Mick Clifford: The children with the least deserve the most Christmas magic

The magic these children deserve is to have a place they can call home from which they can develop and grow and be better prepared to tackle the turbulent straits that life will inevitably throw up, writes Mick Clifford

What of the homeless kids for whom Christmas magic is not a bonus of early childhood but a temporary refuge? 

Some moments of the magic remain intact through the straits of life. 

Looking at my mother through the rear window of our parked car as she pops the letters into the green box outside the post office. There is a thrill in knowing that strange hands will eventually open the envelope. There is an anxiety that he may not consider me deserving of what I’ve asked for. He might conclude I acted the maggot during the year and will be dealt with accordingly.