Chapter Six #2
‘Oh look, here’s Henry,’ Leticia said and waved.
Henry returned the wave and, as he approached, appeared mellow.
‘I’ve been in the sports bar,’ he began.
‘Several football fans are hoping to watch a game, but there seems to be a problem with the satellite signal,’ he explained.
‘I had a couple of pints and came away before they started a riot.’ He looked at Joy.
‘It was quite lively. A bit like the Women’s Institute meeting. ’
‘Grab a seat, we need another brain to join our team,’ Leticia said and shuffled chairs. ‘I like your sweater; you look very Nordic.’
Henry looked down and smoothed the wool over his chest. ‘It was a gift from my friend Audrey,’ he said, ‘she thought it would be ideal for this cruise.’
‘Clever Audrey, it’s perfect.’
‘Let me get you a drink,’ Henry said to Joy. ‘I owe you for getting me out of a tight spot this morning, and Jim and Leticia, what will you have?’
‘There’s complimentary mulled wine; shall we start with that?’ Leticia asked, and everyone nodded.
As the lounge began to fill, and with drinks on the way, Jim sorted a name for their team, and Santa’s Little Helpers were soon ready for the quiz.
The sound of ‘Jingle Bells’ playing softly in the background and twinkling fairy lights gave a festive feel as guests formed groups and settled around tables.
A member of the Emerald Dream entertainment team appeared. Straightening his Santa hat and flipping open the quiz sheet on his clipboard, he picked up a mic and began speaking. ‘Greetings and welcome!’ he addressed the crowded room. ‘My name is Amit, and I’m your Christmas quiz master.’
Amit paused to look at the faces gazing back. Most guests had entered into the spirit of things and wore festive jumpers while one man modelled a Christmas tree-shaped hat, and another balanced a snowman-shaped beret on his head.
‘On your tables, you will find paper for your answers, so please appoint a leader and a name for your team,’ Amit continued as heads dipped, and discussions began. ‘Remember, no phones.’
‘You’d need a lottery win to buy the ship’s Wi-Fi package for your phone,’ someone piped up.
Outside, the sea had grown choppy, but as the ship rose and fell with the waves, guests sipped their mulled wine and scarcely took notice.
‘Whoops!’ Amit faltered as a swell almost sent him sideways, but regaining his balance, he launched into the first question. ‘An easy one to commence the proceedings. Is everyone ready?’
‘Born ready!’ came a chorus from the corner where Rudolph’s Rowdy Sailors were poised.
‘Question one. What natural phenomenon is commonly known as the Northern Lights?’ Amit asked.
‘Mother Nature is showing off her new LED system,’ a Rowdy Sailor called out.
‘Write your answer down,’ Amit chided.
‘It’s the aurora borealis,’ Henry whispered to his team. ‘Sorry, I shouldn’t jump in,’ he apologised. ‘I’m sure you all know that.’
‘Jump in all you like,’ Leticia said as Jim scribbled the answer.
‘I can’t wait to see the Lights as we get further north,’ Henry said. ‘It will be a highlight of my holiday.’
‘You can’t guarantee a sighting,’ Jim commented, ‘but I agree, the Lights will be a highlight for me too.’
‘Question two,’ Amit continued. ‘What name is given to the indigenous people of Arctic Scandinavia known for herding reindeer?’
‘Sámi,’ Santa’s Little Helpers all mouthed and Jim noted the answer.
‘Now for a popular tradition.’ Amit consulted his clipboard. ‘What beverage is traditionally served warm and spiced in many Nordic Christmas celebrations?’
‘It’s Glogg,’ Joy whispered. Suddenly, she was transported back to her domestic science classroom, where she taught practical cookery and cultural knowledge of traditional European cuisine.
The spiced mulled drink named Glogg perfectly matched Pepparkakor, the Swedish ginger biscuits the class had been making.
‘And for an extra point, can you name three of the ingredients in the beverage?’ Amit asked.
Joy nodded. ‘Apple juice, cardamom, cinnamon, cloves, orange peel, raisins, almonds, and ginger,’ she explained, ticking the list off on her fingers.
‘Well done, Joy.’ Jim grinned as he filled in the answer. ‘Amit might double the points for all those ingredients.’
‘Next, a geography question.’ Amit looked at his notes. ‘Which ocean is Christmas Island located in?’
Sitting towards the front, the Wrinkled Elves began to argue while the Noel-It-Alls looked smug alongside.
‘I think it’s the Indian Ocean.’ Henry cupped a hand over his mouth so the Quizmas Crackers at the next table couldn’t hear.
Amit continued, and Henry answered most of the questions for Santa’s Little Helpers. Amit repeated several questions for those who needed more time, then collected everyone’s answers. ‘Now, please take a break while I work out which team is the winner of today’s champagne prize.’
Servers appeared with more mulled wine, weaving amongst the tables while guests sat back to relax and chat. When Amit returned, conversation halted and a hush rippled across the room as all eyes turned to him.
‘It has been a close-run contest,’ Amit began. He slowly shuffled his papers, adding to the rising tension. ‘But we have an outright winning team.’
‘Get on with it!’ someone called out from the far side of the room.
When Joy looked up, she recognised Kenneth sitting beside Barbara and four guests who had made up a team named the Festive Foreign Office.
‘In third place,’ Amit said, ‘we have … the Wrinkled Elves!’
A cheer went up from the Elves, and there was applause as the eldest elf tottered over to Amit and was presented with a box of chocolates.
‘Our runners up today,’ Amit continued, ‘with only one point nudging them into second place … are Santa’s Little Helpers!’
Henry leaped to his feet and high-fived Jim as Leticia gave Joy a hug. Amit held out a bottle of prosecco and invited Henry to come forward to receive their prize.
‘Did your grandma knit your jumper?’ Kenneth called out as Henry held the prize high, and his sweater rose. ‘It’s so tight that even the reindeer are asking for more space.’
Henry froze. With the bottle in his hand, his smile faltered, and tugging his sweater over his tummy, he returned to his seat.
‘It takes a fine figure of a man to carry off such a magnificent sweater,’ Leticia said to Henry, ‘and without your extensive knowledge, we would never have come second. Clever Henry.’
Amit announced the winner, and to boisterous cheers from the Festive Foreign Office team members, Kenneth accepted the prize on their behalf.
Tapping his forehead, he winked at the audience as he gripped the bottle of champagne. ‘Good job the old brain is still sharp,’ he said, ‘otherwise I might have ended up wearing Henry’s jumper!’
Barbara could be heard laughing and Joy’s eyes narrowed as Kenneth, grinning widely, strode back to his seat. She wondered if he was always so rude and knew that she’d find it difficult to dine with the couple that evening.
Leticia reached out to pat Joy’s hand as though acknowledging her thoughts.
Henry, meanwhile, politely clapped, but his smile was tight, his gaze lingering on Kenneth for a moment too long, and Joy knew that the comment had stung.
She remembered Henry mentioning that the sweater was a present from his friend Audrey, and she hoped that it wouldn’t put him off wearing the gift.
But as her thoughts settled, Joy reflected that Henry had mentioned Audrey more than once. Last night, at dinner, she’d assumed Henry was single, but maybe Audrey wasn’t just a friend with good taste in sweaters, maybe she was a special friend and held a place in Henry’s heart.
The ship rolled as the guests began to disperse. Concerned that Jim was tired, Leticia said their goodbyes and headed to their cabin. Alone with Henry, Joy suddenly felt self-conscious and said she, too, must be on her way.
‘I’ll see you at dinner,’ Henry said as Joy pushed back her chair.
Joy thought of Kenneth and Barbara. It was probably too late to escape from the shared table for the evening meal, and she didn’t want to appear rude to Henry.
‘Wouldn’t miss it,’ Joy said with a smile that she hoped looked more enthusiastic than it felt, and moving swiftly through the room, she began to rehearse small talk.
Anything to stop Kenneth making remarks that might ruin the evening again.