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Special thanks to @mctiller
For more information about this contest visit:
@mctiller/writers-win-5-steem-august-28-twenty-four-hour-short-story-contest-a-little-boy-or-girl-time-travels-to-when-their-grandparents
My entry:
Snow drifted down outside adding layers of depth to an already white Christmas Eve. The happy family sat back in the living room after their meal to share stories about this and that, a classic family holiday get together.
“Now, now, I might be old now, only in my early twenties people knew I’d be a force to reckon with one day. And I proved them right. Ain’t that so Mary?”
“Well Paul, when we first met I sure did think the most of you that’s for sure. So yeah, I guess you’re right.”
“50th Wedding Anniversary next year right Dad?”
“Love how you say next year like its next year. Yes, we have our anniversary in May. We’ll be inviting you all to join us at the lake cabin. It’s going to be a lot of fun.” Said Paul.
“Do you have any pictures of when you met Grandma?” Asked Cindy-Sue.
“Why no my dear, that would really be an amazing gift from Santa Claus. However, I’m afraid it would be too much to ask.” Mary said with a wink to her son.
“That’s right Mom. Think the big fellow already has a mountain of gifts for little Cindy-Sue, and her brother.” Said Tom.
And the entire family laughed, as they continued their cheerful conversation for a while before putting the children to sleep.
333
Cindy-Sue pulled the covers over her face. Hidden in the darkness of her room she began to pray to herself.
“O please Santa Claus, let me make Grandma’s dream come true. I know it’s a lot to ask. I promise to be a really good person my entire life. I’ll never do anything to get on the naughty list. I’ll always be good until the day I die. Just please let me make Grandma happy.”
And as she thought of how this might happen she fell asleep.
333
The covers slipped from her face, and the sensation of it made Cindy-Sue turn in her bed. She opened her eyes a crack and could see a red Santa suit. She closed her eyes again. Then sprang up like a jumping jack at the unbelievable sight of Santa. Only before she could scream out in joy she got the cue from Santa to remain silent.
She maintained her manic grin as she sat up in bed.
“Cindy-Sue, I heard you praying,” Santa said in a whisper. “I’ve been in retirement for a long time. Only your wish to please your Grandmother touched me and Mrs. Claus. So, I’m going to give you the opportunity to take a picture. Just bring your cell phone and follow me.”
And she did feeling giddy.
333
Cindy-Sue could feel the cold air pressing against her face as the sleigh moved through the clouds. Leading the way for the reindeer Rudolf’s red nose a lighthouse in the night sky. They kept gaining speed as Santa Claus gave out a hearty, “Ho! Ho! Ho! And away we go . . .”
A blue light encircled them that flowed like water all around them. Then at a distance, a white dot of light began to grow in size until it found its way directly in front of the flying reindeer. They went through it, and beyond the threshold of this amazing doorway, a blue sky and the Santa Monica pier.
“Wow Santa! How’d you do that?”
“Now, now, Cindy-Sue, just believe in me. Do you have your phone camera ready?”
“Yes Santa.”
“OK. Well we’re invisible. No one will stumble into us parked here under the pier. We just got to walk around to the entrance. Your Grandma and Grandpa will meet there for the first time very soon.”
333
Santa and Cindy-Sue sat on a cement wall near the pier entrance. Santa’s heavy red suit and Cindy-Sue’s pajamas would have caught attention for sure if they were not invisible. The year: 1964.
“Look there, you see your Grandpa?” Santa said pointing.
“No. Where?”
“There, the one in the blue shorts.”
“That’s Grandpa! He’s really strong looking.”
“And there, do you see your Grandma?” Santa said now pointing in the other direction.
“Grandma looks like a bikini model!” Cindy-Sue said detecting something familiar in the fine young lady walking down the boardwalk to the pier entrance.
“Get your camera ready. Here we go!”
Cindy-Sue jumped off the cement wall making sure to avoid contact with any passing people. She found a place a little ways away where she would be safe to take a picture. And she watched as her Grandpa and Grandma got near each other for the first time. Only nothing happened. Each stood, holding onto the railing looking down at the ocean water splashing on the beach.
Cindy-Sue couldn’t take it much more, so she walked over to them and tapped her Grandma on the knee who threw a quick dagger stare at her Grandpa.
“Did you just touch me?” Mary asked a little upset. Only Paul didn’t notice. So Cindy-Sue touched her Grandpa’s knee.
He turned to look at Mary, “did you just touch my knee?”
“Your knee? It’s my knee that’s been touched, only how can that be as we’re standing further than an arm length apart?” Mary asked admitting to herself that such contact would be impossible, while at the same time she found this man attractive.
“You want me to touch your knee?” Paul asked, thinking he’d already fallen in love.
Cindy-Sue took a couple of steps back and snapped some pictures. Then she ran back to Santa Claus.
“All done?” Santa asked.
Cindy-Sue gave a joyful head shake to the affirmative.
333
As dawn broke on Christmas morning, Cindy-Sue ran through the house yelling for her Grandma.
The family woke up a little surprised that she didn’t go to the presents in the living room at the foot of the Christmas tree. They’d hoped for a little more time to sleep.
“What is it dear?” Her Grandma asked trying to calm the child.
“I did it! I did it! I got a picture of you and Grandpa when you first met.”
“O really, that’s amazing Cindy-Sue,” Mary said to humor the little girl.
“It’s right here on my phone.” And she showed the picture to her Grandma.
“Well, I must say, I look pretty good!” Her Grandma said in disbelief of what she saw and yet could not dispute the proof of Santa Claus.
Thank you,
Cyrus Emerson
Red Roses the audiobook for your consideration at the Voice Arts Awards (NYC), and the Grammys (LA). https://www.audible.com/pd/Fiction/Red-Roses-Audiobook/B07F2LWHPN
Red Roses narrated by Kira Omans
www.kiraomans.com
Red Roses music by Rike Luxx
www.rikeluxxbeats.com
Red Roses sound by Pond5
www.pond5.com
Also, available from The Author:
Fear and Loathing in the State of Jefferson - ebook
https://read.amazon.com/kp/embed?asin=B079R5KLPN&preview=newtab&linkCode=kpe&ref_=cm_sw_r_kb_dp_GsURAbAVDYNEM
Lost Angel – Introduction with Ray Manzarek of The Doors
https://www.downpour.com/lost-angel?sp=249812