Hello!
Welcome to this Christmas bedtime story,
A Christmas Kindness,
By me,
Hannah Scoyles.
Snuggle down,
Get comfy,
And let's enjoy the story together.
Millie switched on the radio and poured her cereal into the bowl.
Only a few flakes fell in.
Having toast instead,
She turned on the radio to cheer her up.
Surely the DJ didn't just say what she thought he had.
Christmas!
Checking her cat calendar to make sure she hadn't missed two months of her life.
The ginger cat for October confirmed it.
I don't want to think about that yet,
Thought Millie.
Then she had second thoughts.
Perhaps she should.
After all,
She had just moved to a completely different place for her new job at the hotel.
Apart from her colleagues,
With whom she was gradually making friends,
She didn't know anyone in the area.
Millie spent the whole day at work thinking about it.
She didn't want to spend another Christmas alone.
On her way home,
She stopped in at the library and saw a poster for the local homeless shelter.
They were looking for volunteers,
Especially for the festive period.
Perfect,
Thought Millie,
And she photographed the poster using her phone.
She would look at it later when she was back home in the warmth of her cottage.
The weather was turning colder.
As she made her way home,
She saw several homeless people huddled on the streets.
The sight saddened her heart.
This Christmas,
She could do something productive.
Millie had enjoyed the volunteer work she'd done at the cat shelter back in her hometown.
When she'd moved for her job,
She had thought about volunteering at the local cat home,
But she was disappointed to find the nearest was 35 miles away.
With her long commute to work,
She couldn't fit that into her schedule.
But she'd have a lot of free time over Christmas and New Year.
Time on her own.
And that she could do without.
The weeks turned into a month,
And then almost another.
And before Millie knew it,
It actually was December.
Are you coming to the Christmas party?
The receptionist at work asked her.
Yes,
Of course,
I love a party.
What are you going to do for Christmas then?
The receptionist asked her.
Good question,
Replied Millie,
Before realising she hadn't taken the time to plan anything.
I hadn't really thought about it,
What with starting my new job here.
Then she remembered the homeless shelter.
I was thinking of volunteering at the homeless shelter,
But I've probably left it too late.
They probably won't need anyone now.
You should call them.
I bet they will,
The receptionist suggested,
For signing for a package the postman had in his hands.
Millie was finishing up for the day,
So she did just that.
Yes,
We still need help.
You'd be very welcome,
Said the friendly woman on the phone.
End of part one.
Join me next time for part two to find out what happens next.
Night night,
Sleep tight.
