Village Shepherd

Thanks, Mum, chorused Jane and Tina. Their mother had just handed them each a packet of Christmas cards. Both the girls were thrilled, partly because neither of them had remembered to buy any Christmas cards, and also because these were the kind you had to colour in yourself.

Jane tore open her packet of twelve cards and looked at the six different designs. They were all scenes from the Christmas story, with shepherds and angels and wise men and of course, Mary and Joseph and baby Jesus. Jane selected her favourite design, and went to search for her felt tip pens.

Tina collected her pens first. Then she took her time looking through the different cards, and set quietly to work. Jane spent ages searching for her pens, and was then about to start colouring when she suddenly remembered she was due at netball practice. She dropped everything and flew out of the door, gathering up her sports kit from different places on the floor of her bedroom as she went.

She was tired when she came back from netball, and didn't feel much like colouring. She intended to start next day, but her best friend Andy called to see if she could come out to play.

Tina meanwhile, slowly but steadily continued to colour in her cards. When she had finished, she asked her mother for a list of addresses and laboriously began to write the envelopes. It took her three weeks in all before she was finished.

Although Jane intended to colour in her cards, she kept forgetting to do so. Every time she was about to start, something else would crop up and off she went. Her mother reminded her once or twice, but that only made Jane angry and delayed things even more.

Eventually though, she settled down to start her colouring. She had just finished the first five cards, when their mother rushed in. "Come on, come on," she cried. "Today's the last day for posting Christmas cards if you want them to get there in time for Christmas. And we only have half an hour before the last post goes. Come on, we must get cracking!"

Tina gathered up her pile of cards and went to fetch her anorak. But Jane wailed, "I didn't know there was a last date for posting, nobody told me! I haven't finished! Tina, you must help me!"

"I would if I could," Tina replied, "but I have to post my own cards. I'm sorry, I can't help you at the moment. I'll help as soon as I get back."

Tina helped Jane finish her cards immediately she returned, but it was too late. Although she ran all the way there, Jane missed the last post and all her cards arrived after Christmas Day. She wouldn't have minded so much, except that Tina received twice as many Christmas presents as she did. All those people who had received hand coloured Christmas cards from Tina were so touched by her efforts that they gave her a special present to say "thank you".

Tina had a wonderful Christmas that year, but Jane just had to sit there and watch.