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Mrs Christmas's Magic Christmas Kitchen

Posted by Jacqueline Richards

Language point: comprehension Activity

Almost as if by magic, on Christmas Eve, Mrs Christmas's kitchen came alive. The floor shook and the curtains in the windows quivered. There were some lovely smells wafting through the air and out of the door. Mrs Christmas had been cooking mince pies non - stop since September and most of them had already been eaten. Whilst one of the gnomes chopped some more carrots, Mrs Christmas stirred an enormous pot of stew. Wondering if there was going to be enough potatoes for the hundreds of elves, Mrs Christmas sent Father Christmas to the shops to buy some more. He returned, an hour later, with his Christmas sack full - not of presents - but enough spuds as he could carry on his sleigh - minus a few eaten by the reindeers. The Christmas fairy set the table - with a knife, fork and spoon for everyone. Thinking she would help somewhat - and save some hard work rather a lot, she didn't really to wash the pots and pans, she waved her magic wand ... but she waved the magic wand so frantically that it dropped right of her hand ... straight into the washing up bowl, spilling magic everywhere. Before long, there was chaos ... bubbles spilled over the taps and plates and saucers flew through the air, on a chilly wind blown in from the door, orbiting the light bulb before landing on the table with a carol singing, loud "CRASH !". The mischevious fairy's magic had missed and her mis - trick was a terrible mistake, that had made everything in the kitchen break. The washing machine started to spin twice as fast ... and even the refridgerator got a magic blast. Soon the Christmas pudding was as big as a ball - and the table stretched from the wall to the hall. The magic worked on the pud so much, that very soon, it was too hot to touch. In Mrs Christmas's magic Christmas kitchen, Christmas dinner was a sight to see - with enough Christmas turkey for breakfast, dinner and tea. The cake - which had to be quite enormous - with a slice for every elf - soon was so big, it couldn't fit on the shelf. In Mrs Christmas's magic Christmas kitchen, the broad beans stretched from the window to the floor, some of the runner beans even headed off towards the door. Brussel sprouts sprang out all out of the dish - and everyone made a Christmas wish. What a pantomine ! The gnomes ate so much that soon they got hiccups - which rang out like a carol song and the kitchen exploded with champagne bubbles, gone wrong. Magic floated through the air, with Christmas cheer everywhere. The fairy's magic even worked on the cat - who started to sing carols, though a little bit flat. His purrs rang out the tune "Silent Night" ... his whiskers twitched and his tail stood upright. The Christmas tree in the corner also caught some of the fairy's magic on it's branches - which made the baubles spin and the stars twinkle - underneath the Christmas tree, the presents started to crinkle. One of the gnomes started to rush - to tidy up the kitchen and go, get a brush. Soon the brush was waltzing with the mop - it seemed the fairy's magic didn't want to stop. The fairy's magic had worked here as well - and the brush brushed itself into the garden well ! Mrs Christmas sat on the chair by the fire, sewing the socks of a hundred elves, so magically that the needle and thread soon stitched all by themselves. The scissors trimmed away the loose ends and knots, they too had caught so much magic that it seemed they couldn't stop. Very soon, the tablecloth was in tatters in the stew and the cushions on the chairs were cut into two. Soon Mrs Christmas's head was spinning - underneath her red hat that hid her hair that was thinning. Fairy lights flashed before her eyes, and she still had to cook another hundred mince pies. The fire warmed Santa's slippers by the hearth, so magically that they danced all by themselves to the table when dinner was called - Father Christmas was appaulled. Only Father Christmas stomping is feet could put an end to the chaos ... and make the kitchen neat.

Comprehension Activity - How much did you understand the story ?

Name three things that Mrs Christmas cooked.
When did Mrs Christmas's kitchen come alive ?
What quivered ?
What did the gnones chop ?
Where did Mrs Christmas send Father Christmas to ?
What did Father Christmas have in his sack when he returned ?
What was "as big as a ball" ?
What did Father Christmas and Mrs Christmsa have for breakfast, dinner and tea ?
Where did Mrs Christmas sit whilst she was sewing her socks ?
What did the gnome rush to get and why ?
What was by the hearth ?
Name a drink mentioned in the text.
What finally made the kitchen neat ?

© Jacqueline Richards 2006


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