It's Christmas time and gloom's a crime. We should all look on the optimistic side; who knows Helen might get a visit from one or two of Charles Dickens's ghosts on Friday night- spirited away to witness typical past Christmas Yuming experience FT begging at Beijing airport to raise his fare back to Pennsylvania.

On she is taken to FT being frog-marched to check-out where he'll have to pay 5000 RMB fine because Helen reported him to the authorities for quitting thus breaking his contract- Helen hadn't offered him a class for two months, that all, and she was furious when he deserted.

On she is taken to shitty flat where lonely young American swigs back the final dregs of cheap baijiu, spread-eagles himself on lonely hard bed and shakes with delirium tremens - He's been working (on and off) six months for Helen.

Who can say, Christmas morn, Helen wakes up with a start, orders a fleet of taxis, sends hampers and bonuses to all FT's.

We must believe at Christmas that even Helen has goodness deep in her heart, just waiting to explode with happiness and goodwill for all. Happy Christmas, and remember A CROCODILE IS NOT JUST FOR CHRISTMAS