Jingle Bells

By Lou Yardley

My name is Zoe Bryce and I have a secret. The date is 24th December and in the last eleven (or is it twelve?) days, I have watched my world get turned upside down. Now, not only do I have to save Christmas, but I also have to save the world. 
 
And I need your help. 
 
This tale of the supernatural at the most wonderful time of the year is best enjoyed on Christmas Eve, with a mug of hot chocolate in front of a log fire.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Y Books
• Release date: Dec 15, 2016
• ISBN: 9781386655077

Book preview

Jingle Bells

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LOU YARDLEY

Copyright © 2016 Lou Yardley

All rights reserved.

DEDICATION

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Merry Christmas / Happy Holidays / Have a great ‘this time of the year’ to everyone reading this.

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To Mum -  I hope you remember to leave a glass of wine out for Santa this year.

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To Suz – I hope Santa finds you on your travels!

CONTENTS

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

WHAT’S ALL THIS ABOUT?

CHAPTER 1 – I HAVE A SECRET

CHAPTER 2 – ON THE FIRST DAY OF CHRISTMAS

CHAPTER 3 – SANTA, SNOWMEN AND STRESS

CHAPTER 4 – SLEIGH-BELLS RING...

CHAPTER 5 – THE EARLY BIRD CATCHES THE WORM

CHAPTER 6 – HIDING THE EVIDENCE

CHAPTER 7 - VISITORS

CHAPTER 8 – THE BASEMENT

CHAPTER 9 – DO YOU HEAR WHAT I HEAR?

CHAPTER 10 – WALKING IN A WINTER WONDERLAND

CHAPTER 11 – SANTA CLAUS IS COMING TO TOWN

CHAPTER 12 – THE HOLLY AND THE IVY

CHAPTER 13 - DECISIONS

CHAPTER 14 – SILENT NIGHT

CHAPTER 15 – I HAVE ANOTHER SECRET

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

PRAISE FOR THE OTHER’S VOICE

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

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As always, thanks to Mark for putting up with me while I write about the weird stuff that goes on in my head.

A huge THANK YOU goes out to everyone helping me with Book Two of The Others.

And a huge THANK YOU and a high five goes out to everyone who has bought The Other’s Voice.

WHAT’S ALL THIS ABOUT?

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I finished Book Two of The Others Trilogy a couple of months ago, but it’s not quite ready to be released into the wild just yet. So, while I waited for it to be read by my Alpha reader (and before it went onto my Beta readers), I thought I’d keep myself busy with a fun little project.

I set myself a challenge to write a short story or novella to be released no later than Christmas Eve.

Jingle Bells is the result of that challenge.

CHAPTER 1 – I HAVE A SECRET

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Thank you for reading.

My name is Zoe Bryce and I have a secret. The date is 24th December and in the last eleven (or is it twelve?) days, I have watched my world get turned upside down. Now, not only do I have to save Christmas, but I also have to save the world.

That sounds terribly dramatic, doesn't it? If I'd just walked in on this note, I'd think the same thing. But, I may need your help, so let me tell you what happened. I'll start at the beginning. Well, I'm not sure it's really the beginning - just as I'm not sure that today is the end - but it seems like as good a place to start as any.

I hope you're sitting comfortably.

CHAPTER 2 – ON THE FIRST DAY OF CHRISTMAS

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Alright, let’s get something out of the way. I'm aware that the 12th December isn't the first day of Christmas. I hear that that's actually the 25th... which does make me wonder why the shops start putting Christmas stuff out on the 1st September. Hell, I work in a shopping centre and I don't agree with that. Looking at tinsel and candy canes while I'm still wearing shorts, a t-shirt and a pair of flip flops, while sunburn causes the skin to peel off my shoulders just seems ridiculous to me. Maybe it's different in other countries, but in England, Christmas just seems more Christmassy when it's cold outside and there's a chance of snow. Oh yeah, and it feels a hell of a lot more Christmassy when we're actually in December!

So, the 12th December isn't the first day of Christmas, but it is the first day of our story. It was the day that Ulf got fired. Ulf and I worked in the same toy shop and he had been there since long before I had started. I'm pretty sure that I even have vague memories of him working there when I was younger and I used to visit the shop with my mum and I'd ask her for everything. I had an amazing collection of He-Man figures back then. What can I say? I'm not a girlie-girl. So, yes, Ulf was ancient. He was as much a part of that shop, and the whole shopping centre, as the unflattering artificial lighting and the sound of shoes squeaking on the polished floor. He was as much a part of that shopping centre as the annual Christmas display. Ah, the Christmas display. We'll get onto that later.

The 12th December started off in much the same way as any other working day. I arrived at the shop door at 8.28am and let myself in. I officially started work at 8.30am, but I always arrive two minutes early. It's not because I wanted to be early, it's just that's the way it always worked out. Not only did I always arrive at the same time, but I also always walked the same route - never deviating and never taking the bus. If anyone ever had the urge to stalk and kidnap and / or kill me, my addiction to routine would make things incredibly easy for them. However, I have also often been told that I would make an awful kidnapee, as I'd annoy them and then they'd end up paying someone to take me back. In some ways, I'm rather proud of that. But still, mixing my journey up once in a while probably wouldn't be a terrible idea.

Anyway, I digress. I have a habit of doing that. I'll get back to the story.

Once I'd let myself in, I headed through the store, past the displays of toys and festive promotions, and into the staff room. The phrase staff room may be giving you the wrong idea. You may be picturing something with a sofa and maybe a table, maybe even a TV, but you'd be wrong. Push that idea right out of your head. True, it was a room, but I always thought it was more of a cupboard. With no windows, a small collection of spider webs and a broom in the corner, 'cupboard' was an accurate description. But, it also had running water, coffee and a kettle, so there was everything I needed to get started in the morning. As the kettle boiled and I placed my trusty old mug next to it, dropping a couple of spoonfuls of instant coffee into it, I heard voices coming from the store. They were a little bit muffled, but I recognised them instantly as belonging to Ulf and Peter. It was weird for Peter to be in, especially at this time of the morning. Peter was the store manager, but one who preferred to manage from a distance. He definitely wasn't one to micro-manage and Ulf and I liked