9
Around the Park
With Bonnie and Debbie looking on, the man emerged from the gatehouse tower and walked over towards them, nearly tripping once on a piece of cobblestone that had come loose. He paused a few feet away, composed himself, and then performed an elaborate bow, one arm bent across his stomach, the other flailing out behind him.
‘Welcome, one and all,’ he said, standing up straight again, looking a little flustered as though it wasn’t an action he performed very often these days. ‘Welcome to Christmas Land, where the magic of Christmas is all year round. My name is Archibald Glockenspiel, but you can just call me Mr. Archie. Mr. Archie, always ready with a song when one is absent. Oh, we wish you a merry Christmas—’
Debbie put up a hand. ‘Please stop.’
The man huffed out a
