But Once a Year (short story): Difference between revisions
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== Summary == | == Summary == | ||
For the last few years, at [[Christmas]] time, the Merrison family has been visited by something that each year takes away one of their children. Only [[David Merrison|David]], who is [[wheelchair]]-bound, is left, and his parents have become distant. | For the last few years, at [[Christmas]] time, the Merrison family has been visited by something that each year takes away one of their children. Only [[David Merrison|David]], who is [[wheelchair]]-bound, is left, and his parents have become distant. | ||
This year, before the creature arrives, David is visited by the Doctor and Ace. He tells them the story of his brothers and sister. When the creature arrives, it takes Ace instead of David. | This year, before the creature arrives, David is visited by the Doctor and Ace. He tells them the story of his brothers and sister. When the creature arrives, it takes Ace instead of David. | ||
The Doctor deduces that a skull that had been collected by David's [[John Kenneth Merrison|grandfather]] is actually an alien artefact. The creature wants the skull, so when it returns, the Doctor offers the skull in exchange for Ace and the Merrison siblings. They return safely, having spent the intervening time in the alien's spaceship, where they worked as its slaves. With the missing children returned, the Merrisons become a family again. | The Doctor deduces that a skull that had been collected by David's [[John Kenneth Merrison|grandfather]] is actually an alien artefact. The creature wants the skull, so when it returns, the Doctor offers the skull in exchange for Ace and the Merrison siblings. They return safely, having spent the intervening time in the alien's spaceship, where they worked as its slaves. With the missing children returned, the Merrisons become a family again. | ||
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''to be added'' | ''to be added'' | ||
{{TitleSort}} | {{TitleSort}} | ||
[[Category:Seventh Doctor short stories]] | [[Category:Seventh Doctor short stories]] | ||
[[Category:Short Trips: The Ghosts of Christmas short stories]] | [[Category:Short Trips: The Ghosts of Christmas short stories]] | ||
[[Category:Stories set in London]] | [[Category:Stories set in London]] | ||
Revision as of 06:00, 26 February 2019
But Once a Year was the second short story in the Short Trips anthology Short Trips: The Ghosts of Christmas. It was written by Colin Harvey. It featured the Seventh Doctor and Ace.
Summary
For the last few years, at Christmas time, the Merrison family has been visited by something that each year takes away one of their children. Only David, who is wheelchair-bound, is left, and his parents have become distant.
This year, before the creature arrives, David is visited by the Doctor and Ace. He tells them the story of his brothers and sister. When the creature arrives, it takes Ace instead of David.
The Doctor deduces that a skull that had been collected by David's grandfather is actually an alien artefact. The creature wants the skull, so when it returns, the Doctor offers the skull in exchange for Ace and the Merrison siblings. They return safely, having spent the intervening time in the alien's spaceship, where they worked as its slaves. With the missing children returned, the Merrisons become a family again.
Characters
- Seventh Doctor
- Ace
- David Merrison
- Lucy
- David Merrison's father
- David Merrison's mother
- Steven Merrison
- Noel Merrison
- Elizabeth Merrison
- Mr Lobson
References
- David's grandfather adventured with Augustus Glavin on the HMS Rochester. He collected fossils.
- David's father reads The Times.
- The Doctor mentions Good King Wenceslas.
Notes
- This story is narrated by David Merrison.
Continuity
to be added
