Sue Perkins's Blog, page 18

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.    

Christmas Story - Part 6

Welcome. Each episode of the Christmas Story has been written by a different author adding to what has been written by previously. Part Six is brought to us by Lynette Endicott.



Website:  http://www.lynetteendicott.com



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








That adorable granddaughter was rattling the jar at Gibb.

"Gibb, you owe the jar a dollar. You are not being a very good influence on me." 

The elf's feet, in green curly toed shoes, extended -- although not very far -- from beneath a red contraption. He scooted out from under it and sat up. He dug into a pocket and pulled out some shiny coins, flinging them into the jar as he climbed up into the contraption.

Madison stared at the coins. "These aren't quarters, Gibb. They look like gold or something."

Gibb frowned. "We don't use quarters at the North Pole." 

He was fiddling with what might be controls on what looked suspiciously like a sleigh. Santa's sleigh. The sleigh that had coughed and sputtered as it slid into the garage, in spite of the best efforts of the reindeer to keep it steady. Madison's magical journey, where she could travel without getting cold, had been more than a little shaky. She was getting cold now. She stomped her slipper-clad feet and rubbed her hands together to get warm.

"What's wrong with it, anyway?"

"I wish I knew, kid. Everything has been out of balance, all year long. The big guys says you will fix it but I can't see how. We thought just having you in the sleigh would get it going again."

Madison stared at him. She didn't understand the whole Agent of Christmas thing, but surely it was something more than fixing Santa's sleigh.

Gibb rubbed his own hands together.

"Is it cold in here?" 

Madison nodded and blew on her hands, and her breath puffed out in a little cloud of cold.

"Then the heat's not working either. We'd better tell Santa…"

"Tell me what, Gibb?"

Eyes wide with wonder, Madison spun around to see a bearded man in coveralls -- brown coveralls -- stroking his beard with a gloved hand.

"Are…you really Santa," she asked, her voice squeaky with excitement.

The man didn't answer with words, but as he strode closer she could see the twinkling in his eyes and the sparkle of glitter in his long white beard. He smelled of gingerbread and snickerdoodles.

He dropped down on one knee next to her and put out a hand.

"Nick Clause at your service, Madison. You don't know how glad I am to see you. You are the only one who can help me this Christmas."

Was there a tear in Santa's eye?

Madison threw her arms around his neck and hugged him tight. He felt warm and the warmth spread to her figures and toes. She wasn't cold anymore.

She leaned back and looked at him.

"See," he said, giving a little chuckle. "You are already bringing the magic back."

"Gibb, try the sleigh again. With Madison and me here together it will be flying in no time, and speaking of time, we need to get this show on the road. We don't want any children waking up before we've delivered their gifts, do we Madison?"

Christmas Story - Part 5

Welcome. Each episode of the Christmas Story has been written by a different author adding to what has been written by previously. Part Five is brought to us by Jackie Leigh Allen.



Website: http://jackieleighallen.com






Heather went outside with the crime scene investigator and the sheriff. The sheriff halted on the porch looking first at his polished leather boots and then at the snowy yard where the investigator stood. Darting past him, Heather stepped into the snow in her red knitted slippers and shivered. She looked down where the investigator pointed. Deer tracks. Not unusual in the winter since she lived at the edge of the pine forest.

"Deer tracks. You brought me out in the cold for that?" asked the sheriff and started back inside.

"Not just a single set," the investigator said. "I count eight sets of deer prints."

Eight? Like Santa's reindeer?




*****




Sean leaned back and rubbed his neck. "Do you think we could take a break, Dad? I need to check up on Heather and Madison."

Santa took another sip of spiced cider. "We really need to get some more done, but we can take a moment to look at your house." He hit a switch and a plasma screen on the wall lit up with a picture of Sean's house. Heather stood in the snow in her slippers.

"She'll freeze. What is she doing out in the cold? Where's Madison?"

"Take it easy, boy, everything's under control though I should have sent some wind down to wipe out the reindeer tracks. Too late now." He clicked off the picture.

"Wait. I want to know what's going on."

"The police are investigating your disappearance and they found the reindeer tracks."

"And Madison? Why wasn't she out in the snow with Heather? It isn't like Madison to stay in the house when there's anything going on outside. That child loves the snow as if she'd been born at the North Pole like me."

"Probably inherited it." Santa took another sip and lifted the pitcher. "Would you like a refill?"

"No, I'm fine." Sean took a swallow then frowned. "You've ignored my question. Where's Madison?"

"She's fine, just taking care of a little family business. That's why she wasn't outside with Heather. There are some things your wife doesn't know about Christmas, aren't there?"

"Are you still harping on that old idea I should have married the Snow Fairy? Wouldn't that have been a mixed marriage, too? I'm surprised you don't understand about love."

Santa tipped forward in his chair, outrage reddening his cheeks more than usual. "Don't take that tone with me, young man. Your mother and I have been happy and in love for many, many years."

"Then why don't you understand I had to marry Heather? She was the one for me."

Christmas Story - Part 4

Part Four

Welcome. Each episode of the Christmas Story has been written by a different author adding to what has been written by previously. Part Four is brought to us by Barbara Ehrentreu




 Blog: http://barbaraehrentreu.blogspot.com/








Madison held tight to Gibb’s hand as they whirlpooled through space. They were definitely not outside, because she didn’t need her coat. It was more like an elevator out of control. She still thought she might be dreaming as suddenly the movement stopped and she felt a thud. 

“Open the door, we’re here,” Gibb said.

Madison put out her hand and felt a knob. She twisted it and pushed open the door that  looked just like her closet door. “Where are we? What will I find outside this door?”

Gibb didn’t answer, but he followed behind her as the door opened onto a Christmas wonderland. Every kind of evergreen decorated the walls and colored lights were everywhere. Toys spilled out of big boxes and lined shelves. Every space was filled with toys and Madison heard a faint hum coming from the same direction as the toys.

“They’re here!” The cry rose up in the huge space and suddenly hundreds of tiny people came rushing toward her. 

“Oh my, she is here at last! We are saved!” 

Madison turned to Gibb. “They think I’m here to save them. Help me please. All I want is to go home and go to sleep so Christmas will come. I promise to go to sleep right away.”

“Oh little one. They speak the truth. That is why I was sent to fetch you. You are the only one who can save Christmas this year.” 

“What has happened? Where’s Santa Claus? Nothing has happened to him, I hope!”

“Well not exactly, but it could at any minute.” 

“And why me? I’m only a child and I can’t do anything .”

“No that isn’t true. You have a power you never knew about yourself.”

Madison looked around her. She was in a circle of little people wearing red and green felt and cute floppy hats. The crowd of men and women looked up at her with such love she felt as if she were being hugged by their eyes. “I don’t know what you want me to do for you, but whatever it is I will try to do it.”

“YAY.” they all yelled and rushed toward her. Madison jumped into Gibb’s arms. He ran back to the door from where they came and Madison let out her breath. 

“Oh, my. Does that happen often around here?”

Gibb pushed a button and the crazy room in which they were began to twirl and move upward. “We’re going to see the big guy now. So hold onto your hat.” He looked over at her. “Oh, sorry no hat, but still hold on somewhere. We’re zooming over to see Santa right now.”

She closed her eyes as the contraption took off again and once more they were whirling in space. This time it was faster and she thought she might disappear through the air as it moved farther and farther toward the one person she thought she would never meet. “I wish my Daddy was here so I could tell him how cool this is.” Then she thought about her mother sitting alone waiting for Santa Claus. Would Santa get there tonight? Why was she here? Her brain reeled.

Christmas Story - Part 3

Part Three




Welcome. Each episode of the Christmas Story has been written by a different author adding to what has been written by previously. Part Three is brought to us by Kelly Whitley




 Webpage:  http://www.kellywhitley.com/









Red and white lights lasered through the living room windows and bounced off the glass balls decorating the tree in a parody of Christmas cheer. Shadowy men and women with “Police” on the backs of their jackets tracked in snow and walked through her house, talking in low voices.

“Mrs. Nielsen?”

Heather jerked her attention to the overweight detective on her couch. Detective…Carson, that was it. The man assigned to find Madison. Watery eyes, balding head, broken blood vessels on his cheeks. He had the look of a man who saw too much and drank too much to forget. No wedding ring and no sympathy. 

The scent of coffee and stale cigarette smoke drifted over. “When’s the last time you saw your daughter?”

“I…tucked her in an hour ago. In her room.” Right before I put on this damned necklace. Heather rubbed her temples with her forefingers. She should’ve let Madi stay up, camp out in the living room like she’d wanted to. Kept an eye on her. Christmas Eve, and she’d been so excited.

“Has she run away before?” Carson tapped his notebook with the tip of his pen.

“Before? Before what?” 

“Before tonight.”

“No.” Heather glared. “She’s a little girl, and tonight’s Christmas Eve. She didn’t run away.”

The detective’s eyebrows lifted. 

“She didn’t,” Heather snapped. “I know my daughter.”

“Your husband disappeared a month ago.” He flipped through a couple of pages. “Sean Nielsen, age thirty-four. Left home for work and never arrived. No contact, no trace of his whereabouts.”

Something squeezed inside Heather’s chest, stealing her breath. In the span of a month she’d lost them both. Twisting her hands together in her lap, she forced her gaze to meet the detective’s.

“Have you heard from your husband?”

Heather swallowed hard. “No,” she whispered.

Springs squeaked as the detective rearranged his bulk on the couch. “Two missing persons from the same household within a month is a big coincidence.”

What was she supposed to say? Of course it didn’t make sense. Nothing about this situation did.

“Something happen between you and your daughter tonight?”

“No. We’re very close.”

“Maybe an argument got out of hand, you overreacted, and—”

Heather jumped off the couch. “No. I didn’t hurt my daughter. She’s gone, and you’re wasting time here with these idiotic questions.”

Detective Carson pursed his pudgy lips. “Look. There’s no evidence that the kid ever left the house. The windows in her room are locked. The snow around the outside of the house is undisturbed. None of your neighbors have seen her. You’re telling me she was safe in bed, and then in the space of an hour she was gone.”

“I can’t explain it, and I need you to find her.”

“I think we’d better take this downtown, Mrs. Nielsen.”

The front door opened, bringing with it an icy blast. The tinsel fluttered on the Christmas tree and Heather shivered. They didn’t believe her. Madi was gone, and instead of searching, they’d decided Heather had committed some sort of crime. 

“No. I can’t leave. She might come back, and I need to be here. Or there could be a call if someone took her.” A strangled cry forced its way past the lump in her throat and she slumped into the recliner.

One of the crime scene investigators stepped into the room. “Detective, there’s something you need to see.”