[This is the second part of the transcript of the Christmas story podcast. You can download it as a pdf file, if you have Adobe Acrobat Reader on your computer.] In England, as I guess you know, Father Christmas or Santa Claus comes during the night before Christmas Day. He climbs down the chimney, and leaves presents for all the children. And the children are wildly excited. They don’t want to go to sleep. They want to stay awake to see Father Christmas. Ben is 8 years old. He lives with his mother and father. It is Christmas Eve and time to go to bed. Ben’s Mum sends him upstairs to put his pyjamas on. Twenty minutes later – “Ben, have you got your pyjamas on? Are you ready for bed yet?” Twenty minutes later – “Ben, you still haven’t got your pyjamas on. Go and get ready for bed, now!” Twenty minutes later – “Ben, you are not in bed yet. Go to bed, now!” An hour later – “Ben, you are still awake. Why are you not asleep yet?” Ben – “I can’t sleep. I want to see Father Christmas.” Mum – “Father Christmas won’t come for a long time yet. He has lots of presents to take to lots of children. So go to sleep.” Half an hour later, Mum and Dad are enjoying a glass of wine in front of the fire in the sitting room. The door opens. It is Ben. “Is it Christmas Day yet?” “No, Ben, it is not Christmas Day yet. It is still Christmas Eve. Go to bed.” Ben goes back to bed. He lies in bed, in the dark, and wonders, “Has Father Christmas come yet?” He turns on the light. He cannot see any presents. So he goes downstairs to find Mum and Dad, who are tidying up the kitchen. “Yes, Ben, I know that Father Christmas hasn’t come yet. But don’t worry. He has not forgotten you. Now, for the last time, go to bed!” Ben goes to bed, and falls asleep. The door of his bedroom opens. “Is he still awake?” whispers his Dad. “No, it’s OK. He’s gone to sleep at last”, says Mum. She tiptoes in and leaves a bag of presents at the foot of Ben’s bed, and tiptoes out again. Everything is still and quiet. It is six o’clock on Christmas morning. Ben rushes into his parents’ room. “Mum, Dad, Father Christmas has been. Look what he has brought me!” “Ben, it isn’t time to get up yet. It is still only 6 o’clock.” But Ben doesn’t care. He sits happily on his parents’ bed, playing with his new racing car, and reading his new story book. “Read me this story, Dad. Are you still asleep?” Happy Christmas everyone. File Download (0:00 min / 0 MB) Less