Being SANTA

Steve loved his festive role as Father Christmas, but this year would be extra special

Steve staggered into the community centre carrying two bags, both spilling over with baubles and tinsel. 'More than enough decorations here for the centre's Christmas tree,' he thought gleefully. As he tipped his glittery haul - generously donated by a local builder - out onto a table, Emma shouted over at him.

'There was a call for you, earlier, Steve!'

He glanced across to where Emma sat engulfed in Christmas paper, as she and another guy wrapped presents.  'Her in charge', he always laughingly called his 'boss'.

Right from the start, they had been one big happy family at the community centre. Volunteering whenever he could fitting it around his teaching job - Steve loved it, especially now, coming up to Christmas. And being asked to be Santa again at the annual party for disadvantaged children was a welcome bonus. It really helped to get him into the festive spirit. Divorced, he usually spent Christmas alone, refusing invites from pals. Not that he saw himself as any kind of Ebenezer Scrooge. Heaven forbid! Just that he had a thing about intruding on families at this time of year.

'That was your brother, Adrian, on the phone, Emma added.

Adrian! Steve looked up from the kaleidoscope of colour in front of him and felt his heart lurch.

'How would he know to ring here?' he blurted out. 'We haven't spoken for years!'

'So I gather,' Emma said drily, approaching him. 'Apparently he saw that picture of you with some of the other volunteers in the Echo.

She handed him a scrap of paper. 'His mobile number'

Emma went back to her gift-wrapping, leaving Steve staring at the number. He knew if he didn't ring back immediately, he probably never would. How crazy was that, with Adrian being his brother, his own flesh and blood?