Liars' League

Christmas Presence by Alan Graham

Christmas Presence MP3

Read by Max Berendt 

“Oh dearie – this is for your birthday and Christmas.”

Lee smiled awkwardly at his nan as she waved a parcel at him. This was just typical of her, the tight old crone. Boxing Day was a completely distinct day to the twenty-fifth – there was no reason at all why she couldn’t fork out for two different presents.

“Thanks Nan,” he replied, as sincere as he could make it. And just when he felt he couldn’t get any more disappointed, he unwrapped his present to reveal a hideous itchy blob of an oversized woollen jumper.

 

 

Maryam's Prayer by Abigail Lee

Maryam's Prayer MP3

Read by Lois Tucker 

The first month, she prays for blood. She knows she ought to pray for God's forgiveness, for her own salvation, for the stain of sin to be wiped from her soul: for all the things that had meant nothing when the angel stood before her. But Maryam tells herself that if her monthly blood comes, it will be a sign that God has forgiven her. And so she prays.

 

A Flawless Campaign by James English

A Flawless Campaign MP3

Read by Silas Hawkins

The Christmas party was next Saturday, and already the caterers had spent two days in consultation, trialling menus and ordering new kitchen equipment. The run-up to the announcement of Mr. Kingsley’s campaign for Town Manager had been flawless, but now their foolish son was threatening to wreck it all.

“He’ll go to jail for this,” Mr. Kingsley said to his wife, who was ashen.

 

Yule Never Walk Alone by Jim Cogan

Yule Never Walk Alone MP3

Read by Carrie Cohen & Louisa Gummer

Most people call me Dum. Even though it’s not my name, and I’m anything but. 

I have my sister to thank for that. I always thought the older one was supposed to torment the younger. But not in our case. My name used to be Dominique, you see. Until one day it wasn’t.

 

The Old Toyshop by Anne Neumann

The Old Toyshop MP3

Read by Clareine Cronin

Every Christmas, Matron took the orphanage children to visit Herr Drosselmayer’s marvellous toyshop. How charming for orphans to admire the toys rich children are given! Herr Drosselmayer hated children, however. Messy, noisy, unmanageable—children upset his displays and left sticky, longing handprints on his glass showcases. So Herr Drosselmayer locked the door and put a "closed" sign in the shop window when Matron first came to plead the orphans' cause.

 

A Time of Gifts by Elizabeth Stott

A Time of Gifts MP3

Read by Clive Greenwood

In the side doorway to Louden’s warehouse, three prostitutes huddled. Two were festive with tinsel on their bleached heads. The third one, with darker hair, wore flashing reindeer horns.

 

KITH & KIN, 7.30pm, Tuesday 8th December at The Albany

PLEASE NOTE OUR CHRISTMAS EVENT WILL BE AT THE ALBANY ON GREAT PORTLAND STREET, NOT THE PHOENIX!

OK, now that's clear, here are our bell-jingling, manslaughtering, carol-singing, child-abducting, Jesus-worshipping, prostitute-consorting, turkey-eating stories for December!

KITH & KIN WINNING STORIES (readers in brackets)
A Flawless Campaign by James English *NEW AUTHOR* (Silas Hawkins)
A Time of Gifts by Elizabeth Stott *NEW AUTHOR* (Clive Greenwood)
Maryam's Prayer by Abigail Lee *NEW AUTHOR* (Lois Tucker)
Christmas Presence by Alan Graham (Max Berendt)
Yule Never Walk Alone by Jim Cogan (Carrie Cohen & Louisa Gummer)
The Old Toyshop by Anne Neumann (Clareine Cronin)