It was the last day of school before the Christmas holidays, in fact it was the last lesson. Flora sat in the front row because they had English. Mark had done a little grammar with the children before he ended the lesson and talked to the children about what plans they had for Christmas. Elton, a little boy with big black glasses, was the one to tell his story:

"I'm going to go to my grandparents' farmhouse with my parents and my brother. We celebrate Christmas there every year. They have a huge farm and there's always an incredibly big Christmas tree." Mark nodded and smiled. He sat on the edge of his desk and talked to his students. Or his children, as he liked to call them.

"That sounds very nice, Elton. Christmas with family is something very special." He nodded. Flora bit her lower lip and raised her hand. "Yes, Flora?" Mark smiled gently at her.

"I'm spending Christmas at home with my dad. We only have a small Christmas tree, but we're going to make pistachio pudding and listen to music and...I hope it's nice." She said. Mark smiled.

"I hope so too, Flo. I bet your Christmas will be as nice as everyone else's." Flora smiled and nodded.

"And what are you doing for Christmas, Mr Knopfler?" Asked a boy named Axel from one of the back rows.

"Yes! You didn't tell us what you were going to do for Christmas!" Mary shouted in agreement. A murmur went through the class and Mark raised his hands, smiling. It immediately became quiet. The little children watched Mark carefully. Mark was the only teacher whose children did what he said. His colleagues often complained about class 2B and that they were all troublemakers. Mark couldn't say the same.

"Well, children. I'm spending Christmas at home." He said.

"With a Christmas tree?" Susan asked excitedly. She was a blonde girl who sat in one of the middle rows.

"No. I don't have a Christmas tree." Mark said.

"But why not!?" Flora cried out in horror. "Christmas trees are so beautiful and exciting and..."

"I haven't celebrated Christmas for many years." Mark explained, trying not to show his sadness, but it came through anyway. The children screamed wildly. "Children, please. Be quiet." The teacher giggled. A boy from the back left row raised his hand. "Yes, Mathew?"

"Why don't you celebrate Christmas, Mr Knopfler?" He asked eagerly. "Are you Muslim or something?" Mark giggled, as did the rest of the children.

"No. I'm a Christian. But you know..." Mark took a deep breath. "Many years ago, at Christmas." He bit his lower lip. "My parents and my two siblings died in a car accident." The children all gasped.

"How old were you, Mr Knopfler?" Josephine asked quietly.

"I was 14 years old at the time." Mark said calmly.

"What happened to you after that?" Axel asked. Mark shrugged.

"I went to the children's home."

"You grew up in the children's home?" Flora asked with wide eyes. "But it's terrible there and..."

"Shh. My dear." Mark smiled. "I grew up, see? I'm 35 now. I grew up anyway."

"Is that why you don't celebrate Christmas, Mr Knopfler?" Mathew asked sadly. Mark bit his lower lip and nodded.

"Yes." He cleared his throat and tried to chase away the sad mood among the children. "But that doesn't mean you shouldn't all have a nice Christmas, my dears." He smiled. "And I have something for you all too." Mark went to his briefcase and undid the clasps before reaching in and pulling out a bag. The children whispered excitedly. Mark smiled as he walked through the rows, handing each child a chocolate bar.

"Thank you."

"Thank you, Mr Knopfler."

"Thank you very much." Mark smiled as he handed everything out and sat back down on the table. Mark looked down at his watch.

"Well, we have about two minutes left. In closing for this year, I wish you all a very Merry Christmas, lots of fun in the snow, hope you stay healthy and a Happy New Year. See you in 1986." The children laughed as they ate their chocolate. It wasn't long before the school bell rang. The children quickly put on their jackets, grabbed their school bags and ran out of the room laughing. Mark sighed quietly and was packing up his things when a voice suddenly made him jump:

"Are you all alone at Christmas, Mr Knopfler?" Mark turned around in shock to see Flora standing next to his desk. Of course it was Flora. Mark smiled gently at her as he wrapped his scarf around his neck.

"I'm afraid so."

"But...but you shouldn't be alone at Christmas!" She exclaimed indignantly. "You can be with your friends, right?" Mark knelt down and smiled gently at her.

"Don't worry about me, Flora, okay? I'll make myself some hot chocolate and listen to music and it will be nice, okay?" She looked at him sadly.

"Are you sure?"

"Of course, darling." Mark smiled. "Now off you go! It's your holidays!" He called out, laughing, and pushed her out of the classroom. Flora smiled at him.

"Goodbye, Mr Knopfler! I'll miss you!"

"I'll miss you too, Flo." Mark smiled and watched the girl run quickly out of the school.

*

When she got home, Flora changed and then came down to the shop to talk to her father.

"So? How was your day at school?" John smiled and took a sip from his teacup.

"Great. Look what Mr Knopfler gave us!" She called excitedly and showed him the small chocolate bar. John stared at her. Chocolate wasn't exactly cheap at the moment.

"Mr Knopfler gave you this?"

"Mhm." Flora nodded. She carefully opened the silver paper and broke the chocolate in half. She gave one of piece to John.

"This is your chocolate, darling." John smiled.

"But I want to share it with you, Dad." She scolded.

"Okay, my love." So they sat quietly next to each other and enjoyed their chocolate.

"Dad? Have you ever been alone at Christmas?" She asked sadly. John thought for a while.

"No, my love. Why do you ask?" He reached out and stroked her head gently.

"Mr. Knopfler is alone at Christmas. He doesn't even celebrate it!" She exclaimed sadly. John looked at her in surprise.

"Did he tell you that?" She nodded quickly. "Oh darling, I'm sure he's not alone. He's probably at home with his parents."

"Mr. Knopfler's parents died, Dad. When he was 14." Flora said quietly. John's eyes widened. "He told us he grew up in a children's home. Dad, I... I like Mr. Knopfler so much. Is it selfish that I want him as my second dad?" She whispered quietly. John stared at her in shock. His mouth was open, like a fish being pulled out of its pond.

"Darling, how...how long have you been thinking like that?" He asked carefully. Flora started to cry. "Oh Baby, don't cry." John said sadly and pulled her onto his lap. He hugged her gently.

"It's not fair, Dad." She sobbed.

"What's not fair, my darling?" He stroked her back gently.

"Mr. Knopfler doesn't deserve this. He's the nicest teacher I've ever had, Dad. He doesn't deserve to be alone." John sighed sadly and kissed his daughter's forehead while he gently rocked her in his arms.

"You know, my darling. Most of the time, misfortune always comes to those who least deserve it." John said quietly. "Don't worry, my love. Mr Knopfler is a grown man. I'm sure he'll be fine and have a lovely Christmas like everyone else."

"Are you sure?" She sniffed and looked at him with watery Hazel eyes. John smiled gently.

"Of course, my love."

*

A few days after Christmas, John met Mark by chance in a shop.

"Hello Mr Knopfler!" He called out, smiling. Mark was standing in front of the meat counter and turned around, startled.

"Oh. Hello John." He smiled gently. "I already told you to call me Mark." He giggled.

"Yes. I'm sorry." John mumbled, scratching his neck uncomfortably.

"How is Flo?" Mark smiled.

"Very well. She's got a bit of a cold, so she stayed at home, but she's doing quite well." Mark nodded, smiling.

"Oh, poor thing. I hope she gets better soon."

"Thank you." John said quietly. There was silence between the two for a while.

"Well, I'll go then, okay? I guess you still have a lot to do preparing for the New Year's Eve party and so on and..."

"No! I didn't at all!" John exclaimed, immediately feeling his cheeks heat up as everyone in the store looked at him. "I eh...Flo told me you spent Christmas alone." He then said, biting his lower lip. Mark looked at him curiously, but nodded.

"Yes. That's right."

"What about New Year's Eve?" John asked, feeling his heart beating 100 kilometres an hour. Damn, maybe it was a bad idea to invite his daughter's English teacher to New Year's Eve just because he thought he was hot, but...

"Well, I'm home on New Year's Eve." Mark said, shrugging. "Maybe I'll go to a bar or something so I'm not alone and..."

"You're more than welcome at our house." John explained, smiling. Mark tensed and stared at John in shock.

"I eh...thanks, I guess." Mark giggled, scratching the back of his head. "But I don't think we should do that, John. I'm Flora's teacher and... well, you know, you were right back then."

"With what?" John asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Well, when I wanted to tutor Flora. We should keep our distance. Teacher-student relationship and all that, you know?" John bit his lower lip. Damn, Mark had just rejected him.

"Well. You're definitely more than welcome and Flora would be delighted to have you over." John handed him a piece of paper on which he had written his phone number. "In case you change your mind." Mark nodded, smiling. "I like you, Mark." John said, feeling his cheeks heat up.

"I... I like you too, John." Mark said carefully.

"I have to go!" John shouted, running away quickly. Shit, his heart was beating so fast he could hardly breathe. Could it be that this hot English teacher liked him too!?