Original series Suitable for all readers

 

I'll be Home for Christmas 

 

A series of Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons vignettes for Christmas 2003

by Tiger Jackson

 

 

Prologue

 

 

Spectrum Christmas Parang: 1 December

 

Morale on Cloudbase was lower than usual for the holiday season, fueled by disappointment and feelings of being far from home. Sitting on the edge of his bed, Lieutenant Green idly strummed a few chords on his guitar. He’d been looking forward to being with all his brothers and sisters again, home in Trinidad. They’d planned to paint the old family home and redecorate the living room together. And on Christmas morning, everyone would be in the kitchen fixing paime and pastelle and lots of other foods for the evening’s feast while singing along with soca parang music on the radio.

 

        While he thought, Green unconsciously began to pick out a tune, then words quickly flowed into his mind. He had an idea. If he couldn’t go home for Christmas he could still bring a bit of Trinidad to Cloudbase. His idea was enthusiastically received by other musicians and singers. They met and rehearsed in secret until they were ready to spring their surprise.

 

*******************

 

        It was a routine day. People were at their stations or going about their usual off-duty pursuits, when suddenly they would hear music approaching in the corridors or flowing out of a lounge. Lieutenant Green had formed a uniquely Carribean carolling group with steel drums, guitars, and other instruments to serenade Cloudbase with a song:

 

Soon comes Christmas morning

Now we come singing parang

Play guitar and quatro

Put a gift in everyone’s hand

For each woman a kiss

And invite to come along

For each man a merry wave

And for everyone this song

We singing

(Chorus)

Christmastime on Cloudbase

Days of laughter and grace

It’s a time of fun

It’s a time of smiles

It’s a time that everyone loves

Christmastime on Cloudbase

Days of laughter and smiles

It’s a time of song

Come join on in and sing

A Spectrum Christmas parang

 

Five captains hanging holly

Lieutenants trimming a tree

Packages beneath it        

There are lots of presents for we

Excitement is rising

The Colonel is singing a song

Of the season’s cherished joy

Five angels singing along

They singing

(Chorus)

Christmastime on Cloudbase

Days of laughter and grace

It’s a time of fun

It’s a time of smiles

It’s a time that everyone loves

Christmastime on Cloudbase

Days of laughter and smiles

It’s a time of song

Come join on in and sing

A Spectrum Christmas parang!

 

        Lieutenant Green was pleased to see that the group’s singing did make people brighten up. Many joined in on the chorus and a few even danced. And in the days that followed, he often heard smiling people humming the tune or singing softly to themselves.

 

 

Notes:

Lieutenant Green’s song is a filk. You can get the music and tune for Spectrum Christmas Parang by listening to a clip of “Paime and Pastelle” by Soca General

http://socageneral.tripod.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderfiles/paimieandpastelle.mp3. The full song is on the album Holiday Songs Caribbean Style, released in 2000 by Orchard.

 

Back to: Prologue


Next: Remembering the Children

 

 

OTHER STORIES BY TIGER JACKSON

 

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