Left right Christmas game

On Christmas Eve, the Pennywhistle family had just one job LEFT: get everything RIGHT before Gran arrived at six.

Dad looked at the list on the fridge and groaned. “Turkey, tree, presents, pudding. There’s a lot LEFT to do.”

Mum said, “RIGHT, everyone. Coats on. We’ll start with the tree.”

They drove to the farm, turned LEFT at the church and RIGHT at the duck pond, and found the last tree LEFT on the lot.

“It leans a little to the LEFT,” said Rosie.

“It’s just RIGHT,” said Dad, and he tied it to the roof before anyone could argue.

Back home, Max held the tree straight while Rosie shouted, “LEFT a bit! No, RIGHT a bit! No, back to the LEFT!”

At last it stood up RIGHT in the corner, only slightly crooked.

Then came the lights. Every single string had a knot in it, and the box of spare bulbs had been LEFT in the attic.

Dad climbed the ladder, reached RIGHT to the back of the attic, and found the bulbs RIGHT next to last year’s wrapping paper.

Meanwhile, Mum put the turkey in the oven and set the timer on the RIGHT-hand side of the cooker.

Biscuit the dog sat RIGHT beside the oven door and did not move all afternoon.

Rosie wrapped the last presents. She had paper, tape and ribbon, but no scissors LEFT.

“Use the ones on the LEFT of the sink,” called Mum.

Max wrapped his present for Gran in a hurry and LEFT it RIGHT under the tree, with the label upside down.

At five o’clock, the doorbell rang. “That can’t be Gran, RIGHT?” said Dad. “She’s never early.”

But it was Gran, with a suitcase in her LEFT hand and a tin of mince pies in her RIGHT.

“I LEFT early to beat the snow,” she said, “and I brought the pies, because I know you never get the pastry RIGHT.”

Everyone laughed, because she was RIGHT.

Then Dad remembered the turkey and ran to the kitchen. Was there any time LEFT?

He opened the oven. The turkey was golden on the LEFT side and pale on the RIGHT side.

“Turn it round and give it twenty minutes,” said Gran. “It’ll come RIGHT.”

While they waited, Gran looked up at the tree. “Where’s the star?” There was nothing on top but one bit of tinsel LEFT from years ago.

Rosie checked the box on the LEFT. Max checked the box on the RIGHT. No star.

Then Biscuit trotted in from the hall with something shiny in his mouth, and dropped it RIGHT at Gran’s feet.

It was the star! He’d found it where Max had LEFT it, under the stairs, last January.

Gran polished it on her sleeve and handed it to Rosie. “Youngest puts it on. That’s the rule.”

Dad lifted Rosie up, and she set the star on top, a little to the LEFT, which everyone agreed was exactly RIGHT.

They ate turkey and Gran’s mince pies until there was not a single crumb LEFT.

And at the end of the night, the Pennywhistles sat by the tree, warm and full and happy.

“Merry Christmas, everyone,” said Gran. “Now pass your present to the LEFT, and open it!”