Something that happened at Christmas (Writing group homework)

When I was a child, one of my favourite parts of Christmas was opening my stocking. My dad wore knee high thin woollen socks and every Christmas Eve my brother and I took a sock each, pinned a paper name tag to it and left it lying on the landing. In the small hours I'd wake up and sneak a look to see if Father Christmas had been, and was thrilled to see the floppy sock now stuffed full, knobbly with gifts. In the morning my brother and I would squish into my parents' bed and unwrap the presents. Santa always brought us small quirky bits and pieces, and in the toe of the sock there was always a bag of chocolate coins.

I left home when I was 18 and I never again received a stocking. That magical part of Christmas was lost to me forever, or so I thought.

My children were both given big padded stockings when they were small and I love finding gifts to fill them with each year, usually a mix of large cheap things and small quirky gifts, and of course chocolate coins in the toe. I love watching them unpack their stockings on Christmas morning - but I still miss having one myself.

So can you imagine my surprise when I opened the bedroom door on Christmas morning to discover a stocking leaning against the doorframe, with my name written across it! Inside the stocking were the small quirky gifts I've always loved - a bendy man, a solar powered snowman, a Christmas tree pen and, of course, a bag of chocolate coins. I think my daughter may have had a word with Santa, but this year it really did feel like the magic was back.