Like all kids, Timothy is eagerly anticipating Christmas Day and all the gifts it brings. This year he’s set his heart on adding an InterCity 125 train to his model railway layout, and goes to sleep each and every chilly December night dreaming of unwrapping this:
Meanwhile, Timothy’s mother is having second thoughts about Christmas. In the background, the radio blasts out yet another festive pop song: …he sees you when you’re sleeping, he knows when you’re awake, he knows if you’ve been bad or good so be good for goodness sake… She sighs and wonders if her son really deserves the Christmas gifts he’s hoping for.
It was the first week of December and naturally most children were getting excited about Christmas.
My twelve year old son and I were visiting my friend Kathy who’s seven year old son was being a bit of a nuisance. His mother kept asking him to be good, but he wasn’t interested; by hook or by crook he’d be the centre of attention on that afternoon. Now I’m not one for disciplining other peoples’ children, especially when their parents are present, but I did tell her son that naughty boys don’t get any Christmas presents. I glanced at his mother, expecting her to back up my claim but when his mother said, “Oh yes they do!” I was momentarily perplexed. Then she added “But they only get dolls and dresses” and I quickly realised that Kathy’s threat was much better than mine.
“Did you hear that Timothy?” I said to my own son. Timothy didn’t reply, but he did look very sheepish when I told my friend that he’d recently got in trouble at school for not only setting off a fire extinguisher, but also setting off the fire alarm.
“Oh dear Timmy.” Kathy frowned. “That’s so stupid and reckless.” she told him. “Why on Earth would you do such a thing?” she asked. Timothy mumbled his excuse which is that some of the boys in his class had told him to do it. “And if they told you to jump under a bus would you do it?”
“No.” he sheepishly mumbled.
Nothing else was said about the matter on that visit, and Kathy’s son continued being a bit of a brat. But I couldn’t help but think about what Kathy said about naughty boys only getting dolls and dresses for Christmas… that would certainly bring them down a peg or two! A few days later, I was chatting again with Kathy and I mentioned her son’s behaviour when we visited and asked if he was often like that. “Not really… he’s a typical boy… when there’s someone to show off to then he’ll show off and bugger the consequences.” she said. “He calmed right down the moment you left.”
“Probably because he doesn’t want dolls or dresses for Christmas!” I grinned. “I’ve been chuckling about that ever since you said it.”
“My gran used to say that.” she smiled. “Not that it ever worked… boys will be boys!” she said. I agreed and she asked me about Timothy. “He’s not set off any more fire alarms I hope?”
“Not that I’m aware of… but every week or two he’ll come home late because he’s been given a detention for doing something stupid.” I told her. “The last one was for hiding the teacher’s board duster.”
“What’s the point of that?”
“I don’t know.” I sighed. “As usual he said the other boys had put him up to it.”
Kathy tutted and tossed her head. “Typical boy… when there’s someone to show off to then they’ll show off and bugger the consequences.”
“I think he’s just more easily led than a show off… but I know what you mean.” I replied. I opened my pack of cigarettes and offered one to Kathy. After lighting up, I inhaled deeply and exhaled slowly. “I have been seriously thinking about what you said though.”
“What about?”
