12 Days of Writing

Day 12 - own choice

Prompt: Use the picture below to inspire a short story in the genre of your choosing.

~~~

It was twelve days before Christmas and like any other year, the tree on the marketplace was filled with lights. There were no Christmas baubles, neither were there any garlands. The only things that decorated the tree, were little cards, tied to the branches with rope and ribbons.

Someone from outside the village might believe the tree to be boring, dull, missing the extravagance vibe of Christmas, but all who lived near knew with which the tree was really decorated. Because on every card, how big or small it may be, someone had written a wish. A new doll, a small puppy, a picture frame, new tableware, everything would appear on Christmas. Sometimes, someone would wish for a happy and healthy new year and see their doctor bills paid of on Christmas morning.

The story goes that on the night before Christmas, Santa Claus comes all the way from the North Pole to the little town to exchange the little cards for presents. But you'll have to remember that stories aren't always true. No, Mr. Claus was actually a Ms.

She lived near the town, in one of the many county houses, along with her seven cats and her carrier pigeons. She was a very likeable women, never married, always kind to everyone. Her parents had left her a ton of money. Nobody knew exactly how much, but she was said to be a multimillionaire.

And every year, eleven days before Christmas, she made her way towards the tree, filled with cards and wishes and she made sure they were fulfilled. She bought the doll, found the puppy, choose a beautiful tableware and then, after she had fulfilled every wish, she wrapped them with care and left them on the doorsteps of the houses in the tiny village.

And then, on Christmas day, children and their parents would hurry down the stairs and hug their puppies and find a place for their silverware. And they all say: "thank you Santa Claus". The women would smile and return to her mansion, give her cats some food and make a cup of tea, happy that people are happy.

For the fifteen years that she had been doing this, she had never failed to make a wish come true. Even if she had to travel to the other side of the country for it, or even the world in one case.

~~~

It was a year warmer than all the ones before, but nevertheless, Christmas was still coming closer. The apple trees in the women's orchard had grown blossoms for the second time that year and the hope for a white Christmas had faded months ago.

There were only twelve days left and the whole village gathered round the tree to put up their wishes. There was a bonfire and only deep in the night the last people said their goodbyes and left for bed.

At this time the women got up from her chair at the window and with a flashlight in hand and some of her cats following her, she made her way to the tree where the lights were still shining.

One by one, she read the wishes and made notes in her leather-bound notebook. Mentally she already made plans on where to get these gifts and as she imagined the happy faces, a smile made its way on her face as well.

Then she read the next wish and her smile faltered.

"Dear Mr. Santa Claus", it read, "I have a new baby brother and I think he would really like the snow, that's why, this year, I wish for a white Christmas."

A white Christmas? How was she supposed to manage that? She couldn't just make it snow out of nowhere.

For three days she sat in her chair trying to think of a solution. Her cats walked past her legs, but she gave them no attention. The mail piled up on her doormat, the fireplace had stopped burning a day ago.

Outside, it was storming, but even the thunder didn't make her move. The wind was blowing and her blossoming apple trees tried their best to stay standing. Some of the branches dropped onto the grass and the blossom was swept up and lost into the air. One petal, however, made its way through the chimney of the women's mansion. It didn't settle down on the ashes of the fire, nor did it get caught in the claws of one of the cats. No, the small petal made its way through the room to then drift down and land on the women's lap, like snow on a winter's day.

The women looked up and thought of an idea. It wouldn't be the perfect solution, but it would work. And with that attitude, she went to work.

~~~

It was the day of Christmas and everywhere in the village, parents and children run down the stairs to find their wishes fulfilled. All but one.

The small girl curiously picked up her gift, wondering how her wish could even fit in such a package. There was a note.

"Dear girl, I know that this is not what you asked for, but I promise I will try better next year, love Santa."

She quickly unwrapped her present, it was a snow globe. Inside, there was a village that looked exactly like her own. The baker was there, and the school and even the Christmas tree. She shook it and it started snowing. The girl smiled and immediately went to show her little brother, who seemed to love it even more than she did.

"Oh look! It's snowing!" Her mother suddenly screams.

And there, on the other side of the window, were thick flocks of snow drifting down to earth, leaving it in shades of white.

The girl's mouth hung open as she walked to the window, surprised her wish had actually come true. She looked at the sky and smiled.

"Thank you Santa."

902 words