Young Billy Tenpenny stood outside the window of Jeremiah Krinkle, the richest man in town. Billy felt the snow through his thin thin shoes. Across the square, James Thruppence noticed his friend and yelled.

“Hey, Billy! Have you seen this new Fenfa International Express Train Set?”

“Shhh!” Billy yelled back. “This is Krinkle’s house!”

James walked quietly across the snow just as Krinkle threw open the window.

“You there, boy!” Krinkle yelled. “What day is it today!”

“Christmas Day, sir!” Billy Tenpenny yelled back with glee.

“Oh, my boy! It isn’t too late! Here, loving child, take this sack of gold to the toy store and buy a Fenfa International Express Train Set! It takes two batteries, not included, so be sure to buy them as well! We can take the 16 pieces of 9” Circle track and make a festive railroad of the three cars as we eat our plum pudding! Oh joyous morn that has shown me the error of my ways! Praise you, good ghost!” And Krinkle closed his window.

James looked at the sack of gold as Billy counted it. “Billy! Now we can buy our Fenfa International Express Train Set!”

Billy just sighed and opened his jacket. Billy’s pockets were full of bags. They were stuffed in his pants and tied close to his chest. It seemed as though he had been there for hours.

“Old Krinkle’s off his meds, James! He’s seein’ ghosts and doesn’t know the time or date it is! His family won’t be here until dinner time! You can get a Fenfa International Express Train Set if you want, but I’m saving up for a flat in London! Maybe a car!”

James looked at his friend in amazement as Krinkle threw open the window again.

“You there, boy!” Krinkle yelled. “What day is it today!”

“Christmas Day, sir!” Billy Tenpenny yelled back with glee.

“Oh, my boy! It isn’t too late! Here, loving child, take this sack of gold to the toy store and buy a Fenfa International Express Train Set! It takes two batteries, not included, so be sure to buy them as well! We can take the 16 pieces of 9” Circle track and make a festive railroad of the three cars as we eat our plum pudding! Oh joyous morn that has shown me the error of my ways! Praise you, good ghost!” And Krinkle closed his window.

James looked at the smile on his Billy’s face as his friend walked back with another sack of gold.

“Billy… can I go next?”

Billy smiled back. “Naturally, James. After all, it’s Christmas, innit?”

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