Christmas stories

This week's Christmas story is by Tim Deacon, 54, who is a neighbourhood warden in the Test Valley. Tim attends a writing group at Eastleigh College. He said: "The story is the first thing I've written since suffering a bout of writer's block. I met a little boy one day who was very knowledgeable about steam trains, and his enthusiasm really got me thinking. I used to be an engineer, and when I go on a boat, I still close my eyes and taste the diesel in the air and think of those days."

You'll be hearing more about Tim Deacon on BBC TV's Then And Now programme, when he'll be talking about another kind of boat - the houseboats of Southampton.

TIM'S CHRISTMAS STORY

THE mild pain in David's arm seemed to be getting worse but he did not want to make a fuss, and ignoring it he concentrated on his walk with his grandson, Jonathan.

"What do you want for Christmas, Grandad?" Jonathan asked as they walked along the footpath, the stones crunching under their feet.

"Well, I've got most of the things I want," David replied with a twinkle in his eye. "Let's see. I think I'd like to be able to sail the seven seas, forever and ever!" The pain in his arm subsided and they carried on walking.

Jonathan pondered on this remark, and thought it a great idea for his grandad, who had spent most of his life in the Merchant Navy and obviously missed the excitement he had known for many years.

As they walked hand in hand in the winter sunshine, they arrived at an old railway bridge that crossed the river.

David stopped and, peering over the rusty parapet to the swift flowing water a few feet below them said to Jonathan, "When steam trains ran along this railway it was called The Sprat and Winkle line. The trains were wonderful.

"I used to spend hours sitting on the bridge at Stockbridge and watch them go by waiting for the smoke to curl up and cover me!"

Jonathan loved these Sunday walks with his grandad. Life seemed so simple when they were out together.

David had given his grandson a love of mechanical gadgets and would patiently spend hours explaining how things worked, showing him drawings and pictures of trains and steamships. Although Jonathan was only just eight, he understood the workings of steam engines and knew instinctively why his grandfather loved them.

Earlier that summer, David had taken Jonathan on a trip on an old paddle steamer from Southampton to Swanage, and then caught a steam train to Corfe Castle. On the journey, Jonathan secretly watched his grandfather lean over the rail of the ship's engine room, as the pistons thundered up and down and the glorious smell of hot oil and diesel fuel wafted up onto the open deck where they stood.

He noticed his grandfather shut his eyes for a few moments, no doubt taken back to the days when he was at sea. He told Jonathan wonderful stories and showed him photos of his voyages to South Africa. It sounded so adventurous!

Later that evening, after David had gone to bed, Jonathan's mother tucked him into bed. She asked him what sort of day they had had together.

"Great! We walked up to the railway bridge that crosses the river and Grandad told me all about the trains that used to run there."

"Did you ask Grandad what he wanted for Christmas?"

"Well he did say that he wanted to sail the seven seas forever. But how can we give him that?"

"I don't know," said Molly, a little sadly.

One day shortly before Christmas. Jonathan returned home from school and found his mother crying in the kitchen. She was very upset and told Jonathan that Grandad was very ill. He was in hospital.

"I'm sure you'd like to see Grandad and he would appreciate a visit from you. Why don't you make a get-well card for him - draw a big ship. He'd like that."

Jonathan rushed upstairs to his bedroom. He wasn't sure what to feel. He decided to be brave and design the best card he had ever made.

He drew a twin funneled steam ship, just like the paddle steamer with lots of billowing white smoke and steam.

The sea was a deep calm blue and he drew little flying fish rising out of the water just in front of the bow of the ship, just how Grandpa David had described sailing in the South Atlantic. He was sure to like it.

At the hospital the nurse on the small ward said a few words to Molly and beckoned them to come into the room. David was lying very still in a deep sleep.

He looked very peaceful. The nurse turned to Jonathan, and whispered, "So this is your grandad, is it? Well he is sleeping now and he's very ill so it's probably best if we don't wake him right now."

"I've made this card for him. Can you make sure he sees it when he wakes up please?"

"Of course I can! We'll put it on the bedside cabinet and give it pride of place. That's a lovely boat. What is it?"

"It's a ship, not a boat! Grandad was an engineer in the Merchant Navy and sailed to South Africa.""I'm sure he will love it," said the nurse. She turned to Molly. "Just a few more minutes. The doctor is about to come and check your father. How about getting a cup of tea and coming back in ten minutes? I'll be able to give you some news then."

Molly and Jonathan went to the caf to get a drink. She didn't say much and Jonathan realized the situation was very serious.

"Will Grandad get better?" Jonathan asked. His mum nodded bravely and gave him a big hug.

David never regained consciousness and died two days later. In his will he asked to be cremated and his ashes scattered from the old railway bridge over the river near Molly's cottage.

On Christmas morning, Molly carried the urn with her father's ashes in it up to the old railway bridge. Jonathan walked quietly beside her. The low winter sun was shining brightly through the bare trees and a few puffy white clouds hung in the sky.

"What a perfect day!" Molly thought. Jonathan thought about all the walks he had been on with his grandfather, especially the last one when they talked about Christmas presents. Molly broke the silence.

"Dear Grandad. May you have your final Christmas wish and sail the seven seas forever!"

She tipped the urn over and the fine grey powder flowed out, falling gently into the river below. David's ashes dropped straight into the crystal clear water that would carry them down to the sea and eventually into the open ocean.