Noel Forester sat by the fire, in the house that had once belonged to his grandparents, and gazed into the flames, seeing winters passed now, long-ago Christmasses…
He’d lit a candle, placed a couple of pots of ivy under the pictures of his children, cut in paper at the fair one year long ago. And the next year…war had swept across his country, across the continent, taken his wife and his children in its relentless tide.
Time smoothes the raw edges of grief. After the war, Noel had gone to his grandparents’ house near the small village on the high alm. The villagers had taken the bridge down when the war began, sealed themselves off from any invaders, though the village wasn’t on the road to anywhere. But Noel knew the hidden path through the mountains, came there and found in the green silence of the forests the healing that his heart needed. And he was still there, an old man now.
And now, another war – the cease-fire declared only two days ago. Just in time for Christmas, people said. Peace in time for Christmas. And next year they’d rebuild the bridge again. Noel stood up and moved closer to the blaze, warming his hands, shivering a little at the thought of what had probably gone on outside this high and sheltered valley.
Christmas Eve. His grandparents had always laid an extra place at the table – “For the Christ-child. You never know how he will come.” And they’d hung a lantern outside the door as well, with enough oil in it to burn all night.“To guide any travellers to shelter. There was a young couple once, seeking shelter on Christmas Eve.”
Moved by the memory, he filled a lamp, went outside and hung it up.
He’d dozed off by the fire, when the knocking awoke him, confusing him into thinking it was still part of his dreams. But then he heard it again. He got up, creaking and aching a little in his joints and went to the door.
Standing there, haloed in the light from his lantern, were children. Children and a nearly frozen young girl. For a moment he gazed, speechless, and then opened the door wider, urging them to come in out of the cold.
“We’d found a barn,” the young girl said. “And then we saw your light. And we thought it was worth a try…we could go back to the barn, there was some hay there, but we had no food. I’m Holly.” She paused, obviously near exhaustion. How far had they come? he asked.“A long way now.”
“Robin’s grandmother came from here, she’d told Robin about the path through the mountains. So we decided to try and find it, after…” Her voice faltered.“They came through our village,” Robin said, tonelessly. “Holly and I, we’d gone into the forest to pick wild strawberries together for my grandmother to make jam. We saw the fires, we hid in the forest overnight. The next day – the village was gone and everyone in it was dead. So we headed for the mountains.”
Holly picked up the tale again.“We found Felix by the side of the road. He was an orphan anyway, and he wasn’t sorry to leave the farmer he’d been apprenticed to. I don’t think the farmer was a very nice man!”
Felix nodded shyly.
“And then we met Martina, and she looked after us. We found a charcoal burner’s hut and Felix fished and we all hunted for food, and it was all right for a few months. Then Martina fell ill, and Robin spotted soldiers on the move, and we had to run for it. And Martina died.”
“But we promised her we’d look after her children.” Holly’s voice was full of defiance and determination. “She took care of us – we’d take care of Hope and Joy.” They were all watching Hope, making sure she didn’t go any closer to the fire.Noel turned his head and could see Joy, rocking happily and singing to herself.
“Let’s get you all fed,” he said. “Though I’m not much of a cook…it’ll have to be soup.”
One extra place at the table wouldn’t have been enough, Noel thought. And he’d better get the cot bedding aired before the fire, see what else he could find in the loft. They’d be warm enough up there: the chimney heated the room. The children could stay for as long as they wanted.After all they’ve been through, the children have some negative traits! But you can change these when they’ve got enough points for the Change Traits lifetime reward. Other than that, all the normal rules apply.
Download the house and family here: https://www.thesims3.com/assetDetail.html?assetId=9272112
Happy Christmas!
