 Rhibear ~ Madam Solo ~ Dark Brooding Girl ~ Accio Jedi ~ Gryffinclaw ~ Just a doll
2. Advent
Setting: the home of Alma Martinez; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Christmas 2092
(199 words)
Normandie started transfixed at the little card. The scene was a wintery night with Santa Claus in his sleigh, flying over a neat row of houses. The card had several squares that looked like doors. Each had a number, some of which higher than Normandie could count.
She shook the card, and it made a funny sound. “Ooh! What’s inside?”
Mama Alma laughed. “That’s an advent calendar, mija. Every day, you open one of these little doors. When you open the big one at the bottom, it’ll be Christmas.”
Normandie’s face brightened. Mama Alma said the magic word. Christmas meant Santa, and Santa meant toys! “Can’t we open all the doors and have Christmas now?”
She looked at Mama Alma with big, pleading eyes. Mama Alma laughed even louder. “No, it doesn’t work like that. I think you’ll like opening the doors one at a time, though. There’s chocolate inside. You get a piece each day.”
Mama Alma opened the door marked “1” and gave Normandie the chocolate inside. Normandie eyes it skeptically. “Do I have to share it?”
“No, these chocolates are all yours.”
Normandie smiled as she popped the candy into her mouth, savoring the chocolatey sweetness.
__________________ 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... |