Table Of Content

Contents 1. ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS Written by Jacqueline Rayner Illustrated by Nick Harris 2. A COMEDY OF TERRORS Written by Colin Brake Illustrated by Melissa Castrillón 3. THE CHRISTMAS INVERSION Written by Jacqueline Rayner Illustrated by Sara Gianassi 4. THREE WISE MEN Written by Richard Dungworth Illustrated by Rob Biddulph 5. SONTAR’S LITTLE HELPERS Written by Mike Tucker Illustrated by Staffan Gnosspelius 6. FAIRY TALE OF NEW NEW YORK Written by Gary Russell Illustrated by Stewart Easton 7. THE GROTTO Written by Mike Tucker Illustrated by Charlie Sutcliffe 8. GHOST OF CHRISTMAS PAST Written by Scott Handcock Illustrated by Jennifer Skemp 9. THE RED BICYCLE Written by Gary Russell Illustrated by Rohan Eason 10. LOOSE WIRE Written by Richard Dungworth Illustrated by Captain Kris 11. THE GIFT Written by Scott Handcock Illustrated by Ashling Lindsay 12. THE PERSISTENCE OF MEMORY Written by Colin Brake Illustrated by Tom Duxbury They followed their footsteps back to the TARDIS. Here and there, little paw prints belonging to some unknown animal crossed their path, but otherwise the snow was untouched. No humans, or even near-humans, lived in this land. Their visit had been a short one – a search for the minerals needed to power a machine that the Doctor was working on, that was all. A success, for once, with no danger to complicate matters. ‘Pine needles and crisp, clean air. It smells of Christmas!’ Ian said wistfully. Barbara didn’t look at Ian as he spoke. Her eyes were focused on something that wasn’t there, some sort of distant memory. ‘Do you remember the smell of Stir-up Sunday? Warm spices and brandy.’ ‘Stir up, we beseech thee, O Lord,’ said Ian, and the two schoolteachers smiled, but their smiles had sadness underneath. The young girl walking between them turned from one to the other, frowning. ‘I don’t understand,’ she said. Of course it was Barbara who answered. She could never resist a chance to educate. ‘A custom of our time, Vicki,’ she said. ‘When you heard those words in the prayer for the day at church, you knew it was time to make the Christmas pudding.’ ‘Oh,’ said Vicki. ‘I see.’ Then she paused for a second and added, almost casually, ‘What’s a Christmas pudding?’ ‘Vicki!’ both Barbara and Ian cried out in astonishment. ‘Oh, I’ve heard of Christmas,’ the girl said, oblivious to their horror. ‘But I’m not quite sure what a pudding is.’ So Barbara told her, with Ian joining in. The making of the Christmas pudding: nutmeg and cinnamon and sugar, orange zest and candied peel, almonds and suet and breadcrumbs, all mixed together with a good dollop of brandy. ‘You’d put in a sixpence too,’ said Ian. ‘Then everyone would stir the mixture and make a wish.’