Christmas 2002

Mello paused on the threshold of the refectory, looking around at the transformation of the room. Mrs Carnegie and her staff had draped decorations everywhere that it could conceivably be hung. It wasn\'t just tinsel and glitter either. There was real holly, no doubt cut from the tree in the back garden, with berries attached. Red and green. A rush of memory passed though Mello\'s mind. When he thought of Christmas, as an infant, that\'s what he saw. Red and green and a suggestion of lights. Candles flickering. He stood transfixed, holding the unexpected scene in his head, until someone careered into him from behind. Mello staggered forward, regaining his balance just on the point of falling over.



Pursed lips and a flash of temper, Mello balled his fists and turned. There were a group of four people whom it could have been, but Mello knew from the look on his face that it had been Fenian. Furiously, Mello yelled, "You pushed me!"



The Irish boy took two steps back and seemed on the verge of fleeing back down the corridor. "It was a freaking accident!"



"Mello!" Ann\'s voice sailed into the room from her own office. It was situated just across from the dining room and so she didn\'t even have to leave the room to intervene. "Come in here please."



Mello closed his eyes and exhaled a loud, exasperated breath. He stormed past them and almost collided himself with Near. The white-haired boy stepped back, his gaze turning firmly to the floor. Mello ignored him and marched into Ann\'s office. "I didn\'t do anything! Fenian hit me! I was just standing there!"



Ann pointed to one of the mismatched padded chairs which practically filled the space in her small room. "Sit down there and count to ten."



Mello\'s jaw dropped. His eyes blazed as he stepped right up to her desk and leaned over it. "Why haven\'t you called Fenian in here? He was at fault!"



"Because some boys need to calm down before they do something to jeopardise going to the Midnight Mass that Roger has just approved."



"Fenian..." Mello began, then stopped, his eyes wide. A smile waivered at the tip of his lips. "Really? We can go?"



"It depends whether we\'ve calmed down or not." Ann surveyed him sternly.



"Un, deux, trois, quatre, cinq..."



Ann rose from her chair and bustled past him out of her door. She was back a moment later with Fenian. The auburn-haired twelve-year-old did not look at Mello as he was deposited alongside him on the rug. Ann sat back down watching them. "Roger has agreed to let me take some of the children to Midnight Mass at a Catholic church tonight. I will be going into that dining room in a moment and asking who would like to go."



Mello raised a finger. "I want to go."



"That\'s taken as read, Mello." Ann suppressed a small smile. "I see a crucifix around your neck too, Fenian."



Fenian nodded, replying tersely, "I would also like to go."



"Matt wants to come too." Mello added.



Ann shook her head. "Does Matt get a choice in the matter?" She gestured for Mello to stop before he could adequately gush out his words. "I am doing this out of the goodness of my own heart. I will not be taking boys who are fighting. I want to see you hugging and making up before I even consider agreeing to take you."



"Hugging?" Fenian stared at her. "Are you mad, woman?"



Ann fixed him with a look and opened her mouth, but Mello was quicker. He turned and grabbed the Irish boy. It was the stiffest, most ill-graced embrace possible, but it was a hug. "Sorry that I shouted at you."



Fenian twitched. "Sorry that I bumped into you. It was an accident."



Ann rose again. "Isn\'t this lovely? A friendship blossoming." Neither boy looked convinced, as they parted and stood a couple of feet apart. "Go and get something to eat. I believe that there is fish and salad on the menu."



Mello looked up sharply. "There is?"



"I guess that Mrs Carnegie occasionally has divine intervention of her own in choosing what to feed you all." Ann winked. "She is, after all, Catholic herself." She chuckled. "You pair have more in common than either of you would ever admit. Look at you, both grinning at me. Go! Scoot! Out of my office and I want you to be friends by the time you\'re going to church with me."



Fenian patted Mello\'s back, as they filed out of the room, and the blond managed not to flinch. As soon as they were clear, they shot several feet apart and entered the dining room separately. A stereo was playing carols now and it did feel very festive. Mello grinned and dashed to the counter so to beat Fenian to being served. "Two plates of fish and salad please."



The dinnerlady peered over him to survey the room, then noted Fenian hanging back. "For you and him?"



"No." Mello sneered. "One is for Matt."



"But Matt isn\'t here and Mrs Carnegie is not going to allow children to take fish back to their rooms."



"Awww, Rita!" Mello pleaded. "Please? He can\'t leave our room."



Mrs Carnegie appeared at her employee\'s side and looked curiously at him. "I\'ve received no word of detentions. That\'s unlike Roger."



"No, it wasn\'t Roger who gave him detention. It was me. He\'s got to be good until we go to church. I thought it was best if he just stayed low."



The large lady pointed to the door. "Go and get him, Mello." She took the plates from Rita. "I\'ll keep these warm for you." She rolled her eyes. "Kids!"