Holly and Ivan's Christmas Adventure

Oliver Lansley

• Publisher: Oberon Books
• Year: 2012
• Print ISBN: 9781849431361
• eBook ISBN: 9781849435772
• Edition: 1
• Topic: Literature
• Subtopic: British Drama
• Index: Literature

A brand new Christmas story for children, Holly and Ivan's Christmas Adventure is a magical tale of two brave little toys who fall off the back of Santa's Sleigh on Christmas Eve. Not wanting their new owners to wake up to no presents, they set off on an epic journey to find them. Presented here as both a story book and a play, Holly and Ivan's Christmas Adventure is packed with charming illustrations. Holly and Ivan will be on stage at the Lyric Hammersmith, London throughout December 2011.

THE STORY

Holly and Ivan were two little twins,
They wore the same clothes and they said the same things.
But Holly and Ivan were different from most,
Which probably sounds like a ridiculous boast.
As each boy and girl is unique, in their own special way.

Like Sarah Spondel from Scagglethorpe shall we say…
Whose nose curves up so much at the end
That skiers might wish to jump from the bend.

Or Billy Birthwhistle from Bognor who’s quite a strange sight,
As his left ear is a good deal smaller than his right.
Which makes it look slightly further away,
Making Billy appear to always face the wrong way.

But Holly and Ivan differed from most girls and boys.
Because Holly and Ivan were actually... Toys!
Rag dolls to be precise, with button eyes and woollen hair,
Stitched up and sewn with a great deal of care.

They were born in Santa’s grotto far far far away,
Where it’s so cold, that sometimes even the words that you say
Will freeze the instant they’re spoken aloud,
Meaning sentences as well as snow need to get ploughed.

They were made by elves, a peculiar race,
Who are pointy of ear, and rosy of face!
Now Elves don’t receive money for the toys that they make,
Instead they are given their payment in cake.
Fairy cakes to be precise as they don’t eat much else,
Which to be honest I’m not sure is good for their health.

Bacon fairy cakes for breakfast, or fried egg ones for brunch,
Then cheese and cucumber fairy cakes will follow for lunch.
And some sausage and chips fairy cakes for supper and tea,
With a nice fairy cake for pudding, if they’re still hungry.

Now our story starts on that one special night,
That fills every new toy with a sense of delight.
Monday? I hear one Simple Simon suggest…
No not Monday, you fool, Mondays aren’t the best.
Easter perhaps? Or Bonfire night?
Well they’re both indeed fun but they’re still not right.

It’s Christmas Eve of course! That one day of the year,
That fills every new toy with a sense of good cheer.
Because it’s the day that they meet their new families.
All those little boys and girls who’ve been doing good deeds.
Like helping old ladies to put on their hats,
And knitting woollen jackets for bald dogs and cats.

And so we begin on that bestest of days,
With Santa starting to fill up his sleigh.
The toys jostled for a place at the front of the queue.
‘Don’t worry,’ Said Santa, ‘There’s room for all of you…
Then he pulled open his sack and said, ‘In you go…’
And followed this up with a mighty, ‘Ho Ho Ho…’

Santa had a strange habit of ho ho ho-ing when he spoke,
Even if what he’d said wasn’t really a joke.
Now it was usually fine, him being always amused,
But it became a bit awkward if he was given bad news.
‘I’m sorry to hear your frog died ho ho ho…
What do you mean I sound happy?
I’m sad don’t you know ho ho ho ho ho ho ho ho…’

As the queue of toys started to jump in the sack,
Poor Holly and Ivan were stuck at the back.
And soon the sack was so full, right up to the brim,
That Holly and Ivan almost didn’t fit in.
But before they could speak up Santa shouted,
‘Go! Ho ho…’ And the reindeers reared up
and sped off through the snow.

Holly and Ivan held on as tight as they could,
But as the sleigh’s speed got faster it was simply no good,
Their raggy doll fingers just couldn’t hold on,
And with a big gust of wind, that was it, they were gone.

They tumbled through the air to the earth far below,
And were lucky to land in a big pile of snow.
‘Where are we?’ Moaned Holly, as she rubbed her bruised bum.
‘I must say that falling really isn’t much fun.’

Ivan got to his feet and looked all around,
Suddenly feeling much more lost than found.
‘I think that we’re nowhere, and this is the middle,
But what we do next? Well that’s really a riddle.’

Then suddenly they spotted, a most peculiar thing,
Two tags of brown paper, both tied on with string.
And on each tag were names, of a young girl and boy,
‘They must be our owners!’ Squealed Holly with joy.

‘Archie and Poppy,’ Read Ivan with care,
‘Well I must say they sound like a most pleasant pair’.
‘We must find them!’ Said Holly, ‘Whatever it takes!
They can’t wake up without presents, for Christmas sakes!’

But how will they ...

Table of contents

• Front Cover
• Half Title
• Title Page
• Copyright
• Dedication
• Contents
• Foreword
• Introduction
• Holly and Ivan’s Christmas Adventure