 Rhibear ~ Madam Solo ~ Dark Brooding Girl ~ Accio Jedi ~ Gryffinclaw ~ Just a doll
23. Decorate
Setting: the home of Norman Carton; Edinburgh, Scotland; Christmas 2106
(199 words)
Norman was looking forward to a quiet holiday! He turned his key; the door wouldn’t budge. He jostled the door open wide enough to see inside. Normandie stood in front of a Christmas tree, wearing a Santa hat, and - Why were there boxes everywhere?
Aiming his wand through the door, Norman made the boxes stack themselves.
“Oh hi, Dad!” Normandie greeted, smiling. “You’re home early.”
“What’s with all the boxes?”
“You didn’t have many Christmas decorations, so I went out and bought some. It was supposed to be a surprise.”
Norman laughed. Classic Normandie, thinking she could rekindle his holiday spirit by going all out! His laughter turned to worry as the tree toppled. He stopped it with a nonverbal Arresto Momentum.
“Are you alright?” He stumbled to Normandie’s side. A battered box caught his eye. It was labeled in handwriting he hadn’t seen in years!
Inside was a blonde Christmas angel with white wings and a red and green dress, the same one from his childhood. “Where did you find this?”
“The attic. Why?”
“This was my mother’s. I thought I lost it years ago!”
Normandie smiled, touching the angel’s porcelain cheek. “Let’s put it on the tree!”
__________________ Old voices I had thought long since dead whisper of another life I might have led
If I could take that second chance, If I could make my life anew, If only dreams came true... |