Being a sequel to “What Sandy Did at Half-Term,” a story I wrote on here in 2017!

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It can be quite difficult to buy Christmas presents for a twelve-year-old, but Sandy’s family did their best.

Her Grandma Shirley knew what to get her pretty early on- a basic make-up kit, nothing too fancy, but enough for her to experiment a bit ‘til she got things right.  Countless times, Shirley had seen Sandy come back from her cousins’ house done up like a clown (her cousins were fifteen and seventeen, but they were like little girls with a Barbie doll sometimes), and decided that now was the time to counteract a few bad habits.  The only reason shopping for it took as long as it did was that most of the make-up kits for girls Sandy’s age looked ridiculous- covered in cartoon characters or colourful little hearts and flowers.  It was enough to turn your stomach.  Eventually, Shirley found a modest little black box with a couple of eyeliners and lipsticks, and decided that would have to do.  Sandy was a bright girl- she could work out what to do with those.

Sandy’s Cousin Keeley found a copy of Blazing Saddles at HMV, and instantly decided that it was her duty to introduce her baby cousin to the classics.  She was doubly delighted to see that it was rated 12, which meant that she didn’t have to ask her mum to take it to the counter for her, which would probably have got her a lecture on what was and wasn’t an appropriate film for a little kid.  In Keeley’s view, there wasn’t any point having older cousins if they couldn’t show you an inappropriate film or two.

Sandy’s Aunt Caroline found it hard to think of what to get, until she spotted a particular piece of jewellery at one of the shops just off the high street.  It was a necklace of alternating blue and black stones, and it was almost identical to one Caroline’s own mother (who would have been Sandy’s other grandma) had worn nearly every day of her life.  Caroline thought of giving it to Sandy with an explanation of why, telling her about her mother’s ability to keep everything running even when it should have been falling to pieces, about how much she wished Sandy could have known her, about Caroline’s hope that the necklace would represent a small piece of Sandy’s family history, and remind her that she, too, had the ability to endure when life was hard. 

Sandy’s Aunt Joanie, who was Caroline’s younger sister, suspected that Caroline was going to get Sandy something weird that didn’t make any sense, and decided to mitigate that with some good music.  She knew that Sandy was always interested in hearing old 60s and 70s albums (which was just as well, since Joanie had a whole lot of them), and so Joanie spent a long time thinking about something Sandy would like but hadn’t heard yet.  Graceland?  After the Gold Rush?  Blood on the Tracks?  In the end, though, she decided that Sandy hadn’t heard nearly enough Tamla Motown yet, and got her a compilation.  She’d probably appreciate getting something she could dance to.

Sandy’s Uncle Nicky (youngest son of Grandma Shirley) was also thinking about music.  Every kid should know how to play the guitar, that was his motto, so he got her an acoustic Yamaha from a second-hand music store.  It cost a little bit more than he could really afford to spend, but that was OK.  You couldn’t put a price on a life skill.

Sandy’s Uncle Simon, who was snowed under with gift-buying this year (and, if he was honest, every other year since he’d been about ten), saw an advert for a charity that would buy a goat for a Third World family in your name.  Sandy had a big heart, Simon decided, and she’d be happy to know that a poor family were going to get the chance to improve their lives because of her.  Simon signed up to get the goat, and breathed a sigh of relief.  Another person he could cross off the list.

And then there was that other present.

Sandy found it on the doorstep when she came home from school one day.  It was an ordinary-looking flowerpot, the brown plastic kind Sandy had seen a million times before, with a gift tag attached to the side.  To Sandy Buckland- Season’s greetings.

Inside the flowerpot, set in a bed of soft black earth, was a little purple plant.

“Same colour as red cabbage,” said Gran when she got back from work, “Could probably use it to dye the spare pillowcases.”  She looked at the gift tag again.  “Are you sure you don’t know who sent it?  You must have some idea.”

Sandy shrugged.  “It’s not Keeley or Roma.  They said they’re giving me their presents on Christmas Day, right?”

“So you’ve got a secret admirer, then?” called Grandad from the living room, cheerful as anything in spite of the glare Gran gave him at that.

Sandy took the plant upstairs and put it on her windowsill.  Every so often, she’d look over at it, and wonder where it came from.  But the plant gave her no clues.

(To be continued)