Chapter Text
Patsy Mount wrapped her scarf tightly around her neck to ward off the chilly Glasgow air. Christmas was fast approaching, and her to-do list was almost as long as the queue at the grocer’s. She hurried past shoppers dawdling in front of store windows, harried mums and clueless dads. They might have time to admire the displays and dream about extravagant gifts, but she had one destination, one goal. The rest of her list could wait, but she couldn’t. She had a special gift in mind and she feared it would be gone if she dawdled with the others.
This Christmas was unlike any other in her thirty years. This year she would be in her own home with her own true love. The giddy anticipation she had felt as a young girl and which had been missing for so long was finally part of the season again. She just had to get to the shop before her intended gift was sold.
Shopping was not one of her favorite pastimes- well, unless she was shopping with Delia. For Delia she would happily traipse through numerous stores, examine endless varieties of the same item. It had taken multiple excursions before they had settled on the perfect geometric-patterned china. The first shade of yellow chosen for the walls seemed bright and cheerful, but when applied to an entire wall became garish and overwhelming. Bit by bit they had stocked their flat with the necessities until it truly felt like home. Even Nonnatus House, which had welcomed her and sheltered her, never felt as much a home as this. And a home should be decorated for the holidays, so they had spent the bulk of what little free time they had together on purchasing decorations. Garlands, a tree and ornaments put her in a festive mood no matter how tired she was. The usual aromas of coffee and bleach which made Delia so happy were now masked by the scents of pine, cinnamon and gingerbread. Only one more addition and their home would be complete.
She stood in front of the shop window. The window was decorated like the North Pole, with elves in brightly-colored costumes working on new toys and games. The lights on a tree twinkled red, green, yellow and blue. But Patsy was only looking at one color- brown. She sang to herself the song that had been seared into her brain:
Soft brown eyes that seem to say
Stay a while, I want to play.
Would you, could you, do please stop?
I’m a lonely pup in a Christmas shop.
Delia had spotted the little dog when they were shopping for Christmas decorations. “Pats, he’s so sweet! Can we please get a dog? Please??” Patsy had resisted, reminding her that they both worked too many hours to properly care for a dog. She dared not admit that her main objection to having a pet was that she wanted Delia all to herself. That puppy was way too cute and might steal too many of Delia’s cuddles! Yet she noticed the way Delia paused on the way out and took one last, longing look at the little animal. The pet was not mentioned again, but for the next few days Patsy felt guilty and selfish every time they passed a dog in the street. She thought of the little dog, a lonely pup in a Christmas shop. She had spent many lonely Christmases wishing for a family. After the war, when she was sent across the world to boarding school, every Christmas was lonely. Either she was alone with her father’s servants, or she was alone with him, which felt even lonelier. When she lived at the Nurses’ Home she worked every Christmas Day. Even when Delia came into her life she worked Christmas while her girlfriend went home to family in Wales. Finally she began to appreciate the warmth of Christmas when living in Nonnatus House. And the previous Christmas had been the warmest yet, as they traveled to Botswana. That Christmas went beyond warm - it was just plain hot, a very strange feeling to have at that time of year!
Mister Santa, if you would
Send him someone, oh, so good
Someone who will take him home for everyone to see,
Christmas time, a Christmas tree with a happy family.
Patsy smiled at the puppy and waved her hand. The little dog returned the wave with a friendly “woof” and watched as she entered the shop. She went up to the stressed-out sales clerk and with that fishhook grin that could make the most cantankerous patient behave she asked, “If I promise not to sing, could you please tell me - how much is that doggie in the window?” The sales clerk laughed. “She’s a bonnie wee dug. And I can tell she likes you- see how she’s looking at you!”
“A she- that’s even better. I used to lead a Cub Scout troop, so it will be nice to train a girl instead.” They agreed on a price and added a few necessary accessories.
Some say that Christmas is for children - the magic of Santa Claus, the wonder and delight on children’s faces as they discover presents that mysteriously appear overnight under the tree. But for Patsy no candle could burn as brightly, no star shine as radiantly as the wonder and delight on Delia’s face as she gathered the little puppy in her arms. And magically, their happy home for two expanded to an even happier home for three.