Odd Socks by Ilsa Evans Page B

glass tank on the sideboard, a blue-tongue lizard flicks a moist dark tongue in and out and watches me suspiciously. As I stand there, trying to ignore the tongue and work out where everybody is, I suddenly realise I can hear some muffled noises coming from the other side of the house. At last. I head back over into the passageway and towards Cam’s bedroom where, sure enough, I can hear her murmuring.
    â€˜I’ve been looking everywhere for you!’ I exclaim cheerfully as I push the bedroom door open. And immediately freeze in shock – because I can’t be seeing what I think I’m seeing. I just can’t.
    There, on my best friend’s bed and in full festive regalia, is none other than Santa Claus. And he’s not there stuffing stockings either. As I’ve flung the door open, he has leapt up and, with his bright-red fur-trimmed trousers hanging around his ankles, has executed a perfect tuck and roll and disappearedover the far side of the bed. But before he vanished from sight, I saw enough to be able to vouch personally and definitively for his cheeks being extremely flushed and jolly.
    Left on her lonesome in the middle of the bed is my best friend, Camilla Riley. She is sitting up with both hands holding a sheet to her neck, and is staring at me with a horrified expression. In fact, she’d look exactly like some Victorian virgin protecting her modesty if it weren’t for one little anomaly. Which is the pair of red and green reindeer antlers firmly attached to the top of her head.
    â€˜ Terry! ’
    â€˜I’m sorry! I’m so sorry!’ I try to back out but my feet are frozen in position. After all, it’s not every day you get to see Father Christmas delivering his presents. Even if it is July.
    â€˜I didn’t hear you come in!’ Cam says, appalled, as her antlers wobble with agitation. ‘Where did you come from?’
    â€˜I rang the bell! I called and called!’ I say hysterically as I realise with a surge of relief that my feet have started working again. I immediately back straight into the doorframe, bounce off it, and rebound into the hallway.
    â€˜Terry! Hang on!’ Cam calls and I hear her jump off the bed. Then she appears in the doorway dressed only in a half-buttoned pyjama top and with the antlers still firmly in place. Blushing madly, she looks at me with embarrassment. I look back, with equal embarrassment.
    â€˜I’m so sorry!’
    â€˜Hell’s bells! So am I!’
    â€˜I thought you’d all be at home! I never thought that you’d . . . that is, it never occurred to me that –’
    â€˜No, I never usually have the house to myself at this time! I can’t believe that the one time I have – my god !’
    â€˜But I rang the doorbell! Twice!’
    â€˜It’s not working!’
    â€˜Oh, I’m so, so, so sorry.’
    â€˜Don’t be. You weren’t to know.’ Cam takes a deep breath, glances behind her into the bedroom and then turns back to me with her antlers wobbling. ‘Um, do you want a glass of wine or something?’
    â€˜God forbid!’ I say with feeling because the only thing I want to do is get out of here and rid myself of the visions of Christmas, past, present and future. ‘But, Cam – Santa Claus? It’s July , for heaven’s sake!’
    â€˜I know. Tacky, isn’t it?’
    We both look at each other in silence for a moment, and then suddenly burst out laughing. I hold on to the wall as I laugh so hard my side threatens to split.
    â€˜I can’t believe you saw that!’ Cam puts her hands over her face. ‘God!’
    â€˜I wouldn’t believe it either,’ I say, trying to stop laughing, ‘if you didn’t still have those bloody antlers on your head!’
    â€˜What!’ Cam puts her hand up and, with a shriek, rips the antlers off and flings them back through the bedroom doorway. Then she looks at