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 Daily news from the Canaries and the islands' biggest English language newspaper on-line Special Christmas meeting On the roof with Father Christmas How the spirit of Christmas lives on even in these troubled times Ever since Father Christmas caught King Baltazar, one of the three wise kings, on a mission to find out where he got his traditional toys from four or five years ago, the two have become great friends and have a habit of meeting on a rooftop sometime in December.  They like it there because it is a perfect place to pray together for the next year’s miracles, not just because the church is supposed to be blessed with the miracle of unity and solid faith but because of the odd couple just outside the main gate. The sight of a dragon tree growing out of the trunk of a palm tree inspires them to believe even more strongly in the miracle of future good cultural, race and religious relations. “Are you coming to the church’s car boot sale tomorrow?” asked Father Christmas, knowing perfectly well that King Baltazar had a tendency to shy away from crowds and that the Kings preferred to show their presence in January. “Actually we’ve got an extremely busy schedule tomorrow. We’ll be on our way to the United Nations to try to influence a couple of decisions regarding Zimbabwe in order to help all those poor children with cholera. Incidentally, you do realise, don’t you, that had there been oil the Zambezi Valley President Mugabe would have been ousted by the West years ago?” Before Father Christmas could agree, Baltazar leant over and murmured “If you ask me Judge Garzón of Spain should have issued an international arrest warrant on Mugabe instead of digging up memories of Spain’s civil war”. He then continued excusing himself from the car boot sale, which thoroughly amused his old friend, explaining that he would also have to represent the wise kings at a gathering of local nationalist politicians which he was going to find terribly tedious. “As you know”, continued King Baltazar, “the Mayor of La Orotava has gravely insulted the Moroccans and I am to quietly ask him to shut up. You know”, said King Baltazar with a slightly wicked, eastern smile, “just like King Juan Carlos of Spain did with Hugo Chavez, Venezuela’s outspoken leader, early this year!” Father Christmas thought the car boot sale was a great success, incidentally. Masses of people of all nationalities enjoyed a wonderful day and, by all accounts, there were more quality items on sale than usual. The wise kings must have sent a representative after all because there was a table with a lot of oriental items on show. Even the Loro Parque Foundation and Siam Park had a table and everyone hopes they will make it a regular fixture. But Father Christmas, a firm believer that there is a miracle in almost everything which is done for a good cause, thought the car boot sale was helped a great deal by the fact that it was held in fine weather, not on the same day as the annual British Yeoward School sale, and that there was a big religious conference going on at the Taoro. Although that didn’t help parking matters it did mean people of different denominations had to share the same car park and that many of them were drawn to the car boot sale. Talking of possible miracles, Father Christmas remarked, “I knew it wasn’t possible!” “My dear fellow, everything is possible”, replied King Baltazar, with a typically artful eastern grin of the kind Father Christmas understood perfectly but pretended to dislike. “But what wasn’t possible this time?” “That odd political alliance at the council in Puerto de la Cruz between the socialists and the conservatives”, said Father Christmas, who has no political preference so long as those in power would only use a bit of common sense, ignore personal temptations and work for the common good. “But surely you can’t blame the poor, innocent politicians”, teased King Baltazar. “The people get what they deserve, don’t you think?” “Perhaps”, replied Father Christmas, getting rather irritable as he realised he should never have brought the subject up, “but in my humble opinion the alliance was just a clear case of officials seeking a slice of power at all cost. But some politicians these days reflect lowering standards in our societies. The level of some people who are permitted to make decisions and to govern is worrying. Without pointing at any particular people’s representative, for example, the high class, elegant Taoro Casino in Puerto should never have been substituted by what is more like a very ordinary bingo hall. In the same way, certain political parties should maintain standards and select high level, elegant and cultured representatives”. “Ah, my friend, but very few cultured individuals appear either to wish to become politicians these days or to risk being one”, interrupted King Baltazar. Then, realising that his old chum was becoming rather red in the face and remembering that they had more important things to discuss, he suggested they should change the subject and did so. “I received a quaint letter the other day from an old fisherman in Icod. He wondered if we could not give him a second chance and let him live a bit longer so that he could teach his six year old grandson how to fish one day. I feel I must reply but what do you think I should do old chap?” “Tell him he will most certainly live to see his wish come true. After all, hope is one of the finest treasures we can offer, like that star which led you wise kings to Jesus of Nazareth all those years ago. The simple offer of hope to an old man will be much more important than any wrapped up gift under a Christmas tree. But how very strange, Baltazar”, said Father Christmas, digging a letter out of his pocket. “This is also from Icod. It came from a wee boy who wants me to bring him a fishing rod for Christmas!” So, just before they parted company for another year, Father Christmas and King Baltazar added the old man’s wish to their list of prayers for miracles needed all over the world. By John Young
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