Chapter 8 The Christmas Concert

In 10, Downing Street, the Prime Minister was alone - very alone. He looked through his Christmas cards.

First, he read a couple of boring ones. He couldn't even read the signature on one of them. The third card gave him a shock. It was from Natalie.

Dear Sir - Dear David,

Happy Christmas and I hope you have a very Happy New Year. I'm very sorry about the thing that happened. It was a very odd moment and I feel like a complete fool. Especially because (f you can't say it at Christmas, when can you?) I'm actually yours, with LOVE,

Your Natalie

The Prime Minister paused for a moment, put the card down, read it again and then made up his mind. He picked up a phone and pushed a button. `Jack,' he said. `I need a car. Now. Thank you.' Then he left the room, ran to his waiting car and told the driver to go to Harris Street, Wandsworth.

When the Prime Minister's car stopped in Harris Street, the police car behind it stopped too.

The Prime Minister's driver turned to him. `Here we are. What number, sir?’

`I have no idea, and it's the longest street in the world.'

The Prime Minister got out of the car and rang the doorbell of number 1. An old lady opened the door.

`Hello,' the Prime Minister said. `Does Natalie live here?' `No,' said the old lady.

`Right,' said the Prime Minister. `Fine. Thank you for your help. Goodbye.!

'Aren't you the Prime Minister?' the old lady asked.

`Yes - in fact I am. Happy Christmas. This is just part of the service. I'm hoping to see everyone by the end of the year.' The Prime Minister rang the next doorbell, as the cars followed slowly. Three small girls answered.

`Hello. Does Natalie live here?' the Prime Minister asked. `No,' said the oldest girl.

`Are you singing Christmas carols?' `Er... No. I'm not.’

`Please, sir, please,' the second child said.

`Please,' said the third.

`Er... All right.’

The Prime Minister waved at his bodyguard, who sang with him as the children danced to the music.

`We wish you a Happy Christmas,' they sang loudly. `We wish you a Happy Christmas, we wish you a Happy Christmas and a Happy New Year!’

The Prime Minister knocked on the next door and Mia opened it, wearing the beautiful necklace with the gold heart that Harry had bought her.

`Hello. Excuse me,' said the Prime Minister. `Does Natalie live here?’

`No,' Mia said. `She's next door. You're not who I think you are, are you?’

`Yes, I'm afraid I am. Sorry about all the mistakes. My ministers are complete fools, but we hope to do better next year. Happy Christmas.’

The Prime Minister combed his hair, walked slowly to the door of Natalie's house and rang the bell. The door opened, and members of the family were crowded in the hall, ready to go out. Natalie wasn't with them.

`Hello,' said the Prime Minister. `Is Natalie there?' Natalie was just coming down the stairs, but she hadn't noticed him.

`Has anyone seen my coat?' she shouted. Then she saw him. `Oh, hello,' she said.

`Hello,' said the Prime Minister.

`This is my mum and my dad,' Natalie introduced them. `And my Uncle Tony and Aunt Glynne...’

`Pleased to meet you,' said the Prime Minister.

`And this is... the Prime Minister,' Natalie told them.

`Yes, we can see that, darling,' said Natalie's mother.

`And unfortunately we're very late, Natalie said.

`It's the schools' Christmas concert, David,' said Natalie's mother. `And it's the first time all the schools have done it together, even St Basil's, which is very...'

`Too much detail, Mum,' Natalie told her.

`So,.... er... how can we help, sir?' Natalie's father asked.

`Well, actually, I need to talk to Natalie... about something of national importance.’

`Right, yes - of course,' said Natalie's father, looking at his watch. `Perhaps you could come along later, Fatty - er, Natalie.'

`No - I don't want you to miss the concert,' the Prime Minister said to Natalie.

`It doesn't matter,' said Natalie.

`Keith will be really upset.’ her mother said.

`No, really - it doesn't matter,' Natalie repeated.

`It hasn't been easy making him look like a really good lobster. Lobsters are such a difficult colour, aren't they?' her mother said to the Prime Minister.

`Why don't I drive you, Natalie? We can talk about.... this business in the car.’

`OK,' Natalie smiled.

`Lovely,' her parents agreed.

`How far is this place?' the Prime Minister asked, when Natalie and her brother Keith were in the car with his driver and the bodyguard. The rest of the family had crowded into the police car.

'Just round the corner,' Natalie said.

`Right,' said the Prime Minister. `Well, I just wanted to say thank you for the Christmas card.’

`You're welcome,' said Natalie. `Listen, I'm so sorry about that day. I came into the room, and he came towards me, and he's the President of the United States and.... nothing happened, I promise. I felt such a fool because I think about you all the time, and I think you're the man I really...’

`We're here,' Keith said.

`Love,' Natalie whispered.

The Prime Minister didn't hear her. `Ah,' he said as the car stopped. `It really was round the corner, wasn't it? Listen, I don't think I'll come in. Everybody should be watching the children, not a hated politician.’

`No, please come. It'll be great.’

`No, I'd better not. But I will be very sorry to drive away from you.

'Just give me one second...' Natalie said.

She opened the car door and ran out into the car park, past Daniel and Sam, who were just arriving. Sam was carrying drumsticks and Daniel was trying to flatten Sam's hair.

Natalie was back quickly. `Come on,' she said. `We can watch from behind the stage.’

'OK,' said the Prime Minister. And then, to his driver, `Terry, I won't be long.’

As they got out of the car with the bodyguard, he paused. `This has to be a very private visit, OK?' he whispered. `Don't worry,' Natalie said. `This was my school. I know the way.' She led him away from the crowd to a side door.

Karen and her family arrived at the school concert soon afterwards. As they hurried towards the big hall, they met the Prime Minister and Natalie, who were going the other way.

`David!' Karen said. She gave her brother a kiss, and he saw immediately that she was upset.

`How are you?' he asked, waving at the children. `Are you all right?’

`What are you doing here?' Karen asked.

`Well...’

`I always tell your secretary's secretary's secretary that these things are happening - but I didn't think you'd actually come.'

`Well, it's a long story and I didn't want everyone to see, so I'm just going to hide myself somewhere and watch. Good luck, Daisy! Good luck, Bernie!’

`I've never been gladder to see my stupid big brother,' Karen said. `Thank you for coming!'

`You're welcome,' said the Prime Minister.

`Aren't you going to introduce me?' Karen asked, nodding at Natalie, who was standing with the bodyguard.

`This is Natalie,' the Prime Minister said. `She's in charge of... the food at 10, Downing Street! 'Well, make sure he keeps his hands off you,' Karen warned Natalie. `Twenty years ago, he really liked girls like you.’

They all laughed.

`I'll be careful,' said Natalie. And then, to the Prime Minister, `Don't try anything, sir, just because it's Christmas.’

Karen gave her brother a final kiss as she and her family went to their seats.

`See you later.!

'Yes, probably.!

'Thank you, Prime Minister,' she said.

The school concert was a big success. Jesus, Mary, Joseph, the cows, sheep, lobsters and other sea animals performed well in the Christmas play. Even Spiderman appeared on stage, although nobody was sure why.

Natalie and the Prime Minister watched together, through a curtain behind the stage.

Near the end of the concert, one of the teachers went up onto the stage. `Hiller School would now like to sing for you,' he said. `Ten-year-old Joanna Anderson will lead the singing.’

A small girl came up onto the stage and started singing, in a beautiful voice. Teachers and other pupils joined in the Mariah Carey song, `All I Want For Christmas Is You'. Behind them, Sam beat his drums enthusiastically.

As, behind the stage, the Prime Minister and Natalie moved closer to each other, the parents in front of the stage stood up.

Joanna sang the title line for the last time. On the word `you', she pointed at Sam. Sam gave a smile of pleasure, which disappeared as Joanna turned again to the front.

At the end of the song, paper snow poured down onto the stage.

Then the back curtain opened to show a painted Christmas scene - and the Prime- Minister and Natalie kissing. Every parent in the school lifted their camera.

`Ah!' the Prime Minister whispered to Natalie. `This is not quite as private as we'd hoped! 'What do we do now?' Natalie whispered.

`Smile.' They smiled at the excited parents. `And wave' They waved. Then they left the stage.