hose who were still awake, turned round to stare at him as he picked Martha up and uncovered her eyes by pulling her bonnet up, so she could see. He picked up his scarf, hat, Donkey jacket and Martha's little cape. He left the cushion on the pew. As he and Martha walked up the aisle towards the minister's office, he could feel the hostile stares of the congregation that were still awake. He actually felt as if he had done something wrong, with the reaction he was getting from his fellow parishioners. How could Martha do this to him, he thought as he neared the minister's office, which was situated through the altarpiece which was above the pulpit area. The door to the office was closed. He knocked softly and waited. After what seemed like hours, he heard the minister say, "Come in." Mr Finleyson obliged and entered the office. The minister then said without looking up from his desk where he was seated. "Shut the door and sit down Oliver" He sat down and put Martha on his lap and removed her little bonnet. The minister had conducted services, married the young and buried the old since he had taken up the post as a young man. He was eightysix years old, so it meant he had been the minister at the village church for over sixty years. He had even buried Mr Finleyson's parents. He was a real family man. His wife was still alive and he had five middle aged children, twentyone grandchildren and seven great grandchildren. He lived at the manse in the village. Mr Finleyson had always regarded him as a pompous windbag with a double barreled name! The minister stood up and began pacing the room, as if he was in the pulpit preaching. All of a sudden he felt five years old. The minister stopped pacing and stood there looking directly at him and Martha, and began to speak. "Oliver, I am disappointed in you. We have known each other since we were young men. I have always respected you and I felt that you respected me, but tonight's blasphemous outburst leaves me in no doubt that either you have lost your mind or you have been drinking! You have ruined my Christmas service, aggrieved your fellow parishioners, and brought shame on yourself. Your father was a much respected elder of this church for over fifty years and your mother taught Sunday school for over forty years. It is my understanding that you were baptised in this church, attended Sunday school until you were old enough to attend services every Sunday. You have been an active member of this church for as long as I have known you! Your fellow parishioners have always regarded you highly. You have lent a helping hand when needed, not to mention your involvement with the choir. How could you have behaved so disgracefully tonight? What do you have to say for yourself Oliver? " Mr Finleyson looked at the clock behind the minister and noticed it was now 1:45 a.m. He guessed that there would be no midnight mass this year! He was actually relieved, as the minister's sermons were painfully boring, just as he was. Mr Finleyson was tired and just wanted to go home and get to his bed. He hoped the minister was not going to resort to his filibuster tactics and keep him there all night. He was trying to think of what to say to defend himself. He finally looked at the minister and said, "I cannot lie, it was not me who was hissing and blowing raspberries at you, it was Martha who was sitting on her cushion next to me that you heard but could not see. She learned how to hiss from the geese on my farm and how to blow raspberries from the parrot at the pet shop. I'm very sorry Martha ruined your service, but what she did, she did because she is a hen who does not know any better. She was not being personal and hisses and blows raspberries at everyone she sees " The minister stared at him through narrowed eyes and with a raised voice, he reproached him angrily and said, "What kind of a dunderhead do you take me for? Do you really think I would believe that it was Martha making these noises?"