Flash Fiction Friday (30)

Dottie over at Tink's Place have come up with the idea for a Monday Morning Flash Fiction challenge. Each Monday a new picture prompt will be posted and if you choose to participate you post your story on Friday - 350 words, give or take.

I have to thank Blodeuedd at Book Girl of Mur-y-Castell for introducing me to this fun meme. I don't know if I'll be able to keep up with every week, but I'll give it a try from time to time.

The Image This Week:

Okay, so I wasn't going to do this, this week as I'm behind with my Elfing duties.  But as I was driving home I got a thought, and couldn't let it go.  It's all in the spirit of Christmas.  Hope you enjoy!

Happy Holidays!

By:  Melissa

*Jing jing jingle, jing jing jingle*

I sit up in my comfortable reading chair, setting my book down, looking around my living room lit by the fire and my reading lamp. I hear it again. *jing jing jingle* I turn, rising from my chair to look out the window by the front door.

My eyes widen as I shake my head. I always believed in the magic of Christmas and that there was a Saint Nick somewhere in the past, but this… To my amazing sight, there is a sled with eight reindeer.

I pull my sweater tight around my shoulders, slip on my galoshes and head out the door to investigate this visitor parking his sled on my country road. I’m greeted by a man with rosy cheeks and a beard as white as the snow on the ground, in a red suit. He’s not quite as plump as left to believe in stories, someone's slacking in the cookie department, but this could be the man. The Big Toy Man of every child’s dreams.

He looks up to me as he walks toward the porch and I ask, “Santa. Claus?”

The jolly, “Ho ho ho” laugh, that makes me want to giggle like a little girl, is his answer as he carries his bag forward.

I step down from the porch, “Would you like some warm milk? And a cookie? I only have Oreos, will that do?”

Again I’m answered with the jolly, “Ho ho ho.” That brings a content smile to my lips and a childish happy feeling to my tummy. This is the dream of all little children tonight, and I’m living it. “No, Melissa. I just wanted to deliver this to you, on this fine night. Do enjoy.” He smiled to me with a wink and twinkle to his eyes.

“Thank you, Santa.” The box reminded me of the gift I desired this year, “Could this be? Could it be my Nook Color I so want?”

“Ho ho ho. You will have to wait and see, when you open it in the morning.”

I take the green wrapped gift with a beautiful red and white candy cane striped bow from his white gloved hands and reached to give him a hug, when my boot slips on the ice under the snow and I slipped falling.

I jump in my comfortable reading chair. The fire had died to glowing coals, the warmth dwindling as well. I pull my sweater tighter around my waist, reaching down to pick up the book I dropped when I dozed off reading. I walk over to the window and look out onto the neatly covered country road with the lit lamp posts lining the way to town. The lamp posts reflected off the perfect, undisturbed snow, creating a beautiful glow. It was a dream. My childhood wishful thinking was getting the best of me on this magical night.

I sit in my reading chair again, looking to the Christmas tree remembering my childhood Christmas mornings of excitement and anticipation. My eye catches a new box under the tree, a box wrapped in green paper with a candy cane striped bow, just like in my dream.