Of course he was dreaming and it was one of those dreadful dreams which made him talk to people he didn’t have time for in the daytime, be considerate and kind and even loving towards animals - something he was quite plainly against when awake. Yes just a silly dream, so it didn’t matter what that horse was on about and why he didn’t like him. Let him ramble on about Joe’s Christmas all he liked because he didn’t know anyone called Joe and he didn’t want to. Far too much effort for a busy Administrator.
‘Go Away!’ he shouted at Neddy and Joe. ‘I don’t want you in my dream!’ Nothing happened. A bit nervous now because this usually worked and he would wake up, the Old Man tried again. ‘GO HOME!’
‘I’m not going anywhere,’ said Neddy quietly, ‘and you will kindly keep your voice down as we have a little boy with us, called Joe, who is fast asleep just now and having a safe and happy dream.’
For the first time the Old Administrator looked properly at little Joe, a small boy with golden hair all ruffled up, a crumpled vest and nothing on his bottom half. Eyes closed and head lay against Neddy’s neck, Joe did look happy and safe, and the old man felt a twinge of conscience. This was turning into the sort of confrontation he hoped to avoid and could usually deal with, so why did he feel suddenly very small - nearly as small as that little boy Joe.
‘I hope you’re ashamed of yourself.’ Neddy spoke up again in as loud a whisper as he could manage and staring into the eyes of the old man with a rather fierce look. The Old Administrator couldn’t help but look down at the floor where the wishes were, and he wondered even now, if he could just move them with his foot and hide them under the desk.
But too late, Neddy got there first. And then, horror of horrors, the Manager was there too actually picking up the wishes and carefully unfolding the tightly screwed up papers. What an awful dream this was turning into, and with that thought, the Old Administrator burst into tears, deep tearing sobs forcing their way out of him like a burst dam.
‘Now it’s not that bad, really it isn’t, you just need a nice break, a holiday, getting all worked up and probably worried because I mentioned that new computer - oh and that nice young trainee to help you,’ The Manager carried on placating the crying old man, searching in her pocket for a hankie and finally borrowing the neckerchief round Neddy’s neck.
‘Well really, I don’t know, it’s lucky I happened to pop back in to see you - and Neddy and Joe have arrived specially to collect their ‘wish come true’ which you dropped on the floor by mistake.’
The Manager continued to talk on whilst giving Neddy a happy smile and pausing to stroke Joe’s hair. Naturally, with such kindness and understanding, the Old Administrator simply wept more explaining between sobs that he wasn’t really mean and nasty, it was just that - just that - But more sobs prevented him from telling everyone what it was. Neddy prompted him. ‘Just that what?’
‘Just that I never had a wish come true’ and suddenly the old man stopped crying. It was out. That horrible secret was out. How, when he was very small he had seen a train set in a shop window whilst walking by with his mother. Every day for weeks they passed the shop and he would look in at the train set, an electric one, until he knew it off by heart.
‘Now don’t start crying again,’ said the Manager, not unsympathetically but with a rallying note in her voice which Neddy admired so much, ‘ remember where we are and what we have to do. Do I take it, the train set was never to be yours?’
‘Someone bought it. Just a few days before I went to the shop with my mother to buy it. It was to be my Christmas present that year.’ Calmer now, the Old Administrator blew his nose into the neckerchief and seemed able to carry out his duties. Neddy spoke up. ‘I’m sorry you didn’t get your train set, but perhaps it was somebody else’s wish come true.’ Again, Neddy had hit on the truth as this was indeed the case. Checking the records in her own up-to-date ledger, the Manager was able to prove it. But time was running short and if they didn’t hurry up dawn would break and Neddy’s return would be delayed. ‘After all you will need the night sky to guide you, and the light would wake little Joe.’ So saying the Manager became very business-like and the Old Administrator sat up straight in his chair, with dignity now, found, by simply telling the truth.
End of Part Two
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