret Thatcher naked
on a rainy day' I tried to will my dick to stay down. Of course having a
mind of its own I lost the battle and then noticed that the boys were as
hard as I was!

I washed all 3 boys in the end, Brain having complained that he felt left
out when I only did the other 2, it was fun, and certainly gave me some
fodder for my next wank! Once dressed we enjoyed a mug of hot chocolate and
I took Brian home. I still felt very guilty about showering with Brian, and
felt it best to mention it.

"Rob, the boys wanted me to wash their hair, and I ended up in the same
shower with them all" I stammered.

"So what?" Rob laughed.

"Dad, he's worried because we all boned up in there." Brian explained

"Again, so what, it was all guys together wasn't it? As long as Brian
didn't make a spectacle of himself, jacking off in front of your two!"

"You're really OK with this?" I asked Rob incredulously.

"Peter" he said putting an arm over my shoulder, "I was young once too, I
remember the problems of spontaneous erections, and I also know the best
way to get rid of them! Now if someone were ever to FORCE themselves on my
son, or any other person, male or female, that would be a different matter!
The law is an Ass, in that respect, boys and men have done it since the
birth of Man. I can see we need to take you camping with us sometime!
Didn't you tell me that you used to do security at a German Nudist Club?"

"Yes, but I was always dressed, at least on duty, and had athletic
underwear with extra firm hold to keep things from popping out!" I laughed
blushing.

"Look on Boxing day we are going to a nudist beach near Brighton, for a
boxing Day dip, why don't you bring the boys along? Being Brighton there
will be a lot of Gays there, but no one touches, or even pays any attention
to, anyone else, uninvited!"

"Umm I'll let you know. Right now I need to get a tree and some decs, I
threw all of our old decs out after.... well you know" I said, saddened by
the sudden reminder of my loss..

"Actually you didn't throw them out, you gave them to Janet, she has looked
after them for the day when you needed them again!" he smiled giving me a
hug.

I was speechless, it was all I could do to fight back the tears. Rob waved
his hand at Brian, who took the hint and took my boys up to his room to
play. I let it go and my tears fell like rain, the first time in all those
years I had really allowed myself to show my emotions.

"Do you want to leave the boys here while you get the tree?" he asked once
my emotions were under control again.

"No thanks, I think they should pick a tree out for us" I replied, "What
would I do without you guys? You are much more than friends!"

I got up and admired Robs tree asking "Where did you get this beauty?"

"Glen Croft Farm" Rob told me, "I'll ring and make sure that they still
have some"

"Thanks!" I said. just then I noticed a packet under the tree marked Pawel
from Aunty Janet, Uncle Rob and Brian. I said nothing but decided to get
the tree and buy something for the boys to get Brian, as well as something
for Rob and Janet too.

I called the boys down and told them that we were going shopping. All 3
boys looked a little sad, but the promise that we would see Brian the next
day, and the offer of McDonald's later seemed to cheer them up. Rob gave me
directions and told me that the one we should select would have a rainbow
coloured ribbon on it.

We arrived at the farm as they were clearing the remainder of trees away
and the farmer greeted me by name, as if I were a long lost friend, as he
hugged me he whispered "Rob called, he told me your names, and said to
select a special tree for you! by the way my name is Tony"

"Hi Tony, so nice to see you again" I said causing him to smile that I had
understood the ruse. "These 2 scallywags are Karol and Pawel, they have
come to stay with me! They would like to choose a tree if that is OK?"

"Of course, and welcome to England boys!" he said turning to them and
offering his hand to shake. Both boys, accepting that Tony must be a friend
shook his hand and smiled.

Karol looked at the few remaining trees and selected the smallest, "Please
may we have this one, if it's not too expensive for you Papa?"

Before I could answer Tony roared with laughter, almost Santa like in its
quality, "Oh goodness me no Karol, this is not a tree, the trees that you
should select from are still in the woods." he led us to a couple of Quad
bikes, one with a long trailer, and told me to get on the one without the
trailer, with Pawel and invited Karol to join him on the other one! He rode
off very carefully and even over the engine on the bike I was on I could
hear Karol screech with enjoyment. Pawel held on to me like a limpet, but I
got the feeling he too was enjoying it.

We stopped near some 6 to 8 foot trees with a notice on them ' Do not
touch, ten foot plus for 2016! They looked fantastic I climbed off and saw
the grin on Pawels face, if he grinned any more his head would fall apart!
"Boys" Tony said, beckoning them over to him, "The wood elves have marked a
special tree just for you, see if you can find it!"

They rushed into the trees and started to search, as Pawel suddenly called
out "Karol" We all went over to him and there was the perfect tree, with a
rainbow ribbon on it.

"Pawel thinks it must be this one!" Karol explained.

 "How does he know for sure?" I asked.

"The coloured ribbon" Karol answered once he had asked Pawel.

"With roots or cut" Tony asked me.

"It would be a crime to cut such a beautiful tree" I told him.

He grinned and said "I am so glad you said that, you have lots of space to
plant it out near your stables after Christmas is over"

He grabbed a radio and called someone to come up to the "special" tree. I
was getting worried as I only had about £20 in cash on me, so I asked
"Er Tony, I never thought to go to the bank, do you take plastic?"

"Peter" he laughed, "the wood elves would be angry with me if I took
payment for this, it is a gift to you and your boys, no questions asked!"

I could see from his face that there would be no point arguing. just then a
small digger ground its way up the hill towards us, and I called the boys
back, out of the way.

"Peter, the elven magic won't work if anyone but the boys who found it were
to dig it up! Come on boys, this is James, my son, he will show you how to
dig it up and load it on the trailer.!"

The boys looked at me and I nodded. James was a very patient teacher and
soon the boys, together, lifted the tree, roots and all, onto the
trailer. James asked Pawel to sit on his lap, and drive the digger back
while Karol drove the quad with the tree in tow, with a little help from
Tony.

I had to stop to wipe another tear from my eye, Tony called to me, "It's
the pine needles, they hurt my eyes too sometimes!"

When we got back to the farm James and another older teen wrapped the root
ball in hessian and the tree itself in netting, but placed it back on the
quad trailer. James climbed on, with Pawel holding on behind him and Karol
in the trailer, holding the tree.

As they set off slowly for our place I asked Tony again, "Are you sure I
cant at least pay for delivery?"

"Yes you can, after a fashion, look after those boys and give them a
Christmas to remember in their new home!"

Just then his wife appeared at the door to the farmhouse; "Don't forget the
decoration from the wood elves!" she smiled, handing me the rainbow ribbon,
with a hand carved mini nativity hanging from it. As she did she also
pulled some tissues from her pocket and gave them to me as I was again
crying like a baby.

"Hey Peter, are you OK to drive home?" Tony asked concerned.

"Yes I'll be fine in a moment thanks!"  I told him, "I am just overwhelmed
by all of this, 2 days ago I was bitter and twisted, a real Grinch. Now
these boys have given me so much back, and true friends, like yourselves,
have shown me the real meaning of Christmas."

"Peter, before the accident your wife was a regular Church goer, I
understand how such an event can demolish someone's faith, but those boys
may need to come to Church. It's up to you but you all would be most
welcome!" Tony's wife told me.

I hugged her, nodded and got into my van, took a deep breath, croaked out
"Thanks, for everything. I'll ask the boys about Church. " before driving
carefully home. I got to the gate just as James and the boys arrived, and
was able to press the remote to open it. James drove in and I went across
to the Stables where I had a half a plastic barrel, which we planted the
tree in. James said to leave the hessian on, and not to remove the netting
until the tree was in place.

"Thank you so much for your help James," I said, shaking his hand, "if
there is anything I can do for you just let me know, OK?"

"Well I was wondering, since you never seem to ride your horses any more,
may I come up, with a young friend of mine, Thomas. He likes to ride, but
some of the other kids at the pony Club bully him, because he is Gay!"
James's hand flew up to his mouth, as if he had said too much.

"I think I met Thomas this afternoon, about the same size as Karol, dirty
blond, very kissable lips?" I asked without thinking.

"Err yes" James replied blushing.

"Of course you may come, just call me first, as my boys, Brian and I also
like to ride! I gave Thomas my phone number so he could talk to me if he
needed, I saw and heard the bullying from a nasty kid who also made
comments about my 2 being Polish!" I told him, placing my hand on his
arm. He smiled at me, and I noticed a very distinct stirring in his jeans!

"Thanks Mr Carling" James said.

"Peter is my name, Mr Carling was my Dad!" I told him, with a smile.

"Peter" he said, returning my smile.

"Oh, by the way" I added, "does your dad like Scotch?"

"Well yes, but he is very fussy, he only drinks Pure Malt" the lad told me.

"And you? do you drink at all?" I asked.

"I do like dads Scotch, but I don't get much chance to enjoy one, except at
this time of year!"

I led him to my lounge where I poured just a drop into a glass for him,
"Tell me what you think of this?"

He sniffed it, and the took the smallest of sips. "Mmmmm that is smooth,
wow it's nice!" he told me, savouring the drop in his glass.

I lifted the bottle but he shook his head, "I need to drive the Quad home,
dad would kill me if I had even one glass."

"OK well just call me when you two want to come and ride, and remember to
bring a change of clothes, so you can shower after your ride!" I said with
a wink.

"Thanks" he said blushing.

"Look I have to take the boys to Poland, to their Grandmother from the
second Jan, for almost 3 weeks. Janet and her son Brian will be looking
after the dogs, and feeding the horses. If you like you guys can come over
and ride while we are away, and give Brian some more lessons." I offered.

"What, you'd let me ride them when you are away?" he asked, hardly able to
believe me.

"Yes, but only in the paddock, Brian is not ready for the big wide world,
oh and be careful with the Stallion, he can be a bit of a handful! Thomas
liked him, but I think he was disappointed that there was not too much to
see!" I said with a wink.

"Ah yes, that's Thommi" he said with a grin.

Just then his phone buzzed and he said, "Oh dad wants to know where I am,
if I got lost!"

"OK well, will we see you in Church for the Midnight Carol Service?" I
asked

"I didn't realise that you went to Church!" he said.

"Your mum reminded me that my wife used to go. Perhaps my boys will need it
too" I said.

"OK I hope to see you there then" he said as he went out and climbed onto
the quad. The boys heard the bike start and came running to say goodbye,
giving James a hug and thanking him. His blush was still glowing as he
turned from our drive onto the road, to drive home.

"Karol, shall we decorate the tree now?" I asked and he translated for
Pawel.

"Oh yes please," both boys shouted.

We unpacked the bag of my old Christmas decorations and I laid them out on
the table. there were 5 baubles with names on, for myself, my wife and 3
children. I selected 2 more plain ones and picked up a bottle of nail
varnish that was usually in the stable to paint over damage to the horses
hooves. On each I painted the names of my 2 boys, along with their dates of
birth, and the day that we found each other. the boys started to hang the
decorations in the tree, after I had put up the lights to their
satisfaction. Lastly I hung the named baubles near the front for all to
see. And then remembered the 'wood elves decoration' that Tony's wife had
given me. I gave it to Pawel to hang, and then lifted him to the top of the
tree.

We were admiring our handiwork when the gate buzzer sounded, and the dogs
started to bark. I checked the video camera and saw a police
motorcyclist. I buzzed him in and went out with the boys to meet him. In
his panniers he had a number of papers and some toys that had obviously
seen better days. I asked him in, and offered him a drink, he accepted,
asking for tea. He checked the passports against the boys and had me sign a
receipt for them. He chatted for a while, drinking his tea, and then, after
a bathroom visit set off back to Dover on his motorbike.

I picked up the phone and made a call to Poland to tell the boys Grandma
that we would be setting off on Saturday the 2nd and expected to be at the
farm by early evening on the 3rd of Jan.

"Is there an Hotel nearby that we could book a room in?" I asked her. I
heard a sound like a mother hen clucking, "No no no, you will be staying
here with me, that is the idea of the visit. The boys need to see the farm,
and the stables. We have many horses you know?" she told me.

"I understand you have Trakehner?" I asked.

"Yes yes, you know these horses?"

"I certainly do I own 4, a Stallion called Downland Windfall and 3 mares" I
told her.

"That is wonderful, do the boys like the horses?" she asked.

"Yes we were riding them today!"

The conversation continued in this way for a while, and I then handed to
phone to the boys who chatted away with her for nearly an hour, before
Karol handed the phone back to me; "Grandma wants to talk to you again" he
told me.

"Yes Ma'am?" I asked.

"I know I ask for much, but can you have the Police return my daughters
remains to me, so that she may be buried here next to her father?"

" I will try, I have no idea how this works, but I will talk to the Police
and the Polish Embassy as soon as they go back to work after
Christmas. There will be nothing I can do before then I fear. What of her
husband?"

"Have him thrown in the sea, or fed to the wild pigs for all I care!" she
spat out with a venom which I understood, he had stolen her daughter away
and led her to her death.

I closed the call with seasons greetings and a promise to call again the
next day.

After the call I went online to check on Polish Christmas traditions, and
to look for an online florist to deliver to Grandma Brzezicki. I found a
florist and ordered a Christmas Arrangement to be delivered on Christmas
eve, from the 3 of us.

I discovered that in Poland they do not eat meat on Christmas Eve,or
Wigilia, but have 12 special dishes, to bring good luck for the next 12
months. This meal is eaten after the first star is seen in the night
sky. It is considered bad form not to try at least some of each dish. I
looked up the recipes and located a shop in a nearby town which offered
Polish foods.

I made a list which included Beetroot Soup, Carp, dumplings, herring and
other traditional Polish dishes, in the hope that the boys would want to
eat what they were used to for a special Christmas. As it was getting late
I asked the boys to get washed and ready for bed, Pawel held out his arms
and when I responded he jumped into my embrace and hugged me tightly as I
carried him up to the bathroom. Karol was just in front of us and had
already dropped his clothes on the bathroom floor and was running the
shower. I had assumed that they would just wash before bed, but they both
wanted to shower, and they wanted me to wash them.

I undressed Pawel and placed him in the shower with his brother and then
stripped myself and joined them both. As I washed Pawel I felt a slight
stirring in my loins but as I helped Karol to clean himself we both became
erect. I may have spent a little too long washing his long thin penis,
revelling in the silky feel of his nail of passion. I felt pangs of guilt
but we both enjoyed it, our first union.

Ablutions over I dried the boys and tucked them in their bed, before going
to my bed to deal with my guilt and remorse. Sleep was not easy, and when
it did arrive I was once more visited, as the night before, by Sue my wife.

"Peter, stop making such a big deal about it, boys need a mans
guidance. Those boys love you, as if you were their father. You have the
responsibility to bring them up, and since their late parents didn't give a
damn about them, you have a lot of catching up to do!" No matter how I
tried I could not answer her, or tell her how I miss her, and the kids but
she continued; " Darling, I hear you, even when you can't speak to me, I
know how much you still love me and the children. Don't worry about your
feeling towards boys, I have always known how you truly felt about boys,
but I always thanked God that you also had genuine feeling for me. Your
love for these boys is so precious, don't let fear of the warped morals of
today's society change you, just be yourself!"

Although I awoke I was not in a panic, or sweating this time, indeed I was
feeling a lot better about myself and after a sip of water I fell back to
sleep. My second dream was soon coming, the parents of my two boys. Both
were there, but I could not see them properly. They spoke in Polish, yet I
understood every word!

"Peter, we made many mistakes, we didn't deserve to have those boys, and
now they have found you! Don't let anything spoil it for you, or them. You
must remember, when you were a boy, the need you had to find out about
things, you had your blood Uncle and your 'Uncle' Eric both of whom helped
you discover yourself. Karol, and even more so Pawel need that guidance
too, they have no 'Uncles' to help! We must go as you still have one more
dream to dream tonight and the boys will soon be coming to your bed again,
they will be frightened by the lightening that will strike an old oak tree
at 2am!

Again I woke, needing a drink, but only took water, I did not want alcohol
to cloud my judgements. I rose and checked out of the window, it was almost
cloudless, and the mercury was falling fast, a frost looked possible, no
way was there going to be a storm!

I went back to bed and checked my clock, it was just 1am. Sleep was not so
rapid in coming but eventually I did drift off, only to be chastised by
Babica Brzeziki for keeping her waiting! "I know the things boys get up to,
it is nothing to be ashamed of Peter. Make it normal and natural. Remember
we are much more open here, children swim and play naked, most boys have an
'Uncle' who helps them to learn things that they need to know. Pawel and
Karol have no Uncles, they only have you, so it will be up to you to answer
their questions! You have done well to understand me, like my daughter I am
talking to you in Polish, but you understand. Learn to speak it, the boys
will appreciate it from you! Now I must go, the lightening will strike the
old oak tree, but your horses will not be frightened, you just comfort the
boys. When Pawel asks what is was you tell him 'Dopiero grzmot i blyskawica
' and he will sleep. Good bye Peter, I visit you again after Christmas!"

Again I woke and sensed a change, it was suddenly close, oppressive, I had
just checked my clock, 1.59 as a bolt of lightening pierced the night and a
clap of thunder rattled the windows. I heard the boys scream and reached
for the light switch. I quickly flipped on the security monitor to view the
stables with night vision, nothing, the horses were all asleep. The boys
crashed, crying, into my room and jumped onto my lap. I remembered the
words that Babica had taught me; "Dopiero grzmot i blyskawica !"I told the
frightened boys and while Pawel just nodded and snuggled down in my arms
Karol sat up wide awake.

"Papa you spoke in Polish, you told us it was only thunder and lightening!
How did you know?"

"Hush little one, I'll explain in the morning!" I soothed him. I glanced
towards the window, there was a glow and a strange crackling sound, the
dogs started to bark like mad and then I heard the distant wail of
sirens. "Oh my God, not an old oak tree, The Old Oak, the village pub!"

I was about to call Janet, to see if she could have the boys when my phone
rang, it was of course Janet! "Did you hear the thunder? Are your animals
OK?"she asked

" I was about to call you, I had more dreams, and they told me that
lightening would strike an old oak tree, The pub has been hit. Could you
come quickly and sit with the boys, I need to see if I can help, the
Landlords kids have 3 pony's in an attached outbuilding!"

"Sure, but wake them and tell them what is happening! I'll be there in 2
mins!"

"Thanks!"

I woke the boys and told them to come downstairs and watch TV as Janet was
coming, Pawel sleepwalked to the bathroom but Karol looked out of the
window "What is burning?"he asked.

"A house in the village, I have to go and help, I'll be back very soon"

"I'll come with you and help with the horses!" he told me.

"How did you know about the horses?" I asked,

"Babica told me you would need my help, she told me how to calm the
frightened animals"

I was past wondering what was happening, and told him to dress warmly. Just
then Janet let herself in and I carried Pawel down to the lounge, where he
slept on. "Karol wants to come with me, he may be able to help!" is all I
said.

We dashed out and I ran to the stable and collected spare halters and
ropes, then I led Karol cross-country to the pub, which was burning well. I
was relieved to see that the publican and his family were all safely out. I
dashed round the side of the blazing building as the sound of the second
fire engine could be heard in the distance. The stable was not alight but
there was a lot of smoke. I realised that the door was padlocked so I ran
over to the nearest firefighter and told her that the horses were trapped,
she told her officer and grabbed an axe. The axe made short work of the
lock and I dashed in, before she could stop me. I slipped the halter over
the first pony and pulled it out praying that it would not flip out. Karol
grabbed the rope from me and whispered into the ear of the pony. In seconds
the frightened animal calmed down and allowed him to lead it away to the
lower fence. By the time I was out with the second animal Karol was running
back, and he did the same trick with that too. By now the thatched roof of
the stable had caught fire and the firefighter was trying to stop me from
going in.

"I have to, there is one more Pony in there!"

Seeing my determination, and that she was not big enough to stop me she
gave me her helmet, pulling the visor down to protect my face, as I dashed
one more time into the blazing building. In the mean time the second fire
appliance had arrived and the Watch Manager, seeing me dash into the
building had hoses deployed onto the roof of the stable. I came out for the
third time and led the pony straight towards Karol, who had just tied the
second animal to the fence. The boy did his magic and we tied that one up
too.

I went back up to the firefighter to return her helmet she was talking to
the Watch Manager; "...went in 3 time to save the ponies, and the boy
calmed them right away and led them to safety!"

"Er Mr..." the officer started.

"Carling, Peter Carling, and this is my foster son Karol Poplawski!"

"Mr Carling, that was an exceedingly brave, but stupid thing to do. I think
you should go to the children who are round the front and tell them that
their ponies are safe!"

"It's a long story, but I had to save the animals. I'll see if they would
like me to stable them up at my place for now!"

"And as for you, young man, the way you calmed those horse down, if you
decide to become a firefighter when you grow up, those skills would be very
useful here in the country!" He said, shaking Karols and then my hand.

I went to return the helmet to the firefighter but the officer said "No,
you have earned that, if you fancy the job, we are recruiting retained
Firefighters here at the moment, you would be most welcome to try out for a
place!"

The firefighter started to lead us towards the front of the house, and the
family waiting there when she stopped. "How old is Karol?"

"I am 12" he replied proudly.

"Sir?" she called to her officer, "What age do Cadets start?"

"Hmm 12 I think, why? Oh Karol, why didn't I think of that?"

He gave me a business card and said, "Please could you call me in the week
after Christmas? I'd like to invite Karol to look around our Fire Station,
and maybe think about joining Fire Cadets!"

Karol looked a little bewildered so I told him that I would explain
later. We walked round the front of the pub and went to Dave, the
landlord. "These two heroes have just risked their lives and saved your
horses!" the Watch Manager told him.

The landlords 3 kids heard this and ran over to us, the boy, 8 and the
younger girl, 10, both jumped into my arms, the older girl, who I
recognized from the pony club riders from the other day, hugged Karol and
kissed him, much to his embarrassment.

"Look why don't Karol and I lead them up to my stable and bed them down, it
might be an idea to get the vet out to check them over, but Karol did a
great job calming them down." I said, "Oh and why don't your wife and kids
come with us, I'm sure we can sort out somewhere to sleep for you all
tonight!"

"I don't want to put you to any trouble" the grateful woman said.

I laughed, "I've just run down here in the middle of the night and pulled
the ponies out of the burning stable, I don't think finding a bed for you
is going to be 'trouble' to us!"

"Please Mum, I want to make sure that the ponies are OK!"

"Oh all right, I'll follow in a bit, I need to make sure there is nothing
that I can do here!" the mother told us.

So I led Karol and the children back round to the ponies, who seemed glad
to see us. Then I realized that the only exit from the paddock was too
close to the fire for the ponies, they could not use the style as we had. I
looked around, and there was Tony and his son James with a tractor.  "Wait
right here guys, and don't untie them yet, I need to get Tony to knock the
fence down, so we can get them out of here!"

I rushed up to the farmer and explained the problem, and after checking
with the publican we set off to knock a hole in the fence, well away from
where the pony's and the kids were waiting. As soon as it was done they
brought the animals over the younger girl started to cry for her mummy so
the older girl led her back to 'mum' while we led went up the lane towards
the main road. News, it seems, travels fast in our village and as we
reached the road there was a call of "there they are!" and a journalist
from the local paper, and a TV crew from the local BBC station rushed
over. The journalist started to take pictures but I shouted to him to stop,
as the flash was spooking the animals. The TV crew switched on a camera
with a powerful light and filmed us leading the Ponys away. They wanted to
follow us but I asked them not to, explaining as soon as the camera was off
that in my business it is better not to let people see where I live! While
the Cameras lights were on the news-hound managed to get some photos and
was happy.

I called ahead to Janet, to tell her that I would be home soon, and that I
was bringing 1, no make that 2 guests, as the older girl was back with
us. By the time we had got the ponies settled in an empty stall, and
returned to the house Janet had boiled up some milk, for hot drinks. Soon
after the landlords wife arrived with the other girl, who was by then
asleep on her arm.

"I have 3 bedrooms and the sofa" I said, "How do you want to do this? The
children in one room and you, and your husband in the other, I can share
with my boys." I offered.

"Thanks, I wont argue, I think I need a lie down. Dave is not likely to
come up tonight, he's busy calling the brewery and the insurance"

I asked Karol to lead the children up to the smaller guest room and to make
sure that his bed was OK for our adult guests to use. He led them off and
then returned to hug with his brother.

"Do you need any 'women's' things at all? I can pop home for anything that
is not available in this 'all male' domain!" Janet offered.

"Oh God yes, Claire, my oldest has just had her first period, she will need
to change herself!"

"Towels or tampons?" the ever practical Janet asked,

"She uses towels right now, perhaps we should put something under her sheet
on the bed?" the worried mother asked.

"Nonsense"I said, "I have a washing machine, it's nothing that cant be
cleaned up!" Janet dashed off to get the items needed and I showed our
guest to her room.

Janet returned and the 2 ladies went to sort things out, when Daniel
stumbled out of the childrens room, "Uncle Peter, may I sleep with Karol
and Pawel? My sister has her thingy and its yukky!"

"OK, you and the boys can sleep in my bed, I'll use the Sofa, that way I
can get up without waking anyone!" I carried Pawel and led Karol back up to
my room, and explained that Daniel was going to share with them for the
night. In no time flat all 3 were fast asleep.

I made myself another hot milk, with a dash of whisky, not my malt
though. As I made myself comfortable on the sofa I tried to make sense of
it all. The dreams that led me to the boys Gran, the messages and warnings
of the lightening, the fact that the horses had not been woken, much less
spooked by the thunder and indeed the sudden, un-forecasted thunder storm,
on an otherwise clear night!

I was still musing an hour later when the buzzer went, indicating that
someone was at the gate. I checked the security camera and recognised Dave,
the pub landlord, "Come on up Dave!" I told him through the intercom as I
buzzed the gate open.

The taxi pulled up in front of the house as I opened the door, "How are my
wife and kids Peter?" he asked.

"They're fine mate, come on in and I'll stick the kettle on!" I invited.

"Not for me thanks, all my worried patrons have been bringing me teas and
coffees all night, I need the loo, and something a little stronger if you
have anything?" he asked.

"18 year old Malt?" I offered.

"Mmm, that sounds right!" he said with a weak smile. He opened the boot of
the taxi that he came up in and pulled out a couple of black bags, "people
have been so kind" he said, " everyone seems to be donating essentials,
like spare clothes for us all. The Red Cross are coming over later to make
sure we have all we need for the weekend too!"

"There is never a good time to loose your home, but Christmas Eve seems the
worst possible day for it!" I said as I poured him a stiff one. "You guys
can stay here as long as you need, in fact I'd appreciate it if you could
stay here 'till the end of January as I'm taking the boys to Poland, to see
their maternal Grandmother, who has never met them!"

"So what's the story behind the boys? The lad you brought down with you for
the ponies certainly has a way with animals, Mary Cogger, the firefighter,
told me what you both did, she said that more than once in a fire like that
they have ended up having to have a vet put the horses down if they were
too frightened!"

I proceeded to tell him the whole story, well all but the shower we had
had, and also told him of the dreams. He told me that he had heard of
things like that happening, but had never met anyone who had experienced it
first hand.

Just then his mobile rang, so I went into the kitchen to see what I could
offer my house guests for breakfast. "Peter" he called, "I don't want to
push my luck too far, but...."

"Come Dave, what is it?" I asked touching his shoulder in a reassuring
manner.

"The Thomlinsons have just offered me the use of their caravan that they
had been living in while they re-furbished their house. Thing is I need
somewhere to put it, I'd put it on the paddock behind the pub, but there
will be no water or drainage there for some time!"

"There is room, as well as water, sewage and electrical connections next to
the stables, if you don't mind the horses?" I told him.

"Are you sure?" he asked, "I don't want to out stay my welcome!"

"Of course I'm sure, like I said, you'd be doing me a favour if you could
keep an eye on things here for me. Janet will feed the dogs, your brood can
help her with the horses, if they want!"

Dave did something very 'un-British' and hugged me, and I noticed he was
crying. too. "Dave make yourself at home, and if you need to call, fax or
email your insurance or the brewery, feel free to use my office. I'll set
up my spare computer for you, as mine has security stuff on it, no
offence!" I told him, leading him to the office and showing him where the
spare PC was. I quickly dumped all the data from it to a portable drive and
it was good to go. "Fax and phone numbers are here, outgoing calls are
withheld number, and incoming on this number will show as line 2!"

Dave thanked me and went online to look up the phone number of his
insurance broker so I left him to it. As I made myself busy in the kitchen
the phone rang, on line 1, my business line. I looked at caller id and saw
it was an international call.

"PCS" I answered with the company name, "How may I help you?"

"Piotr it is Mrs Brzezicki did you manage to save the horses?"

"Babcia Brzezicki! Yes we did, Karol was able to calm them down as I led
them out. We now have the landlord and his family staying with us too!"

"You are a good man Piotr Carling!" she said, and I could hear the smile in
her voice.

"How did you know, about the fire and the horses?" I asked.

"I cannot explain it, we will talk more when you visit, yes?"

"Of course" I agreed. "shall I wake the boys to speak to you?"

"No need" she replied," they are coming down the stairs now, with another
child, who is that?"

Now I was scared, as she spoke the door to the hallway opened, and 3 boys,
wearing nothing but smiles, bounced into the room.

I shook my head and handed the phone to Karol and then led Jack to the
office, where his dad was on the phone. He covered the mouthpiece for a
moment to scold Jack "Son we are not at home here, you can't run around
naked in someone else's house!"

"Dave, it's fine, my 2 are also buck naked, it seems that naturism is
widely accepted in Eastern Europe!" I assured him.

The lad hugged his father and gave him a kiss before turning to me and
saying, "Uncle Peter, please may I see the ponies? I want to make sure that
they are still OK!"

"Well you need to dress to go outside, but we can see them from here" I
told him as I switched the main PC on and selected the security cameras.

There, on the screen, we could clearly see the ponies 'kissing' with my
Horses through the bars on the stalls. "They look fine to me!" I assured
him.

Just then Mary, his mother and Jean and Claire his sisters came down the
stairs. "Jack, we're not at home here! Go and get your clothes on!" Mary
told him.

"It's OK dear" Dave told her, "Peters boys are dressed the same way too!
It's not just our kids that hate clothes in the house!"

Mary and I went through to the kitchen to look at breakfast options when I
heard the main gate opening, it could only be Janet, as she was the only
other person with the code to open it. Janet pulled up at the door and
Brian helped her bring several cooler bags out of the car. I opened the
door with an inquisitive look in my eye, "What's in the bags?"

" Well knowing how busy you were last night, and how your larder is not set
up for 8 breakfasts I made porridge and scrambled eggs with bacon and
beans. All we need to do is fresh tea, coffee and toast!"

I hugged her and asked, "What would I do without you?"

"Starve?" she replied with a laugh.

Brian brought their coffee maker from the car too, in case mine was not big
enough for everyone's needs. "Dad is walking over with Master, he'll be
here soon, and no doubt in need of a caffeine fix!"

"Oi! Don't let your father hear you say that, even if it is true!" Janet
scolded him, with a smile.

Soon the house was bustling as everyone woke to greet the new day. "Not
quite how I imagined Christmas Eve!" Dave said, "We'd better cancel going
to Mums, there is too much to do here! We were going to my mothers tonight
to spend this evening and tomorrow with her." he explained, adding in a
whisper, "luckily all the kids presents are already there!"

"Then it would be stupid, and unfair on your Mum not to go." I told him,
"there is nothing you can do here on Christmas Day, and to be honest I was
a bit worried as the boys and I are going to Janet and Rob for Christmas
Day!"

"One minor snag, the car was destroyed in the fire too, but I guess we
could go by train!" He added.

"Who is your insurance broker?" I asked.

"Fred Swainson, why?"

"Just wondering.... anyway lets tuck into this Yuletide feast that Janet
has provided! Just then Rob knocked on the door, and Peter Pan jumped
up. Master and PP greeted each other, and then PP seemed to take Master
round to our new guests, as if he were introducing them. I grabbed a mug of
coffee and a slice of dry toast and slipped into the office.

I picked up the phone and called Fred; "Hi Fred, Merry Christmas!" I
greeted him,

"And to you, and your new family, which I just heard has grown by another 5
last night?" he laughed.

"Yes, that's why I was calling, how long will it take to replace Dave's
car? Also is he entitled to a hire car in the mean time? It is clearly a
write off, so surely it could be settled quickly? They were meant to drive
to Wales this afternoon to stay with his mum."

"Hmm, let's see, the car was only 3 months old, if the dealership has one
in stock, he could collect it today, but he needs to decide before 1pm so I
can issue the new Insurance certificate to tax it on. What are they doing
about living accommodation for the mean time?"

"They can stay with me as long as they need, but Dave was looking at the
possibility of a mobile home for the moment."

"If he leases one we'll cover the cost for 14 weeks, I could issue a check
up front right after Christmas."

"Look I'll have a quick chat with him, and call you back about the car,
OK?"

"Fine, you're a great friend to him you know!"

"The whole village is rallying round, he is the most important business
here, everyone loves the Publican!" I laughed, "I'll call you back in a
while"

"OK Talk soon, Bye!" he said and hung up.

I went to the dinning room and beckoned Dave over. He came to my office and
looked a little worried, "What's the matter Dave?"

"I just tried 3 local car hire places, all fully booked. I don't think
we're going to make it"

"Don't give up buddy, something will turn up!" I reassured him. "by the
way, what car will you get to replace the burnt one?"

"I'm not sure the insurance will pay out on it, but if they did I'd go for
exactly the same one, but in red. We wanted red but they couldn't deliver
in time, so we took the blue one instead. At the end of the day, as long as
it has the space I don't care!"

Just then Mary called Dave back into the dinning room, so I quickly dialled
the Peugeot dealership in town and explained about Dave's car. The salesman
remembered Dave and said, "As luck would have it we have the next model up,
in the red that he originally wanted, at a special price, with built Sat
Nav and WiFi for the same price as his old one"

"If we did the paperwork this morning could it be ready to drive away
today? They were going to his mothers in Wales for the holiday, and he
can't get a hire car."

"As it happens yes, we prepared it for an elderly buyer last week, and he
sadly passed on before he could take delivery, so an hour and it could be
on the road"

"I'll bring the family in in about 2 hours, they don't know that the
insurance had agreed to pay right away. You could make a bit of advertising
out of this, the papers would love to follow up on yesterdays news of the
fire, maybe the TV too, they filmed the fire last night, it might make a
nice 'feel good' story for Christmas!"

"What a good idea!" he enthused, "May I call you back in a moment? I want
to put it by my manager!"

"Sure, I'll call the insurance."

I hung up and called Fred back, explained what the dealership said and
added that it could also be good publicity for him too.

I waited for the call from the dealership, and as the phone rang Dave
walked into my office. I answered and asked the caller to hold and then
told Dave that I needed to take the call, in private.

He closed the door and I answered, "Sorry about that I wanted to make sure
he didn't get his hopes up too soon!"

"That's fine, tell him that you want to bring him down to order a
replacement, and pick up a hire car. We'll have his new one decorated with
a big red bow and the photographer and TV crews from last night will also
be here for a follow up story."

"Great, please one thing though, make sure that my name is not mentioned, I
run a security business and I don't want anyone working out where I live."

"I understand, but they want to mention that it was the work of the same
good neighbour who saved the horses. Is that OK?"

"Yes, I'm fine with that. The Insurance Agent wants to be there too,
perhaps he could hand you the 'cheque' for the new car on camera?"

"Sounds perfect to me!"

"OK, it's 9.45, what time should we come in?"

"The TV crew asked if we can do it at 2pm. Is that OK for you?"

"Fine by me, I'll call Fred Swainson and let him know."

"No, it's fine I have him on the other line already! I'm guessing that
Daves family lost everything in the fire?"

"Yes, they came out with the clothes they were wearing, and the ponies,
that's it!"

"I remember his wife but what ages are the children?"

"The boy is 8 and the girls are 10 and 12."

"OK I'll make sure we have something for them too!"

We finished the call and I called Dave in, "Dave I just spoke to Peugeot,
they asked that you come in and order the new car today, otherwise it might
take several weeks longer to get a replacement. He's trying to get a hire
car for you for the weekend, so you can go to your mums. The insurance will
cover it. We're expected at 2pm, he asked if you all could come!"

"Peter" he said, tearing up, "you have really gone the extra mile for us!"

"I remember when the lower village was flooded 2 years ago, you opened your
pub for the victims, and kept them in hot drinks while they cleaned up,
it's payback time now! I told him.

Back in the kitchen my boys were washing up, and Claire was drying the
dishes. "Guys, I have a dish washer for that!"

"We want to help Mr Carling." Claire told me.

Mary added, "Don't stop them, trust me it's a rare occurrence that Claire
helps!"

I smiled and called the others, "It's going to be a bit of a squeeze, but
we are all going to the shops this afternoon at 1.30, there are some things
we need to get sorted."

 "Now, we have been neglecting the animals, let's allow them out for some
fresh air!" I said, reaching for my boots.

The kids all found something to wear, though the only thing that was not
too big for Daniel was a pink snow suit. It suited him, despite the colour!
Outside I was going to go to the dogs first but Janet said that she would
see to them, as there is only room for one, and I was needed with the
horses.

It took nearly 2 hours to do the animals, but eventually we were done and
headed back in. Dave and Mary were inside organising stuff, and re assuring
Daves mum that they were still coming, and everything was fine, or at least
as fine as it could be.

Then came the next problem, showers. Mary said the kids could all shower
together, but I said I would need to wash Pawels hair. "That really is no
problem, when we go for our annual holiday we always go to a camp-site in
Regensburg in Germany. It's call Naturis....."

"Surely not Naturisten Bund Donau?" I interrupted, "I used to work there!"

"See I said we had met him before!" Mary said.  "That must be a few years
ago! Anyway it's only because we told the girls to respect your house that
they are walking round dressed!"

"It wouldn't bother me either way, I just felt that Claire might be less
happy with a strange man in the bathroom with her!"

"Claire?" Mary called.

"Yes mum?" she answered.

"Uncle Peter needs to wash Pawels hair when he is in the shower, would it
bother you if he were in there at the same time as you?" she asked her
daughter.

"No mum, not usually, but today....." she started.

"I understand Claire, perhaps you would rather shower in the en suite in my
room?"

"Yes, thanks Unc..."

"Just Peter please, you're getting all grown up, now, so drop the 'Uncle',
it makes me feel old!"

With that problem out of the way I went upstairs to see to the younger
ones, but this time I stayed out of the shower, and kept my trousers
on. All 3 boys boned up, and Jean never batted an eye lid! Karol started to
stimulate himself but I gently stopped him.

"Nie Karol, nie tutaj " (No Karol not here) I said, without realising
it. Karol and Pawel looked at me amazed, but not as amazed as I was!

"OK you lot, dried and dressed in 10 minutes, we need to hit the shops
before 2pm!" I said, leaving them to themselves.

I knocked on my bathroom door and called out, "Claire? Are you done?"

"Sure Peter, come in!" she replied.

I opened the door to find Claire pulling up her knickers, and otherwise
naked as the day she was born, well a little more developed than the day
she was born, and all the signs that she will all too soon be a full
woman. "Oh I'm sorry Claire" I said turning to leave, I thought you said to
come in."

"Yes Peter, I did. You have seen girls and ladies naked before, it is the
most natural thing in the world. Please don't be embarrassed, I'm not."

"Claire, in a nudist environment it is socially acceptable, here it would
be seen as very wrong for me, a widower, to be alone with a naked, very
good looking girl of 12! Just as I had to ask Karol not to masturbate while
he was in the shower with your brother and sister. I'm sorry but if the
wrong people heard I had been in here like this I would loose my business,
my freedom and worst of all Karol and Pawel would loose a chance of a
normal home life here."

"I see what you mean, but be assured I would never tell anyone." She said.

"Claire I would not want you to be put in a position where you might need
to lie to avoid telling someone something. Secrets have a way of getting
out." I explained as she dressed.

Once she was decent she left me alone and I had a quick rinse in the
shower, just to get rid of the 'Horsey Smell' before I dressed quickly
ready for our little surprise. Downstairs everyone was waiting for me so I
led them out to the garage where I had a minibus for transporting staff and
dogs to assignments. I backed it out, and then, as an afterthought, removed
the magnetic signs on the side of the van.

We all piled in and I set off for the Peugeot dealership. We arrived on the
forecourt and Dave said, "Maybe we should leave it until after Christmas,
it looks like there is something going on here."

I ignored him and parked up. "Come on, all of you, this way" I said.

We rounded a corner and there was applause. The cameras were on, and camera
flashes went off. The manager of the dealership and Fred, the insurance
broker, came across to us. "Dave, Mary, and you must be the Good Samaritan,
Peter?"

"Yes, and these 3 young people are Daniel Jean and Claire."

A TV reported shoved a microphone under my nose and said, "So you are the
hero who saved these childrens Ponies?"

Remembering all the best movies I called "CUT!" and the cameraman lowered
the camera. "Guys I have a security business and can't afford to be
recognised, if some 'Scrote' that I have caused to be arrested works out
from this where I live then my house, pets and worst still my family would
be in danger!"

"Please just do this with Dave and his family, and if you have to mention
my part in it please just say a neighbour, OK?"

A slightly flamboyant er gentleman who seemed to be in charge called "OK
please can we roll again? Perhaps you could come round the corner again
with your family?"

Dave shrugged his shoulders and I stepped out of the way, with the
boys. The 're take' went well and they filmed and photographed a double
handover, the Insurance check from Fred to the car dealer, and the keys
from the dealer to Dave. After they all posed for further pictures an
interviewer said, "This is not all, the dealership has some Christmas
presents for the family as you lost everything just before Christmas!"

Five mechanics came out from the back each carrying what was obviously a
bike, and a large package. They were handed round, to each member of the
family and the announcer asked them to open them, even though it was not
quite Christmas.

Each received a beautiful mountain bike, in a size and colour suited to
them, and also for each of them there was a smart Peugeot Paddock Jacket,
with the company logo on the back. Finally the producer nodded to the
announcer who called for attention. "When the news of the fire, and the
daring rescue of the Ponies by the anonymous neighbour was broadcast, on
our New Channel, and on the internet, a Just Giving page was opened. In the
12 hours since the fire a total of £32,000 has already been pledged. I
understand that the family is going to spend Christmas with relatives but
the funds will be available to help rebuild your lives, and replace things
like the tack that was lost to the flames."

"I am touched by everyone's spontaneous generosity, I'm already sure that
the money donated will not all be needed to replace lost items not covered
by our excellent insurance policy. Any funds left over will be donated to a
suitable charity." Dave told the viewing public.

I had been whispering to the producer during this and he spoke into the
earpiece of the presenter. The presenter did that annoying finger in the
ear, getting a message thing.

"I have just been told part of the reason that the local public have been
so generous," he said, " you may remember a story this station ran 2 years
ago when a publican opened his pub to flood victims, feeding them and
keeping hot drinks flowing, for victims and helpers alike? This was the
same man who last night lost everything. What goes around comes around, now
his friends and neighbours have been able to repay him !"

While the report was being filmed a mechanic was fitting a heavy duty bike
rack to the back of Daves new car, and soon the new bikes were all strapped
on and Dave made his "theatrical" farewell.  Once the cameras were turned
off he returned to ask what we were planning for the rest of the day. I
needed a couple more presents, but asked, what time will you guys be
setting off?

"I want to leave by about 6, it's a 4 hour drive but I need to do some
things." he told me

"OK, here is a house key, you'll need one in case I'm not back before you."
I said, "oh and the gate code is 1911 If you want to leave the bikes here,
I'll lock them in the tack room while you are gone."

"Thanks, there won't be time to ride at mums, plus its half way up a bloody
mountain!"

We parted company and I took the boys shopping for presents. First I bought
cycle helmets for Dave and his family, as well as riding hard hats too, for
the kids. I also invested in 3 body armour for Karol, Pawel and Brian, to
protect them around the horses. We went and bought some smart clothes and
some everyday things for the boys, and one or two other important bits.

We got back home for 5pm and Dave was waiting by the tree, with a couple of
gifts for us. I protested that they should not have bought us anything, but
Dave asked, well what are those packages with our names on for then? We
exchanged presents, and the boys were overwhelmed, Karol told me later that
he had never had this many presents at home, in fact he already had more
than in his whole life up to then.

"Even when we did get something nice our parents sold it again for drugs."

I had to fight back the tears as my 2 boys hugged me and all of Daves
family. Daniel, Jean and Claire all thanked us profusely for our gifts, and
placed them in 'their' room. All too soon it was time for Dave to set off,
we waved them off after Dave promised to phone as soon as they got there.

I suddenly realized that I had not collected the special Polish Christmas
Eve food, and it was too late to do so now, so I asked, "Who likes Pizza?"
Both boys looked puzzled. "do you not know what a pizza is? " I asked.

I rang the local Pizza Restaurant and asked if they were still
serving. They told me that there had been a cancellation and we could have
a table in 30 mins.

"OK boys, quick change into your good clothes, we are going out for
dinner!" I told them.

We got to the restaurant right on time, and the waiter greeted us and
showed us to our table. I heard some arguing in Italian and looked towards
the noise. The manager and a teen aged girl seemed to be arguing. "Such a
shame to fight like that on Christmas Eve, " I whispered to the boys.

The Girl came over to our table with a copy of the local paper in her
hand. "This is you, isn't it?" she asked, pointing to the photo of Karol
and I rescuing the ponies. "And you arranged for Dave and his family to get
a new car, didn't you?"

"Yes that was us, but please don't make a fuss, I'd rather people didn't
know!" I told her.

A family close bye got up and paid their bill and the girl said, "everyone
here now is family. They will all want to meet you and your brave son!"

Despite my request for anonymity she stood up and told the other dinners,
in Italian, who we were. She explained to me that Dave had helped her
father get back on his feet after a truck ran into the restaurant. Another
Italian told me how he had been caught up in the floods of 2 years ago, and
I realised why they were so pleased that we were there.

The girls father, the manager, came over and told us, in his heavy accent
that we were his guests for the night, and he hoed that we had brought an
appetite with us!

The tables were all pushed together and we were seated between an elderly
couple on one side and a family with 3 identical, super cute, 8 year old
boys on the other. It turned out the boys could not speak English, and as
Pawel could not either I was amazed to note that within just a few minutes
they were all conversing together like long lost friends. When it became
clear that my boys were Polish a boy from another branch of the family, who
had a pasta shop in Warsaw, was sent to join us as a mini translator!

The meal was at least 7 courses, no meat, but lots of fish and pasta and
cheese. I had wanted to go to the midnight church service in our local
church, but as the food kept on coming it was looking increasingly
unlikely. Deserts and coffee were served and as the clock neared 11.30 a
coach pulled up outside. We were 'press ganged' onto the coach and taken to
the Catholic church, for Midnight Mass. The service was stunning, I have
never been much of a church goer but the ceremony and richness of the
service were stunning. I realized that my boys must have been Catholic as
they knew the Latin Prayers and the responses to what the priest said. I
noticed during the singing that many of out Italian party were singing the
same carols in Italian, and Karol and Pawel were doing the same, in
Polish. When they started to have the Mass itself I remained in my pew, a I
am not Catholic and have never been to confirmation classes. Karol went up,
but Pawel, did not.

The Priest spoke of recent events in the world, and then, to my complete
embarrassment told the congregation that I was in the church, and what I
had done, both for Karol and his brother and for Dave and his family. A new
experience for me was the applause, I had seen it happen in American
churches on TV, but had always thought that UK churches, especially
Catholic ones were much more restrained! At the end, as we filed out of the
church the priest was at the door to shake everyone's hand, and he had one
of his helpers fetch me, along with the boys, to stand next to him, to be
greeted as well. I was totally embarrassed but the boys seemed fine with
it. After everyone had left we realised to our horror that the coach back
to the Italian Restaurant, and therefore our lift back to the car, had
left.

The priest, seeing my look of panic said "It's OK I'm going back to the
restaurant, I told them that I would give you a lift, it'll be a squeeze
but we'll manage somehow!"

Father O'Flahtery asked us back into the church, and led us to the Vestry,
where the choir were still changing, and skylarking around. He changed out
of his Vestment and hurried the boys out to their waiting parents before
leading us to his car; "My one weakness, if you don't count choirboys!" he
laughed.

There in the car park stood a 1982 Dutton Melos, an open topped 2+2 sports
car, not unlike the Lotus 7 to look at. He folded back the tonneau cover
and revealed 2 back 'seats' that even Pawel found cramped. Somehow the boys
go in, and belted up, and if I thought that they were grinning before we
set off, their faces after the short 2 mile spin back to the restaurant
were a sight to behold! Mind you their hands were almost frozen from
holding on to the roll bar above our heads, especially as it was above the
protection offered by the windscreen. Things were not helped by the fact
that Father O'Flahtery seemed to have just 2 speeds, too fast and even
faster. I was surprised that he was not blinded by the white glow of my
knuckles as I held on for dear life!

As we arrived back I made a move to go to my car but we were hustled back
into the restaurant, where presents had appeared under the tree. As soon as
we were seated, and given hot chocolate drinks, mine laced with
Disaronno. Then the lights dimmed and Babbo Natale, the Italian Santa
appeared and after they Italian speaking kids sang him a song he started to
hand out presents to the children. I was worried that Karol and Pawel might
be upset at not getting a present but the 10th or 11th present he hauled
from under the tree was for Pawel. It turned out that the Priest had
delayed us for long enough for our host to add presents for my boys.

Pawel, like many of the younger children gave Santa a big hug, and when he
came back to his seat climbed on my lap and was sobbing like mad. He had
not opened his present but our host, seeing him upset came over to ask what
the matter was.

Karol answered; "We have never had proper Christmas presents before, our
old parents used to take anything that we had been given and sell them for
drugs. One year we were given a bicycle each by a wealthy neighbour but
before New Year Papa had already sold them. He made us tell the man who
gave us them that they had been stolen from the shed. I think he hoped that
the man would give us new ones!"

"Pawel, this is for you, no one will ever take it away from you. You can
open it, and you can keep it. "I told him, and Karol translated for me. The
grief stricken boy looked up at me with a look of fear and pleading in his
eyes and I nodded to him, and kissed him on his forehead.

No matter how much we coaxed him Pawel would not open his present, and we
almost missed the call for Karol to collect his! Once Karol came back with
his present, and showed his brother that he too had one, then the younger
brother relented, and carefully opened his present, taking great care not
to damage the wrapping paper. Both boys received an MP3 player, which they
were very excited about. As soon as the presents had all been handed out
Pawel and Karol went across to Santa, who was just downing a stiff drink,
and hugged and thanked him again for their presents. Our host went across
and explained to Santa why they were so excited by their presents. It
should be noted that apart from my 2 boys only 3 other children bothered to
say thank you for their gifts, a point that was noted by many of the
guests!

As the party was wrapping up several Taxis pulled up outside and I was
about to ask our host if he could order one for us too. Before I could
speak he said, "So Peter, would you and your wonderful boys mind sharing a
taxi with my brothers family? They have to go through your village to go
home, so it is on the way for the driver!"

"Thank you, I'll collect my car sometime tomorrow, if that is OK? I'll also
pay the driver, if he can tell me the total fare."

My last comment was a mistake, our host looked at me as if I had just asked
for sex with his children! "No Peter, you are my guests, the Taxis belong
to my cousin, and there is nothing to pay for the journey"

"I am sorry my friend, I meant well, please forgive me!"

"Peter" he said sweeping my boys and me into a huge hug, "you go home now
and have a wonderful Christmas. I heard that you are taking the boys away
in the New Year? Please come and visit us again before you go!"

"Thank you!" I said as I returned his hug, "Perhaps your 3 wonderful
children would like to come and ride our horses in the New Year? "

"I think that they would like that. My wife is scared of horses, so as long
as she does not need to go near them it would be fun!" he enthused.

"OK we can make it a date, nearer the time!"

With that our co passengers indicated that our cab was waiting so we
climbed into the waiting 12 seater Taxi and, after giving the driver our
address we set off home. Because our lane is too narrow to turn in I had
the driver come all the way up the drive, to turn on the front yard. The
children saw our horses and wanted to climb out and look at them, but their
parents said not tonight. I invited them to come over between Christmas and
New Year, and they agreed so we exchanged telephone numbers and they were
on their way. Before going into the house we did a quick check on the
horses and the dogs, all was, of course, well and I let us into the house.

The house seemed quiet after the madness yesterday and after locking up and
setting alarms we all went up stairs to the bathroom and then bed. I had to
stay awake until I was sure the boys were asleep, so I could sneak back
downstairs and place the boys presents around the tree. I managed t without
too many problems, though the bikes were difficult to bring in from
outside, but I managed it all.

 No sooner was I in my bed than I heard the soft pad of feet coming from
the boys room to mine. I threw back the covers and 2 sleepwalkers spooned
in beside me. Within seconds I too was asleep. I knew that I was going to
get visits, and this time, not only my wife but also all 3 of my children
came to me. I was wonderful and warming although I cannot remember, this
time, what was said, except lots of 'I love you'. After they left I did not
wake this time rather I dreamt straight on into the phase with the boys
parents. Both were there and again I do not remember much, except that they
expressed sorrow for the bad Christmases that they had given the boys in
the past, and a hope that the Christmases still to come would be better for
the boys.

I slowly surfaced and decided to go to the toilet, the hot chocolate was
starting to make itself felt on my bladder. On returning to bed I had to
move Pawel as he had swivelled round and was lying across the empty side of
the bed. Once he was settled and I was wrapped up again I soon returned to
my slumbers.

Grandma Brzezicki came, speaking in Polish again and thanked me for taking
the boys to church. She thanked me for the flowers that I had sent, and
wished us all a Merry Christmas. All too soon my alarm woke me. It was 7am,
and as well as the presents and breakfast we needed to see to the animals
before we could go to Janet and Rob for dinner. I tried to slip out of bed
without waking the boys, but this time they noticed and awoke. Both held
onto me and wanted me to stay in bed.

"You must be the only children who don't want to get up and see what
presents are under the tree!" I exclaimed.

"Why would there be presents under the tree?" Karol asked.

"Because it's Christmas Dummy" I teased.

In the end a promise of a mug of hot chocolate got them out of bed. Despite
the chill in the air both boys elected to go down naked and, after pulling
on a pair of shorts I followed. In the lounge both boys were sitting on the
sofa, stroking PP, our dog, and looking suspiciously at the piles of
presents under the tree.

Come the Karol, can you read the names on the presents and hand them out
please? He got up, with a slightly confused look and went to look closer at
the presents. "Papa, most of them have mine and Pawels name on"

"Yes, of course, now get some of them over here so you can open them!"

"But we got our present last night, the music players, why are there more
things here?" he asked as he tried to hold back a tear that was forming in
his eye.

I got down on the floor next to him, pulling Pawel down too and reached for
a large box which said Pawel and Karol on it. I handed it to them both and
said, "This is one for you two to share!"

Karol started to rip the paper open but Pawel stopped him saying something
in Polish that I didn't understand. They then continued unwrapping the
present slowly, to avoid damaging the paper.

"Boys, it is OK to rip the paper off, it will only go into the recycling
when we are done."

Karol looked at me and translated for Pawel, who looked surprised. They
continued to open it, but not quite so daintily. Inside the first package
was the PS4 with a 24 inch TV and 5 games.

"Papa," they both shouted hugging me, as the tears started to rain down.

"This is too much" Karol said.

"No Karol, when you start school all of your friends will have games
consoles, and I would not want you 2 to be the only ones in the school who
do not have one"

 I handed them the other large parcel, and this was opened a lot quicker to
reveal the X-Box One, another TV and 5 more games. Once again there were
hugs and tears so I hurried on with the presents; A one piece snow suit for
Pawel, a 2 piece Ski suit for Karol, Various other pieces of clothing for
each of them. Then I 'found' a packet with my name on it, a Ski suit for me
too. The boys were almost more pleased about my present than they were
about their own, strange though that may sound. Then I stood and reached
behind the sofa, bringing out Pawels bike, which despite the paper was easy
to recognise as a bike.

Pawel stood there holding the unopened bike, sobbing uncontrollably and
saying " Nie, nie, nie! To jest za duzo!"

Karol translated for me "no no no this is too much he says"

I hugged the boys tightly and said, "Nie, nie nie, it is not enough. Not
enough to make good the years of presents that were taken away from you."
as I pulled first Karols and then my bikes from their hiding places. The
boys still just looked at the bike shaped packages so I ripped mine
open. Karol encouraged Pawel to unwrap his bike first and then opened his
too.

"Papa they are all the same, how will we know which is which?"  A worried
Karol asked, adding, "How long may we keep them Papa?"

I held my arms out to them both and said "Karol, please explain to Pawel
this too, these bikes are yours, to keep for ever. When you grow too big
for your bike then you decide what you want to do with it, sell it on eBay,
or perhaps give it to a child who is less fortunate and has no one to buy
them a bike. When that happens we will go right away and buy you a new
bike. Do you understand?"

Karol managed to explain it to his brother, who had developed a look of
panic when Karol burst into tears at my tirade. Both held me so tightly
that when I checked my arms later I had several hand shaped bruises. Once
they had calmed down a little Pawel wanted to try out his new bike.

"Of course you may try it out" I told him, "but perhaps you will want to
get dressed first?"

Pawel looked a little confused when Karol translated for him so I added
"Boys, I know in Poland people think nothing of children being outside
naked, but in England it is not normal, plus it is winter, and very cold!"
I hugged the boys as Karol translated this, and I ruffled their hair.

The boys pulled away from me and dashed upstairs I grabbed some clean
underwear and jeans from the laundry room, as the thunder of my kids feet
pounded down the stairs. The boys, in just underwear, dashed into the
lounge and pulled on their new ski suits, and bike helmets before pushing
their new bikes to the door.

"Come on Papa" Karol chided, "Let's go and ride!"

"OK but just a quick spin" I told him, "We still need to see to the
animals."

"Why do we spin?" he asked confused, reminding me that despite his language
skills he was not colloquial by any means.

"It's just a way to say go for a little ride" I explained as we pushed our
bikes through the hall and out onto the front drive. We rode around there
for about 20 minutes before I call a halt. "We need to see to the animals
boys, perhaps we can ride later?"

Pawel said something to Karol who translated; "May we ride to Uncle Robs
house then?"

"Yes why not? I'll fit the lights to our bikes before we set off, that way
we'll be safe on the road." I agreed, pleased to hear Karol translate 'on
the fly' so to speak.

The boys were about to go across to the stables but I stopped them, "Go and
change into jeans and boots, so you don't get your new ski suits dirty."

The boys ran in and changed quickly, while I went to the kennels and saw to
the dogs. I hosed their runs down and gave each dog fresh water and a
larger than normal portion of food. By the time I was done the boys had
already made a start mucking out the horses. We worked hard and got all the
animals cleaned, fed and watered in super-fast time. The boys spoke to each
other in Polish and Karol asked me "May we give the horses a carrot each
for Christmas?"

"Of course boys, why didn't I think of that? Get some carrots and apples
from the house, I have a knife here to cut the apples" I said, as the boys
rushed into the house. They returned in no time with the fruit and veg for
the horses, as well as some chocolate. "What's the chocolate for?" I asked,
knowing the answer already.

"For the dogs, they need a treat too!" Karol explained.

"No sorry, chocolate is poisonous for dogs, we will have to find another
treat for them." I explained, "Perhaps we can buy them something nice in
the shops tomorrow, the dogs don't know which day is which!"

The boys looked disappointed but we cut up the apples and gave each horse a
piece of apple and a carrot, along with a hug. "OK boys, go and shower and
we need to set off for Rob and Janets"

Pawel said something to Karol, all I understood was 'Babcia', grandma and
telefon.

"Nie, nie nie Pawel, nie mozna prosic" Karol told him.

„What did he ask Karol?· I asked.

„?h nothing papa" he lied, blushing as he did.

„?arol, I understood Grandma and telephone, please don't ever tell me a
lie. Does he want to telephone your Babcia?" I asked him, a little sternly.

Karol started to tear up and hung his head in shame "Wybacz mi papa· he
whispered, letting out a soft sob.

„?arol, we are still learning about each other. Please don't cry, I was
going to ask you to call her as soon as we're showered and changed, now
tell your brother please!"

He explained to Pawel and the 9 year old leapt into my arms, smothering me
in kisses!

I held onto him and lifted his brother up too and ran to the house, „You
stinky boys, go and get showered!" I said giving each a playful slap on his
cheeky bum and they ran giggling like little girls!

I sorted a couple of things out, phoned each of my staff members, as well
as a couple of clients to wish them all Seasons greetings. Most of them
asked after the boys, telling me that they have something for them 'under
the tree!' I started to realize just how much it costs to have kids, not
just buying things for them, but also things for other families' kids, in
return for gifts given to your kids!

My last call of the morning was to Tom and Linda, and after the usual
chatter Linda asked how the boys were getting on. I told her that they were
showering having seen to the animals, and test driven our bikes. "I hear
you and the boys are heroes?· She commented.

„Well we only did what anyone else who loves animals would do" I said,
?arol has a knack with the ponies though, he was able to calm them down and
help me to tie them up out of harms way!"

„They are very special Peter, but it works both ways, you too are very
special. They can teach you a lot, just as you can teach them! Everything
sorted for your trip to Poland?"

„Yes thanks, we'll be off in just over a week!"

„I'd like to pop round one day next week, before you go, apart from
anything else the department gives its clients a little something for
Christmas."

"Noo, not more presents, they are already overwhelmed with the clothes,
bikes and other bits I got them, and just about everyone else I spoke to
wants to give them something!"

"Well some foster families simply put the money from the Child Care
Services into a savings account for the children, as a college fund or such
like. It's up to you, if that's what you want to do!"  she explained.

 I finished the call and went up to my bathroom to have a quick shower,
thinking that the boys would be done. In my bedroom, sitting on my bed,
were two super cute, naked giggling, dirty boys. „Hey! Didn't I tell you
to have a shower?" I said, but my voice and my smile gave me away.

„Papa, we wanted to shower with you. It's so much more fun!"  Karol told
me, and Pawel nodded in agreement.

Then Pawel held his arms out to me, how could I say no I picked him up and
he said " Zerry Happeeey Chriptmast Papa!" and gave me a big wet sloppy
kiss.

I held him away from me and looked, tears streaming from my eyes "Thank you
Pawel, thank you, and you too Karol. You for teaching Pawel to say that,
and Pawel saying it was the best present ever!" Karol translated for me, as
he always did, and I got a second equally sloppy kiss from Pawel.

 Somehow I managed to strip while holding the naked, and now erect, little
boy on my arm, and we went, as a family, into the shower. Despite the best
efforts of my 2 scallywags there was no sex play in the shower, except a
'sword' fight between the boys that is. We all 3 got dressed in comfortable
clothes and then put on snow suits and set off on our new bikes.

About half way along the 2 mile ride it started to snow softly, nothing
special for the boys, but to me it was very special. By the time we got to
Janet and Rob's house the snow was falling heavily. We were greeted by our
hosts and young Brian led us to the garage to park our bikes. We then made
our way into the house and stripped our snow suits off, in between all this
we were greeted by Master, their dog. (Well to be completely accurate
Master was MY dog, but he lived with his sole handler as a family member.

Janet led us into the lounge, where their tree looked even more magnificent
than it had the last time we were there. She reached under the tree and
pulled out some packages, she gave 3 to Brian and one each to Karol, Pawel
and me. The boys opened theirs and were delighted to find personalised
mugs, and really smart woolly ski hats, also with their names on them. I
opened mine to find a mug with 'Peter, the Best Dad in the World' on it and
my ski hat had my name on the front and a big L plate on the back! (Here in
the UK learner drivers have to display a white plate with a red L on the
front and back of the car until they pass their driving test).

Brian the handed us each another package, „these are from me" he said.

The boys each had another game for the PlayStation and for me he had bought
a set of 'teach yourself Polish' CD's. I went to thank Rob and Janet for
the wonderful thought.

"No no Peter, your presents from Brian are all down to him. He remembered
which games you had asked him about for the boys, and simply bought 2 which
he had not told you about. Even we did not know that he had bought you the
Polish course"

"Brian, I am so sorry I just assumed that your parents had selected the
gifts! Thank you very much from all of us!" I said, hugging him tightly to
me. Pawel and Karol joined us in a group hug, Karol even gave Brian a quick
kiss on his cheek, causing him to blush a deep shade of red, and causing
something warm and hard to poke very firmly into my thigh, exactly where
Brians legs met in the middle.

The boys then handed their presents to Brian, and I gave Rob a bottle of my
'special' Malt Whisky and for Janet we had selected a gift basket of her
favourite fragrances. The boys went to Brians room to play on his games
console while we adults prepared for dinner.

Janet did us proud with a traditional meal, roast turkey and all the
trimmings followed by Christmas Pudding, and for the boys an alcohol free
trifle. As we had cycled there I accepted Robs offer of a drink, and even
the boys enjoyed a small glass of wine. After dinner the adults sat in
front of the TV to sleep through the Queens Speech while the boys played
upstairs. The afternoon wore on and we all played several traditional board
games, it was as much fun explaining the rules of Monopoly and Cluedo to
Karol and Pawel as it was actually playing!

At 4PM I decided that we should go home to see to the animals but looking
outside I realised that the snow had all but blocked the roads, and cycling
was out of the question. At Robs insistence I left the boys there and set
out on foot. AT the end of the lane I heard a tractor approaching and saw
Tony clearing snow with his tractor.

"Merry Christmas Peter!" he called as he stopped next to me.

"Merry Christmas, Tony, no peace for the wicked eh?" I joked, "Just on my
way to see to the animals" I explained.

"Come on the, hop in, let's get you there in a little more comfort!" he
said, patting the padded seat on the mudguard.

I was surprised just how warm the cab of the tractor was, he had 2 24 volt
fan heaters blasting hot air around inside. We made our way slowly along
the lanes, clearing the snow as we went. Tony chatted away happily, as he
made the roads clear and safe for everyone. On route we passed several
abandoned cars, clearing a way around them and leaving warning cones in
front and behind.

"No doubt some idiot will race up here drunk and hit at least one abandoned
car tonight, I'll warn the police of the locations of the cars" he told me
as we pulled up to my driveway.

 I realised that I had left my keys at Janets house so I had to jump the
gate to get in. Fortunately I keep a spare set in a number locked key safe,
allowing me access to both house and stables. I decided to leave mucking
out the horses, something I usually do at every feed, and simply threw a
fresh bale of straw into each box. As the thermometer in the stable had
dropped below zero I decided to switch on the heating. They would have been
fine without it, but I like to think that they have it as comfortable as I
do!

I had to thaw the dogs food, thank God for microwave ovens! Once fed I also
turned on the heating in the kennel block, and closed the access to the
outside runs. The dogs were all glad to see me, and grateful for the warm
food, and the warmed up water too! I then went to the house to see to Peter
Pan. He was excited to see me and I let him out for nature calls, though
the look he gave me when he saw the weather was priceless. Bladder and
bowels emptied, and fresh food and drink sorted I grabbed some overnight
things for myself and the boys just as my mobile phone (cell phone) rang.

It was Tony; "When are you going back up to Janets Peter?" he asked, "I
need to go home to refuel and top up on salt and so on, so if you like I
can give you a lift!"

"Perfect timing, I'm just about done here." I told him.

"OK give me ten minutes, and then open your gates. If I plough a little of
the drive, up to the garage etc, then it will look like you are home!"

"Thanks, the kettle is on then, tea, coffee or what?" I asked.

"Mmmm any chance of one of your Italian coffees?" he asked, "Lavazza or
whatever it's called?"

"Done!" I replied.

I made the coffee and opened the gates. Then I remembered that I had not
given Tony his Christmas present, a bottle of my special malt, so I popped
a bottle into a gift bag.

When he had cleared some snow on my drive Tony came in and downed the
scalding hot coffee as if it was cold. When I gave him the present he
protested, but I insisted and when he saw what it was he grinned, "Mmmm you
know how to spoil your friends! I feel a bit guilty now, I have nothing for
you!"

"Nothing?" I asked incredulously, "Was the whole thing with the tree
nothing? Was giving me a lift both ways nothing? Not to mention clearing
the drive!"

Tony blushed a little and pulled me into a 'Man Hug'. We both went outside
and climbed aboard the tractor. The electric fan heaters soon had the cab
warm and toasty again and we set off down my drive. We were almost at the
end of the drive when I shouted to Tony to stop. "Jesus H Christ, what
speed is he doing?" I asked as a 4x4 shot past us, much faster that even I
would drive in daylight on a warm dry day. Tony was about to pull out when
he saw blue lights coming from the same direction, so we waited for a
Police Interceptor in a 'Scooby' to pass, at a much more sensible
rate. then stopping at a junction 100 yards ahead.

Tony grabbed his microphone and called the council main office "Control,
can you give me talk through to Police Traffic control, over?"

"Roger Tony. - Pappa Charlie for Snow control, over"

"Go ahead Snow Control, over"

"Snow control has talk through from Middleton Village snow team, go ahead"

Tony picked up his microphone and said " Pappa Charlie, message for
interceptor Tango 99 in Middleton, the 4x4 took the left fork, at more than
70mph, over"

"Pappa Charlie roger, can you still see him, over?" the police control
replied as the police car sped off in the direction that Tony had indicated
giving us a quick blast on the horns.

"Roger I still see his lights, oh wait, by the looks of it he has crashed,
his lights are pointing straight up in the air, just over the next hill
from your pursuit car!"

At this we saw the police car slow and as he reached the next crest he
stopped. It took us 3 or 4 minutes to cover the same ground that they had
covered in 20 seconds. We stopped and Tony asked if he could be of any
further help.

"No thanks, but stay clear of him for now, they are armed!"

Tony put his big spot lights on and shone them at the car. We could see 2
people slumped in the front of the car, as if injured. Very soon several
more police cars arrived, and armed officers got out to assess the
situation.

"Look guys, why not use the snow plough as a shield? If they are injured
they could be in a bad way" He moved the spot light again and the red blood
stain in the snow became evident.

I was told to get down from the tractor and Tony was given a bullet proof
vest to wear, and he then drove slowly down to the wrecked car, giving
protection to the 3 armed officers. As soon as they got there it was clear
that the 2 men in the car were no danger to anyone, their weapons were
seized and they were made secure for the Paramedics to see to them.

 I walked down with the other cops and as they thanked Tony for his help I
shouted, "Wait there must have been 3 in the car, there are tracks leading
up through the field."

I pointed out the tracks and the senior cop cussed "Fuck, they told us it
would be at least an hour before a dog van could get here!"

I showed him my ID and my advanced dog handler permit, "I have one of my
dogs up there at that cottage, I can follow before the trail goes cold."

I was rushed up to Janets and knocking on the door quickly explained and
asked Janet for Masters Search line. A cop gave me a bullet proof vest and,
with 2 armed officers, we set off to find the trail of the third man. We
got to a steep slope and I pointed to marks in the snow where the fugitive
had clearly dropped his weapon.

"Perhaps we should wait for a police handler to come?" one of the officers
asked.

"What and let the trail get snowed away?" I replied. "You guys just do your
thing, and make sure you get him before he can get someone else!"

It soon became clear that he was looping round towards the only building
around which had lights on, Janets! I phoned her and warned her to lock all
doors, get everyone upstairs in a safe bedroom, and stay quiet. We stayed
on the phone and just as she had told me that they were all safe, I could
hear a commotion as the fugitive tried to get them to open the door. By
then we were at the crest of the hill, looking down on the cottage. Master
was straining at the leash but one of the officers raised his weapon, just
as the criminal fired off a shot, at the door lock. Since I had arranged
the security on the cottage I knew that a shot gun to the lock was not
going to do much damage, so I was not concerned. The officer took aim, and
as the fugitive had fired a shot the copper was clear to fire. The man
moved just as he pulled the trigger and, what should have been a fatal shot
did in fact smash through the guys femur, bringing him to the ground and
making him drop his weapon. We lost sight of him for a moment as we dashed
down towards him, so I released Master and gave the German command "Fass",
meaning 'get him'.

The dog was much quicker than we were and we heard a blood curdling scream,
followed by another shot and then more screams and snarling noises.

Master had a hold of the mans wrist, which was bleeding and was standing
directly on the mans injured leg

"So ist Brav! Master, Pass auf!" I told him, (Good boy, watch him)

One of the cops disarmed the man and I told Master to let go, "AUS!"

The dog took up a watchful position as the cops read the guy his rights,
but I interrupted warning him "Don't move a muscle, until I tell you to"

I heard Janet in my Bluetooth earpiece, "Can we come down now?"

"No not yet, not until he is secured, they can't cuff him yet because
Master made a bit of a mess of his arm! Can you drop a first aid kit out of
the upstairs window?" I asked her.

"Sure" she replied then opened a window and called "heads below!" dropping
a first aid kit out to us.

I quickly applied a dressing to the scum bags leg and another to the bite
wounds on his arm, as several police vehicles arrived in the road
outside. Paramedics also arrived and were pleased to see that his wounds
had been seen to. He was loaded into the ambulance, handcuffed with his
good hand to the stretcher and escorted away.

"Thank you very much for you help, your quick thinking saved a lot of
bloodshed!" the senior officer told me.

"My kids and my best friends are in the house, my only regret is that he
moved as your officer shot him!"

"Will you be OK to give a statement?" he asked me.

"Of course, but can it wait until morning, my kids are probably worried
sick in there, and I'm freezing, and in serious need of a drink!"

By now Janet and Rob had opened the door and moments later Brian, Karol and
Pawel came out with trays of mugs of hot tea and mince pies.

"Rob!" the copper said, "I thought I recognised the address!"

"Sir!" Rob answered the chief inspector. "Have anyone who does not need to
be outside come in and warm up with a drink!"

"Now I realise who you are sir" the chief inspector said to me, "You're
Peter, Janets employer!"

"Well actually I'm not her employer" I said, garnering confused looks from
Janet and Rob, "She is my business partner!"

The look on their faces was priceless "You already run pretty much
everything for me, and what with the boys I'm going to need to take a bit
of a step back, so I think you'll be the perfect 50% partner!"

Knowing what she was going to say next I interrupted her, "Janet, do you
have a pound coin on you?"

"Yes, here in my purse, why?" she said passing me the coin.

"Thanks you just bought your 50% share of the business. We'll get it all
written up next week, before I go to Poland." I said with a smile.

"Well I don't know what to say Boss" she started,

"For a start, 'pardner' you can drop the Boss!" I drawled in a dreadful
fake American accent.

Rob disappeared to the kitchen, and returned with a bottle of bubbly, a
local grown Sussex sparkling white. "This was meant to be opened for New
Year, but there's time to get a new one by then!" he said, popping the
cork. He filled 3 of the glasses and put a little in 3 more, for the
boys. "To friends!" he toasted

Everyone, including Pawel, raised their glass and repeated the toast
"Friends!" I had to blink back a tear as I realised what was happening to
me.

Pawel saw and hugged me "Papa, nie placza, not to cry Papa!" he whispered
and brushed away my tears.

I kissed his forehead and replied "Dziekuje mój aniele, thank you my
little Angel"

We all went into a group hug and, feeling that Pawel was falling to sleep
on my arms I said, "I think we should turn in guys, it's been a long day!"

Janet and Rob agreed with me and Brian and Karol paired off and went to
Brians room, giggling like a pair of schoolgirls, while I took a sleeping
Pawel with me to my room. I don't remember undressing myself or the boy,
and was asleep before my head hit the pillow.