The Holly and the Ivy
"Florence!" Sarah jumped up and waved across the train platform with a huge smile. It took the jumping to make herself visible in the crowd, so she decided not to worry about propriety and did it again as she shouted "Over here!"
Douglas laughed as the two women went wiggling through the mass of waiting parents to meet each other. Holiday preparations had gotten so busy that Sarah and Florence had barely gotten to see each other at all for the past two weeks or so. That was unusual for a pair who usually did lunch together and least twice a week since their children had gone off to school.
"Happy Christmas!" Florence chirped, giving Sarah a tight hug.
"Happy Christmas to you too!" Sarah pulled back to beam at her. "So I hear Michael has a girlfriend!"
"So do I!" Florence laughed. "She's supposed to come to visit for lunch on Christmas Eve. I can't believe he's eleven and already acquiring a girlfriend."
"Lizzie's finally bringing Charlie to Christmas dinner this year," Sarah replied with a smile. "So count yourself lucky that he's actually bringing her over."
"And we'll still be doing mulled wine and biscuits Boxing Day evening, right?"
"Always!" Sarah immediately agreed. "It wouldn't be Christmas without it!"