Sue Perkins's Blog, page 17

Happy New Year to all across the world

Merry Christmas to Everyone

Christmas Story - Part 14 - Final

Welcome. Each episode of the Christmas Story has been written by a different author adding to what has been written previously. Part Fourteen is the final part and is written by Heather Haven.







Website:  http://www.heatherhavenstories.com




Blog:  http://heatherhavensays.blogspot.co.nz





“We need to turn the sleigh around, son. Heather is dealing with the Dark Lord. We can’t be there. If she wins, she will come to us. Meanwhile, the most important thing is to keep Madison safe. He mustn’t get her.”

Santa signaled the reindeer to return to the North Pole. 

“I don’t understand,” Sean said. “Why can’t we go to Heather?”

“I want to be with mom. We need to help her.” Madison’s voice broke on her final words and she began to sob.

“I know, I know. But we can’t risk it.” Santa landed the sleigh and stepped out. Sean and Madison followed him back into Santa’s Workshop. Santa knelt in front of his granddaughter, his hand resting on her shoulder. 

“You see, my dear, everything depends on you. I’m Christmas past. Your father is Christmas present. But you are the most important. You are Christmas future.”

She stopped sobbing and looked up at Santa. “I am?”

“Yes. Only you have the power to control the future of Christmas. I’ve done my best, but the Dark Lord has cast his shadow over children everywhere. More and more are turning away from me, not believing what their own hearts tell them.”

“What’s that?” she stuttered.

His fingers brushed away a lock of golden hair from her forehead. “That the power of Christmas lies not in me, but in each one of them. I only represent what is good in the world. The spirit of giving, compassion, hope, and love burns within each one of them. Children are Christmas. Sadly, so many have stopped believing in this wondrous day, it’s in jeopardy of going away forever.”

Madison gasped; her eyes wide with fear. “You mean, there might not be any more Christmas?”

Santa didn’t reply, but shook his head slowly. Then he looked up, as if he saw something inside his mind. “Your mother has arrived. She’s won.” Santa turned to mammoth twenty-foot high double doors, decorated with candy canes, lollypops and gingerbread cookies. He took Madison’s hand but before they could take one step, the doors burst open and Heather ran in, followed by Gibb.

“Madison!” 

“Mom!” 

Heather ran forward and knelt down, embracing her daughter tightly.

“I was so worried about you,” Heather said.

“We were worried about you, darling.” Sean took a hesitant step forward. “But you look all right. In fact, you look beautiful.”

“Sean!” Heather stood and rushed into Sean’s arms. Madison followed and wrapped her arms around both parents, hugging them as hard as she could. Heather broke free in a flash of anger and pushed her husband away. 

“Where have you been? It’s been a month.”

“That’s my fault, I fear,” Santa said, coming up to her. “At this time of year, I do tend to lose track of time. Except Christmas Eve. Can’t lose track of that!”

“Heather,” Sean said with a gulp. “Meet my father, Santa Claus.”

“And don’t forget me, son.” A short, rotund woman dressed in red and green came through a small door on the other side of the room. 

“I am Mrs. Claus, but I’m hoping you’ll call me Mom, Heather.” Mrs. Claus bent down to Madison. “And you can call me grandma, my pet. Come and give me a big hug.” 

She opened her arms wide and without hesitation, Madison threw herself into them. After a moment, her grandmother straightened up and looked at Santa.

“And you, Mister Claus,” she said, with her hands on her hips. “You need to take care of this right now. The Dark Lord is gone, but that’s solved only half the problem. Do you have the locket?”

“I’m in big trouble when she calls me ‘Mr. Claus’,” commented Santa to the young couple. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a glittering gold locket dangling from a chain. 

“Here it is, Madison. Only for you, the first granddaughter in each generation of Santa Claus’s.”

As Santa fastened the necklace around the little girl’s neck, her eyes lit up. “Why, granddad, I can see into every single boy and girl’s heart throughout the world.”

“I knew it!” Mrs. Claus nodded. “The power is always in the Claus women. Clasp the locket in your hand, Madison, and whisper to each wee one to hold Christmas forever close to them.”

Eyes shut tight and grasping the locket in small fingers, Madison nodded, silent words forming on her lips.

“I can feel it.” Santa said, a big grin covering his face. “I can feel the power of Christmas becoming stronger and stronger. My goodness!” He studied Madison’s concentrating form. “Why, she’s nearly through all of Sweden! She’ll be done in less than an hour.” Santa walked over to Heather, took her hand in his, and kissed it. 

“Forgive an old man, my dear, for taking your husband away like that. I was desperate. I thought Sean had the power, but try as he would, it wasn’t him. It was Madison. Now that Christmas has been saved, I have lots of presents to deliver. I must fly.” 

He hoisted a large bag of toys on his back and turned back. “When I return in the morning, I hope you’ll still be here. We can have a hot cup of Gibb’s Glůgenćaden cider and get to know one another better over Christmas dinner.”

“We’ll be here,” Everyone shouted in chorus.

“Gibb,” Santa bellowed, “to the sleigh!”

“Granddad!” Madison called out, stopping Santa in his tracks. “There’s another voice I can hear above the rest, strong and clear. He says ‘Remember the true meaning of Christmas; the child.’”

“I will always remember,” Santa murmured, glancing up to the heavens. “For he was and is the greatest gift of all.” 

Santa winked at his granddaughter. “Merry Christmas, Madison.”

“Merry Christmas, Santa.”

Christmas Story - Part 13

Welcome. Each episode of the Christmas Story has been written by a different author adding to what has been written previously. Part Thirteen is brought to us by Jenny Twist







Website:   https://sites.google.com/site/jennytwistauthor/ 




Goodreads Blog: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4848320.Jenny_Twist/blog



Heather emerged from the tunnel, still shaken by the confrontation with her father, but also feeling oddly elated. She had burned her boats now. There was no going back. 


Ever since Sean disappeared she had been oppressed by a dreadful fear that she dare not even allow herself to examine. Now she was liberated. Whatever else had happened to Sean and Maddy, at least they had not been captured, or worse, by her father. They were in the world somewhere and she meant to call them home. 


Her lips set in a tight line, she began her preparations. First she switched on every light in the house. Then she collected every candle, lantern, oil lamp and torch she could find, going through all the rooms, looking on all the shelves and searching through all the drawers. She would light a light that her family could not ignore. The warmth and happiness would shine forth from her house and find them, wherever they were.  


Now she built up the fire to a fierce blaze and began to arrange the candles and lamps all around her on the floor and shelves and tables.






****



Santa Claus looked down at his granddaughter. She seemed very small and frail - far too young to take on such a task.

“Maddy,” he said, squatting down before her, so that his face was level with hers, “this is what you need to know. Your other grandfather is of the dark. He is the Dark Lord, the Spirit of Winter and without us, without Christmas, winter would hold the land in its grip all year round.  The balance between light and dark has been lost and only you can restore it, but it is much easier than you think. Light will always banish darkness. All you have to do is be all light. You have to think of all the wonderful things that have happened to you. All the happy times. All the love in the world. Gather it up and hold it in your heart, then when you meet your other grandfather, he will be dazzled by you. Now, think, child. Tell me of the things that give you joy.”


Maddy looked back at Santa Claus and thought how joyful she would have been to discover he was her grandfather if it hadn’t been for all the dreadful things he had said. She tried to do what he wanted, but she couldn’t think of nice things because she was so afraid for her Mom and so terrified of the Dark Lord that she felt trapped and numb. 


“Look!” Sean was pointing at the map. “Look at the house!”


The house was lit up like a Christmas tree, better than a Christmas tree. Light was shining out from it in a great golden stream.


“It’s Heather,” Santa Claus said. “She is calling us. She has chosen.”


Maddy looked at the house and the tight lump in her chest loosened. Her Mom was there, calling for her, calling her home. And all the happy memories came crowding in, filling her with delight. She turned and smiled at Sean.


“She’s OK, Dad. Mom wants us. She’s calling. Let’s go.”


Santa struggled to his feet. “I’ll take you in the sleigh,” he said.


Maddy looked at him, round-eyed. “I thought the sleigh wasn’t working,”

“Oh, I think it will work now,” he said. “Just look at you, child.”

Maddy looked down at herself. She was surrounded by a golden glow. Light was streaming out of her and lighting the faces of her Dad and Santa. This is what they mean, she thought, when they say your face lights up with joy.


“OK, Granddad,” she said. “Let’s go!”





The sleigh was parked outside and she could see it was different, brighter somehow.  The reindeer tossed their heads and stamped their hooves, eager to go.  Maddy clapped her hands. “Hurrah!” she cried, and both Sean and Santa Claus burst out laughing. The sleigh glowed brighter than before. 


“Here we go!” Santa grabbed the reins and there was a sharp ching! as he gave them a shake. Smoothly and majestically, the sleigh rose into the air and Maddy gasped with delight as she saw the land spread out beneath.  As they passed over the houses, the lights came on, leaving a jewelled wake behind the sleigh. 


“Coming, Mom,” Maddy shouted, her cheeks rosy in the frosty air.






****



Heather lit the last candle and turned around to see the effect of all the lights. Then she closed her eyes and sent an urgent message into the night. Come home!  she called. Come home, Sean. Come home, Maddy!





Suddenly there was a fearsome crack and all the lights went out, leaving only the guttering candles and the glow of the fire. There, in the doorway to the tunnel, stood the dark figure of her father!

Christmas Story - Part 12

Welcome. Each episode of the Christmas Story has been written by a different author adding to what has been written previously. Part Twelve is brought to us by Sue Perkins





Web:  http://www.sueperkinsauthor.com



Blog: http://sueperkinsauthor.blogspot.com









Tears sparkled in Madison's eyes as she looked at her grandfather. "How are Mom and Dad going to be honest with one another if you won't let them be together?"

"Good point Maddy," Sean looked at his father. "Let's get this straight. A darkness is attacking Christmas. From what I saw Heather and I are on opposite sides, both of us keeping secrets from each other. You say only Maddy can save Christmas, presumably by bringing both sides together. Is that right."

"More or less." Santa looked at Madison, sadness in his eyes. "Do you think you can be brave enough to help us, Madison?"

Maddy gulped as she looked up into Santa's eyes. "I'll try. What do I have to do?"

"Dad..."

"Quiet Sean. Madison, you saw your mother bring the darkness back to your house. She's fighting the darkness, but it's hard for her. Your Dad and I come from the light family and your mother's family is the dark. Only one can win. If the darkness wins there will be no more Christmas."

"My mom is not dark. She's nice and kind and loves me and my dad. Mom is not the dark." Maddy stamped her foot, hands on hips as she glared at her grandfather.

"In darkness there is always a spark of light. Your mom is the spark.  As the child of both sides, only you can save Christmas. Without Christmas the world will fall into gloom and despair." Santa looked at her. "You need to fight for what you believe. Will you do this?"

"I don't have to fight my mom?" Maddy's eyes grew big and round. 

"I don't think so, she seems to have chosen the light."

"So what do I have to do?"

Nobody spoke for a few moments. Madison looked from her father to Santa, and when the silence lengthened tears sprang to her eyes.

"I don't like this. I want everything to go back to as it was before my Dad disappeared. Make all the nasty stuff go away, please." She flung herself into her father's arms and sobbed. Sean smoothed her hair, trying to calm her.

"What is the darkness, Dad. Why haven't I heard of it before?" Sean looked at his father over the top of Madison's head.

"As long as there is light, there is also darkness. Until now the dark has kept a distance but the feud has been going since the beginning of time. The closest it came was when you and Heather married. Darkness and light clash every couple of centuries and the fight for dominance begins. I knew this time would come when Madison was born." Santa shook his head. "I did think we'd have a bit more time."

"So what does Maddy have to do?" Sean stood his daughter between his legs and mopped her face dry. 

Santa sat down beside Sean and leaned over to take Madison's hands in his. 

"Madison, do you truly believe in Christmas?"

The girl nodded solemnly.

"I'm your grandfather, but your mother's father is your other grandfather. You have to convince him Christmas must continue or all the joy will leave the world. Everyone will be unhappy, nothing will get done and the world will die. Do you think you can convince him?"

"Will my Mom and Dad be with me?" 

"No, sweetheart. I'm afraid you will have to do this on your own."

"If you think I'm going to let you send Madison into that darkness on her own..."

"Sean, I don't like it any more than you do, but you and Heather have your own job to do. You have to be honest with one another and decide which side you're going to be on."

"It goes without saying. The light of course." Sean looked grim.

"And if your wife decides to stay with the darkness of her family? What will you do then?"

"I'm still not letting my daughter deal with the monster of the dark."

Sean stared stubbornly at Santa. Madison looked up at her father then across to her grandfather.

"Please don't fight." Her voice shook as turned to stand in front of her grandfather. "Tell me what I have to do."

Christmas Story - Part 11

Welcome. Each episode of the Christmas Story has been written by a different author adding to what has been written previously. Part Eleven is brought to us by Chris Weigand




Blog:  http://www.weigandchris.com








Heather felt a tug on her necklace. It pulled her down a dark tunnel. She took a deep breath and tried to quiet her racing heart. Finding Sean and Maddie had to be her only thoughts. She didn’t have the time or energy to be afraid.

She suspected this had something to do with Sean’s secret. Not that he had ever told her there was a secret, but she had secrets of her own that went back to when they first met.

Why she hadn’t told him, she didn’t know, but it made no difference now. The secrets finally caught up to them and dragged Madison down with them. Yes, she knew what she had to do. She needed to find her father, needed to end the blackness. Madison wasn’t prepared to battle the blackness her secret created. How could she convince her father to put an end to this feud and forgive her for running away with Sean?

She stepped out of the tunnel into a darkened room. A large picture window stood across from her, framing a tall, broad-shouldered man, her father.

“I’ve been expecting you.”

“Why now, Father.”

“Because, the time has come for you to take your place in the family.”

“What about Sean and Madison? They’re family too.”

“That man you married in defiance of me can never be one of the family. He isn’t worthy. And your daughter, there may be some hope for her if we get her away from his influence.”

“That will never happen. We are a family.”

“Then you leave me no choice. They must be eliminated, so you can assume your place.”

“How can you be so cold? She’s your granddaughter, your blood.”

Her father stepped toward her. “She also has his blood. If that cannot be overcome then it must be destroyed.”

“That is not something I can accept. I love them.”

“That has always been your weakness. I had hoped by now you would have outgrown that, but I can see you haven’t.”

Heather turned back to the tunnel. “I won’t let you destroy them.” She thought of the photograph laying on the floor and the presents under the tree. “And I won’t do as you say.” Heather stepped into the tunnel.

“Walk through that tunnel and you are no longer welcome in this family.”

“That’s fine with me. If you cannot accept my family, then I want no part of you and your black legacy.”

Heather removed the necklace, dropped it and stomped on it crushing it under the heel of her boot. Her father screamed as if in pain and a flash of light filled the room.

She closed her eyes to block the brightness. When she opened them she was back in her living room, her father’s screams still echoing in her ears.




****




Madison looked up from the map. “Dad, why is it darker over our house? Who was that man Mom was talking too.”

Sean kneeled down and hugged his daughter. “I don’t know baby.” He looked imploringly at his father.

Santa shook his head. “Like you Heather has secrets and until you can be honest with each other, there is no hope you can save Christmas and the world.”

Christmas Story - Part 10

Welcome. Each episode of the Christmas Story has been written by a different author adding to what has been written previously. Part Ten is brought to us by Tasarla Romaney






Blog: www.tasarlaromaney.wordpress.com








Heather stood in Madison’s bedroom. The silence so thick and dense, she would have sworn it was a living creature. In less than two months her entire life had shattered into millions of tiny fragments. She moved closer to Madison’s bed. Her daughter should be snuggled under the fuzzy pink blanket dreaming of what presents would be waiting for her in the morning.



First, Sean had disappeared and now their daughter. The sheriff had hinted that Sean could be responsible. Tears burned her cheeks as she crumbled to the floor. He could never hurt her like this. The silence gave away to her cries of sorrow and despair. A thick cloud of darkness swallowed her, feeding off her.



Opening her eyes, she saw a faint glimmer under Madison’s bed. She crawled across the floor and reached for the object. It was a picture of Madison, Sean and her. The silver frame had the words, love across the top and believe along the bottom.



Fresh tears rolled down her cheeks. The picture had been taken last year. They had just finished building a snow family so their noses and cheeks were red from the cold. They had spent the rest of the afternoon playing Uno. Madison had won the most games.



She ran a finger over the raised letters and a tingling warmth travelled up her arm.  She smiled and stood. There was no doubt she loved, now she needed to believe.  Determination guided her as she walked into her bedroom. Gathering Madison’s presents, she carried them into the living room.  She plugged in the Christmas tree and the dark room was flooded with blue lights.



Carefully, she arranged the packages. Penguins danced across one gift. Snowmen sang on another. And reindeer decorated the last one. Heather sat the picture on the snowman covered present and went over to the couch. Curling up on sofa, she pulled a plush blanket over her.



“Okay, Santa, I love them. Now I’m believing in you to return to them to me.”




*****








“What…” Sean’s voice trailed off as his father and daughter’s eyes glared at him. “Look.” He pointed to the map. The place of the darkest shadow of despair now had a light shining through it.



And it came from his house. Heather. It was Heather. Heather had the magic of true hope.



“I told you she was for me.” He walked over and scooped Madison into his arms. “Let’s go get mommy and save Christmas.”



“Not so fast,” Santa interjected.  “Despair still blankets most of the world.”



Sean nodded. “Once we return home and Heather tells everyone how Santa delivered her husband and daughter to her the belief in miracles will again spread across the world.”



Santa shook his head. Sean had seen that look in his father’s face before. What hadn’t Santa told them? 



“It’s Madison who will defeat the shadows of despair,” Santa stood. “She’s the one with the gift to spark belief.”



“She may.” Sean started to walk away. “But she inherited it from her mother.” Before his father could voice anymore objections, he left the room.



“Is mommy really beating the shadow monsters?” Madison looked up at him. Her eyes conveyed hope, love, and happiness. The same as her mother’s.



“Gibb, ready the sleigh. Tonight’s deliver will be made by me, my daughter and my wife.”



“I refuse to allow you to go,” Santa’s deep voice rumbled from behind him. “It’s too dangerous.”

Christmas Story - Part 9

Welcome. Each episode of the Christmas Story has been written by a different author adding to what has been written previously. Part Eight is brought to us by Tina Pinson.



Website:  http://www.tinapinson.com



Blog:  http://www.tinapinson.blogspot.com








"Grandpa Nick? Santa?" She spun to the white-bearded man peeling off his brown coveralls, uncovering a white shirt with black suspenders and a red pants. She thought he was just a mechanic named Claus. Was he her Grandpa? She watched with such bug-eyed confusion she saw three of him smiling back at her. She blinked. This couldn't be the real Santa? She whipped her gaze back to her father. "Santa is my grandpa?"


Her father nodded.


She tugged the arm of Christmas pajamas. "But my name is Clausinsky?"


Her father reached out and squeezed her shoulder. "Long for Claus."


With a shake of her head, and a quirk of her lips, Madison turned to study the grandpa in question. He pulled on a red coat with a furry, white collar and fastened a black belt around his ample tummy. She lay her finger beside of her nose. Her father's name was Nickolas. Only he didn’t look much like this rosy, cheeked man. But who could really tell behind all them whiskers? There was something in the eyes. And daddy surely wouldn't lie. "Am I a jolly ol' elf too?"


Santa's beard opened with his laugh then settled around his wide grin. His bushy white brows arched above his dancing eyes. "No, sweetheart. There are many elves here at the North Pole, but the Claus's are human."


Human. She held her frown as visions of happy Christmas colored clothes and shoes and hats with bells faded from her mind.


"Madison… Madison Hope Klausinsky? Please, if you can hear me…"


"Mom?" Madison's gaze hit all points of the room expecting to find her mother in the garage. She was still alone with her daddy, her grandpa Santa, and Gibb. Did they go get her and bring her to the North Pole? Maybe she just couldn’t see her.


She looked up at her dad. "I just heard mommy. Is she here too?"


Her father's smile wasn't quite as bright as his hand lowered from her shoulder. "No."


Her shoulders slumped. "Mommy sounded scared. We need to go home." She started for the door. Her father caught her hand in his and pulled her gently to him.


"We can't go home yet."


She laid her head against his soft Christmas sweater. "But mommy is… she--"


"Hush, Madison, it will be okay." Her father caressed her shoulder. "We'll go home soon. But first, we have work to do."


Madison's lips puckered. Gibbs told her she had magic, but she didn't feel the magic inside, she just wanted to go home. 


"Madison… oh, Madison… Oh God, please let her be okay." Her mommy sobbed now.


"Mommy needs me."


Her father let her go. She eyed the door, thought to run, but didn’t know where to go.


"Here, Madison," Santa called her name softly calming her fear. "Come and look."


Madison turned. Grandpa Santa held out his hand, a snow globe appeared in his palm.


She clung to her father, afraid to move.


"It's okay, honey." He patted her back softly. "Take a look."


Slippers sliding on the floor, Madison took hesitant steps toward the snow globe. There she saw her mother sitting on the front step in the snow. A flashlight's beam encased her booted-feet.


"She's been looking for you," her father said coming to stand behind her.


I'm here, mommy. Madison put her fingers to the glass. Tears stung her eyes. "I can't come home though."


"No, darling," her father whispered. "The same thing that's kept me away, now holds you too. We have to stop it so we can go home."


"But…" She blinked her tears. "What is holding us?"


Santa shook the globe slightly. Madison held her tears as the scene changed and her mother disappeared. The earth and the sky above it settled into view when the snow of globe stopped swirling.


"Do you see the darker shadows of the night?" Grandpa Santa asked.


Madison squinted. It all looked like night to her. Then she saw the difference. Saw the black inkiness beyond the silent starry night. The closer she looked the darker it became. She shivered. "What is that?"


"That is the growing despair of Christmas," Santa said.


"Where does it come from?" Madison asked.


"Hmm. That's a good question." Her daddy said and pulled her up into his arms.

Christmas Story - Part 8

Welcome. Each episode of the Christmas Story has been written by a different author adding to what has been written by previously. Part Eight is brought to us by Nancy M. Bell.



Website:  http://www.nancymbell.ca








Madison nodded at Santa and then she noticed the man standing behind him. It couldn’t be…could it? Joy leaped in her heart and brought tears of happiness and relief to her eyes. It really didn’t matter how or why, only that he was here and safe!  

 “Daddy! Daddy!” She raced across the toy strewn floor and threw herself into his outstretched arms. “It’s me, Maddy! Where have you been? Mommy is worried sick over you.” Her words tumbled out in a jumble and she buried her face in his neck, inhaling the familiar scent of his aftershave.

“Hey, sweetheart. What are you doing here? How did you even manage to get here?” Dad unwound her arms from around his neck and sat down at a nearby table with her on his knee, just like when she was little. 

“It’s all kind of weird, Dad. I found Gibb in my closet and then we went spinning like crazy and ended up with a roomful of elves, well I think they were elves, and then he brought me here. Why are you here, Daddy? Mommy misses you so much, and so do I. Am I dreaming you…and all this?” Madison’s eyes started to fill with tears and her lip trembled. What if she wasn’t really here with Daddy, but really sleeping in her own bed trying not to hear Mommy crying in the next room?

“No, princess, I’m real and I’m glad it was Gibb who brought you. I’ve known Gibb for a very long time, he’s one of my oldest friends.” Dad kissed her forehead and wiped away the single tear that hovered on her lash.

“Why haven’t you ever talked about him, Gibb I mean? And why are you here?” Madison persisted. She just couldn’t understand why Daddy was here, wherever here was.

Santa sat down across the table from them and coughed and Madison tore her gaze from her dad to look at him. Merry blue eyes twinkled at her from beneath bushy white eyebrows that sort of lost themselves in the long curling white hair which blended with the thick beard that covered the lower part of the man’s face. A thousand questions skittered around in her brain but she couldn’t find the words to get any of them out of her mouth. Finally, she looked back at her dad who smiled encouragingly at her.

“How do you know Santa?” she managed to squeak out, turning her attention back to the heavy set man across from her.

Santa’s laughter boomed so loud the delicate blown glass ornaments on the tree tinkled and shivered. Madison squealed in delight. No department store Santa ever sounded that happy or welcoming. It really was Santa, sitting right in front of her.

“I’ve known Santa all my life, Madison.” He forestalled her questions with a raised hand and a wink. “Mommy doesn’t know about it, but I suppose we’ll have to explain things when we get home later today. You’re here because it was time you met Santa and discovered your heritage,” Daddy explained.

“What do you mean…my…heritage?” She wrinkled her forehead in thought. It sounded like an important word but she really wasn’t sure what it meant.

“Heritage is…well…your family history, sort of. Like you inherit your hair colour and eye colour from your ancestors, your parents and their parents before them. Do you understand so far?” Daddy paused and waited for her to answer.

Madison nodded and waited for him to continue.

“Sometimes, you also inherit certain duties or jobs that are family obligations, passed down from one generation to the next. You, my darling daughter, have a very special heritage,” he explained. “And you also have a very special ability, a magical ability that only you possess. No one else in all the world can do what we need you to do.

“But what does that have to do with Santa?” Madison leaned close and whispered in his ear.

“It’s not polite to whisper, Madison. You know that,” Dad reminded her.

She bit her lip in embarrassment and nodded.

“To answer your question, Santa is my father…and your grandfather.”   

Christmas Story - Part 7

Welcome. Each episode of the Christmas Story has been written by a different author adding to what has been written by previously. 

Part Seven is brought to us by Delores Goodrick Beggs





Blog: www.goodrickbeggs.wordpress.com





"Mrs. Nielson?"  


Heather tried to rein in her swirling emotions and focus on Detective Carson's rheumy eyes where he stood beside the line of reindeer tracks in the snow.


"Mrs. Nielson, we need some explanations here.  You need to come down to the station


with us." He lifted his sagging belly enough to reach into his pocket and produce a scrap of white fabric, held it to his nose, and honked into it. "It's cold out here."


Heather tried to gather her scattered wits - what did the police expect, with her husband and daughter both disappeared into thin air? - she clenched her fists. Aching numbness in her fingers brought to her attention her hands and feet were cold. Looking down at the ankle-deep snow she stood in, she laughed brokenly, the hiccupping sound turning into a sob.   


It was Christmas Eve, she was cold, miserable, and her husband and daughter had disappeared into thin air, leaving her all alone.


If this was Santa's idea of a gift, she had a thing or two to bend his ear about. 


Gifts.  She reached an unsteady hand up to trace the outline of the blue and purple studded butterfly necklace from Sean she'd found in the attic and clasped about her neck.  Her red, wrinkled fingertips slid over the outline of the butterfly, warming as they went, and a reel of still images flit before her view, blocking out Detective Carson's corpulent bulk. 


"Sean!" Whatever? Wherever...? Her eyes lit, the special smile she always saved for Sean formed on her lips, and her heart leaped with joy.  


"What was that, Ma'am?" Detective Carson leaned closer, one cupped hand behind his ear.


"Uh...nothing...I'm just cold.  I need to go indoors and put warm clothing and shoes on."


She didn't pay any attention to the words she spoke to the officer, concentrating instead on the astounding images of Sean sitting at a table she had streamed through her mind while she clutched the butterfly tight in her fingers, unwilling to lose her grip on the connection with her husband. She'd seen him sitting with Santa Claus, but how could that be? The next image streamed and Sean winked at her. Her lips parted in a warm smile, and he nodded.  Was he speaking to her? Telling her not to worry?


"Ma'am?" Detective Carson intruded. "We need to go down to the station." 


She let go her tight grip on the necklace, smoothed it back against her torso, letting the images of Sean faded into memory. "I'm not going anywhere dressed like this," she announced. She drew herself up tall and stared unblinking at Detective Carson until he dropped his gaze from hers. "I need to change into proper clothing, get my snowboots...I'll be out shortly."


She turned and marched back into her house, letting the front door bang closed behind her. 


She hurried back to her bedroom and changed into the gown she'd set aside to wear Christmas Day, the gold velvet Sean stroked with loving fingers whenever she wore it. All the while her necklace pulsed warm the way her heart often beat when Sean held her close against his strong chest and murmured in her ear she was his jewel before he kissed her. The pulse tempo of the necklace speeded up as she picked up her brush and added a light touch of makeup to her face, fluffed her hair, and then lifted her floor-length skirt in order to step into her warm snowboots. Standing upright again, thought wrinkles creased her forehead. She wasn't looking forward to whiling away the remainder of the night before Christmas sitting in the police station. She wrapped her hand around the pulsating necklace and frowned.


"Ma'am?  Ma'am, are you ready yet? We need to get going." Detective Carson rapped on the front door, then banged hard when no one answered. He opened the door and stepped inside. "You decent?" he called. "Ma'am, it's time we were going." 


The house remained silent.