Story Five in the Reading Challenge is Christmas Past. This is also available in Long Story Short. Please comment below when you've finished it.
The First Farrell Family Christmas. Max, Leon and Matthew - together at last for Christmas at St Mary's - a time of conspicuous consumption, riotous misbehaviour and the traditional illegal Christmas jump. And this time, it's inter-generational. Donning her unfamiliar mother hat, Max takes Matthew back to 19th century London, where they plan to deliver a parcel of Christmas cheer to his former friends, but find themselves confronting the terrifying Old Ma Scrope in the process. 'Tis the season to be jolly. It's also the season of goodwill towards all mankind. Pity nobody told Max…
The stories in the challenge are:
Wow. From Markham and his reindeer exploits to 19th C. slums and cruelties and filth therein. Really enjoyed this one.
Beautifully written - and so realistic I could smell the alley. Ugh.