Christmas With Elijah

5. Meeting Santa

Today I’ve just been given the news that I have to look after my nephew, Julian all day. I was shaken away at 7am by my Mum saying that I needed to look after him because Lucy has to go to an unplanned meeting all day and Spencer couldn’t take the day off of work, so I am left holding their baby.

So here I am, at 7.30am with a sleepy Julian lying on my chest, still not fully awake. I put on cbeebies as some dim background noise because it is really too early to be up and entertaining Julian, he could just wake up before I have to deal with the day ahead. I have so much to do today too as I have some last minute Christmas shopping which I don’t think will suit a lively two and a half year old, but we have no choice.

Just as I close my eyes, the door opens quietly and Elijah pokes his head to look in. He’s still wearing Spencer’s clothes. That’s another thing I need to do actually is to buy Elijah a suit for his interview. Why are these things always the most stressful before Christmas?

‘What’s the little dude doing here?’ He asks, walking into my room and sitting on the spare chair.

‘Lucy’s got a meeting all day and she hadn’t arranged childcare, so I’ve got the little one.’

‘Do you like being an aunty?’

I nod, stroking Julian’s crazy bed hair. ‘I absolutely love it. I love Julian so much. It must be weird being an only child.’

Elijah shrugs. ‘I guess it didn’t help make me responsible.’

I frown, not satisfied that Elijah is to blame. ‘Your parents should still support you though. You’re their child.’

‘I’m not their problem. I got into debt and lost my job so I just have to deal with it.’

I pout. I don’t think that is fair at all. I rub Julian’s back and know that Spencer and Lucy would never turn away Julian if he ever ended up in the same situation Elijah is currently in. Elijah leaves my room after our brief conversation as Julian takes another ten minutes to fully wake up and when he does, he looks confusedly at me. ‘Dilda, where’s mummy?’

‘Mummy’s working. You’re spending the day with me,’ I smile, hoping he accepts it. Julian’s pretty accepting of this and after giving him breakfast and dressing him, we’re ready to go. The tiny tot looks so adorable in his fairisle colourful jumper, little cute jeans, a thick jacket, grey cap and adorable lace up boots which are also a bugger to do up, but none of that matters when we’re finally ready to hit London. I've decided to go as casual as possible, opting for snuggly light wash jeans and a thick jumper, coat and sturdy flat boots.

 ‘Where are you two heading to?’ Elijah asks, appearing from nowhere as I hand Julian his beaker before we leave.

‘We’re off to London, aren’t we?’ I say, smiling at Julian.  

‘Fancy a helper?’ He asks, pointing to himself with a smile.

‘It’s going to be a long and boring day,’ I caution, not entirely sure Elijah has a clue about what he is putting himself up for. I’m used to looking after Julian now, but to begin with, I really struggled to understand how anyone looked after kids. I mean, Julian needed everything! I remember the first time I was asked to look after Julian by myself he was one year old and oh my, the day did not go easy. Julian was teething, I messed up his nap times, I forgot to give him a bottle at the right time and I just fell to pieces. However, after more time, I’ve now got the knack of looking after him and surviving, which is pretty decent for a twenty year old.

‘Even more reason to bring me along then,’ he grins, and pulls his tatty shoes on and a thick coat of Spencer’s.

‘Dilda, whose dat?’ Julian asks as I strap him into his buggy as he realises the new person standing in the hallway.