The Jacqueline Wilson Christmas Cracker Read online

  CONTENTS

  Cover

  About the Book

  Title Page

  Tracy Beaker’s Christmas

  Write your own Christmas poem!

  Dad’s New Job

  Ho Ho Ho!

  Garnet’s Return

  Ruby and Garnet’s Gingerbread Twins!

  Hetty Feather’s Christmas

  A Victorian Christmas

  Starring Tracy Beaker

  Present Wrapping Tips

  Presents and Puzzles!

  Em’s Christmas

  Christmas Around the World

  Charlie’s Christmas

  Charlie’s Christmas Cake!

  Happy New Year

  About the Author

  Also by Jacqueline Wilson

  Copyright

  About the Book

  The Jacqueline Wilson Christmas Cracker is packed with brilliant Christmas stories, including a brand-new tale from Jacqueline, and classic favourite Starring Tracy Beaker, in which Jacqueline’s most famous heroine gets the lead part in her Christmas play! There are festive puzzles, tasty Christmas recipes, perfect present tips and fun facts.

  Merry Christmas from Jacqueline Wilson!

  MY NAME IS Tracy Beaker. I am writing this in my private secret journal. (I snaffled it from the school stationery cupboard – don’t tell!) No one’s allowed to read it on pain of death. This especially means you, Justine-Nosy-Littlewood! If I catch you peeking I’ll bash your big nosey-nose so hard it will pop out the other side of your head.

  I can’t stick Justine. She’s the worst girl ever in the Dumping Ground, and she’s been totally unbearable today, showing off because this teensy little parcel arrived for her in a small jiffy bag. She wanted to open it straight away, but Jenny saw the sticker on the back: Do not open till 25th December!

  ‘Oh wow!’ Justine cried. ‘I bet it’s my Christmas present from my dad! I knew he wouldn’t forget me. See, Tracy Beaker! My dad’s sent me a special present. What about your precious mum? She hasn’t sent you a parcel yet, has she?’

  ‘I’m expecting an extremely large parcel to arrive any day soon,’ I said. ‘My mum always buys me fabulous presents. Not titchy little rubbish presents like that one from your dad. I bet it’s just something boring like a pack of chewing gum, or – or a squashed up pair of socks.’

  ‘I think it’s exactly the size of that fantastic iPod I saw in a magazine. I wrote and told my dad all about it. I bet it’s that iPod!’

  ‘Dream on, you loser,’ I said, but my heart was starting to thump painfully. Maybe Justine’s dad really was giving her an iPod. Some of the other kids in the Dumping Ground had already been sent presents from their families. Mike and Jenny were sorting them all in a special cupboard. It was nearly full now. Well, they’d have to keep all the remaining space for a great big present from my mum. Something even better than an iPod. Maybe my very own drum kit? An enormous flat screen television to put on the wall of my bedroom? A mega-fancy silver twenty-two gear bike? All three???

  I waited so hopefully for the post van to arrive the next day. And the next. And the next. I got soooo excited when the postie staggered up to the door of the Dumping Ground with a great big box on Christmas Eve – but it wasn’t for me, it was for my ex-best friend Louise.

  ‘Oh, fantastic! That’s my auntie’s handwriting!’ she said, shaking the box happily.

  ‘Don’t get too worked up – it’s ever so light. It’s probably one of those trick presents. It’s a great big box but you’ll find there’s just some tiny weeny worthless present inside, like a packet of paperclips, or – or a pack of three knickers,’ I said.

  ‘No, I think it’s light because it’s probably clothes. My auntie’s dead cool. I bet it’s fantastic designer T-shirts or a little sparkly top and leggings,’ said Louise, rushing off to tell Justine.

  They are best friends now. I don’t care in the slightest. They’re welcome to each other.

  ‘I’m your friend now, Tracy,’ said weedy Peter, and he tried to cosy up to me. I pushed him away sharpish.

  ‘I am Tracy Beaker. I don’t need friends,’ I said. ‘Especially silly little squirts like you.’

  I hoped he would stomp off, but he just stayed by my side, patting my shoulders, almost like he was pitying me.

  ‘I understand, Tracy,’ he said. ‘You’re in a mood because you’re sad your mum has forgotten to send you a Christmas present.’

  ‘No, I’m not!’ I said, giving him a push.

  Though actually I was. And I felt mean when weedy Peter toppled over backwards. It was only a little push too. Jenny came running when she saw him sprawling on the floor and asked what had happened.

  ‘Did you push Peter, Tracy?’ she said fiercely.

  ‘Oh no, Tracy didn’t push me,’ Peter insisted. ‘I just tripped.’

  I felt meaner than ever. I followed Jenny back to her office. I eyed up her bulging cupboard full of presents. I felt a little watery eyed, although of course I didn’t cry. I’m tough Tracy, I never ever cry.

  ‘Am I the only kid here who doesn’t have a Christmas present?’ I mumbled.

  ‘Well, Peter hasn’t got any presents either,’ said Jenny.

  ‘Oh,’ I said.

  ‘But maybe Father Christmas will come and give you both presents,’ said Jenny.

  ‘Look, I’m not a little kid. Whoever believes in Father Christmas?’ I said. ‘Jenny – can I give Peter a Christmas present?’

  Jenny smiled at me. ‘I think that’s a lovely idea, Tracy.’

  ‘But I haven’t exactly got any pocket money left. So what shall I do? Shall I try and make him something?’

  Jenny thought. ‘You like writing a lot, Tracy. Why don’t you write him a little poem? I’ll give you a special piece of paper and you can do little pictures all round the margin.’

  So I sat in privacy in Jenny’s office and created a surprise Christmas poem for Peter. It wasn’t very long:

  It was the thought that counted, after all. I gave it a border of holly and crackers and reindeer and Christmas trees and coloured them all in very carefully, and then added Love from Tracy xxx

  ‘I think Peter will love his present,’ said Jenny.

  And he really did! Father Christmas came to him in the middle of the night and left him some truly cool presents – a computer game and a wrist watch and a torch and a giant box of chocolates – but guess which present he said he liked best!

  ‘I love my special Christmas poem, Tracy!’ he said, his eyes shining. ‘It’s my best present ever.’

  I might revise my ideas about Father Christmas, because he left me great presents too. He gave me sparkly Converse boots and a big paintbox and my very own mobile phone – and a new notebook for my secret journal with a lock and key.

  I’m writing in my new journal now, so ya boo, sucks to you, Justine, you can’t read a word of this! I don’t care that you’ve taken Louise away from me now. I’ve got my new best friend Peter instead.

  WRITE YOUR OWN CHRISTMAS POEM!

  A special poem, rhyme or limerick would make a lovely present for a friend or someone in your family. You could tuck it under the wrapping paper of a bigger gift, or sneak it into a stocking on Christmas morning! Here are some handy Christmas words to inspire you. Lots of them rhyme or have very similar sounds, which is a good place to start when writing a poem!

  Snow • Glow • Ho ho ho • Bright • Night • Tonight • Light • Berry • Very • Merry • Present • Gift • Surprise • Robin • Reindeer • Carrot • Cake • Carol • Santa • Sleigh • Snowman • Stocking • Star • Bell • Tinkle • Twinkle • Glitter • Winter

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