Angela's Christmas Wish

Where are we going?

Come on, Angela.

But who'll mind the sheep?

Dada, do you want to hear my song?

Goodbye, Angela.

Dada.

Say goodbye to your Dada.

- Safe journey! - Goodbye!

Bye, Dada!

Safe journey!

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name…

And... And...

Ugh…

There's something else, Baby Jesus.

Oh, Mr. McGinty is having a baby cow!

Well, Mr. McGinty isn't having a baby cow.

His cow is having a baby cow. Mam says he's a little bit worried,

as he can't be affording to get a cow doctor with Christmas and all.

Maybe you could have a word with Himself upstairs

to make sure everything's okay.

You would?

Thank you, Baby Jesus.

Do you want to hear my big news?

Mam is getting me a big Christmas

surprise!

Angela!

Sorry.

Now, between me and you,

I reckon it could be the doll

from Hartigan's Toy Shop!

Angela!

Oh, she's the most beautiful doll, Baby Jesus.

Golden hair, eyes as green as the Shannon.

And she's as cute as you.

Angela.

Look at your hair.

It's a knot of tangles. You're washing it today.

Mam has been in a woeful odd mood the last few days.

All cleaning and scrubbing and fussing.

Come on, will ye?

- Hush! - See you later, Baby Jesus.

Goodbye, Joseph! Goodbye, Mary!

Goodbye, sheep! Goodbye, donkey!

Washed.

Doll! Doll! Doll! Doll! Doll!

Yeah, very nice.

Maybe Mam will get you some mittens.

Go on in. I just need to have a quick word with Mrs. Blake.

Oh, 'tis yourself!

I heard about the big surprise.

The big Christmas surprise!

I'd be so grateful. She'll be so excited.

She's going to be over the moon!

- -

Quick! Pretend we're playing a game.

- Well, if the princess demands it. -

Don't listen to that fool.

Was that a nosy little pigtail I saw swishing back away inside the house?

No.

No?

Uh, maybe?

- Why am I always the fool? - Who do you want to be, Pat?

- Not the princess. - Little Aggie could be the princess.

"Hello! I am Aggie, the princess!"

- -

- Get away from the princess! - Mother of Mary of Joseph.

I can't hear myself think.

My queen! The princess demands a story!

Go and tidy your room.

Go on.

Come on. The queen's in a bad mood.

- Again. - Pat!

It's Christmas Eve.

You'll all be getting something nice.

Now, go on. Clean your room.

Clean. Clean. Clean.

Wait.

There's always time for a story.

Come on. Sit.

- - Story!

Ready?

Once upon a time,

in a faraway land...

Australia?

Once upon a time, in Australia,

there was a big, fat king and a skinny, little pauper.

One day, the king and the pauper bumped into a magic genie.

Well, the genie was in a fantastic mood, so he offered them both one wish each.

One wish each?

The king loudly shouted,

"I wish, I wish, I wish for all the gold in the world!"

Now it was the pauper's turn to make his wish.

The pauper walked into a corner

and turned away from the king and the genie.

He shut his eyes.

"I wish, I wish.

I wish."

What did the pauper wish for?

Years later, the king and pauper met again.

Well, wasn't the king now driven demented with the gold?

It was in his socks,

his boots,

under his pillow.

But the pauper,

well, the pauper was just the happiest man alive.

The king was desperate to know

what in the name of God did the pauper wish for?

The king pleaded and pleaded,

"Tell me your wish."

Tell me your wish.

"Tell me your wish."

The pauper smiled.

"All right," says he, "Hm. I'll tell you."

"I wished,"

I wished,

"I wished…".

What did he wish for?

Clean your room and I'll tell you.

Mam!

Come on. Go, go, go.

We have to get this house shipshape.

He was the happiest man alive.

Maybe he wished for… Maybe it was...

Tom? Do you think Mam's all right?

She's been acting funny for days,

all rushing and fussing.

It's the same every year.

Mam misses Da.

Christmas, New Year, your birthday.

With Da away working, it's hard on her.

You go first.

I miss singing him my song.

Your turn. What do you miss?

- The way he smelled like horses. -

- - Horses?

No, like the saddles do.

Warm and, uh… and leathery.

What do you miss?

His laugh.

The one he had when he played with us.

And Mam?

What... What do you think Mam misses?

She told me once she missed...

Aggie's eating Da!

Oh, careful, Aggie.

And do you miss Dada?

Man.

Dada.

Man.

- Tom? - Yes, Mam?

Come down and help me with the coal.

Mam misses Da. Pat misses Da.

Tom misses Da.

I miss Da.

I know what we do!

We're digging to Australia to get Da home for Christmas!

Don't tell Mam.

Do you know how long that would take?

You'll be years.

What are you doing to my yard?

Nothing.

Bring your messing somewhere else.

Aw.

What...

Run!

My lovely little ga...

What are you two up to?

Nothing.

Can we go look at the shops?