A Magical Christmas Collection 2022

The Reindeer

The clock stroke midnight. Christmas finally arrived. Youngni laid wide awake scrolling through her phone as if Christmas would bring her entertainment. It'd be another Christmas, she'd spend alone. She'd opened the gift from her parents and the ones she wrapped for herself then go about her day. She loved the holidays, but when she thought about it, it really was just another normal day. Tired of scrolling back and forth, she got out of bed and sat by her bay window. She tugged the curtain to the side and peeked into the open night. Soft snow twirled down. All the Christmas lights kept the night sky illuminated.

Youngni pried the curtain fully opened. Was it an airplane? Satellite? She ran to the window on the other wall. Nothing. She jumped at the sudden noises. Did her parents wake up in the middle of the night? Or was it a burglar? She looked frantically for a weapon, any object that would be useful. Her mind went crazy. Nothing in her room served as a weapon. Forget it, her parents had plenty of objects in the house. There were umbrellas in the closet, all sorts of utensils in the kitchen, and some flower vases. The noises rumbled and shuffled closer and clearer. She froze at the fumbling with her doorknob. Was someone trying to pick her door? To murder her? To kidnap her? Why was she the chosen one? Why her?

The door cracked open, and she couldn't believe her two eyes. A long white beard man five times her size stood before her dressed in his traditional red and white outfit. Could he be called Santa?

"Hey young lady, why are you still up?" he chuckled.

Youngni swallowed, nothing sounded funny to her. No matter how many times she blinked, he didn't disappear.

"I guess this won't be a surprise anymore."

No, it was still surprising that Santa stood before her. She shook her head. No, Santa was not real. Who was this man? He was a burglar. He broke into their house, into her room. She should be screaming and fighting, but her body didn't react with fear. She wasn't anxious.

"Come on, let's go."

Youngni took a step back. Her body electrified. "To where?"

"To his house. You'll be my gift to him. I did something horrible and now I need to make it up."

Her breath hitched. Was Santa kidnapping her? "I would love to go on a journey, but I don't think this is how I should go?"

Youngni faked a smiled and patted her cheeks. Wake up, Youngni.

"Oh honey, you're not in a dream. I'm real, you're real, what you're about to experience is real."

Before she could react, he swooped her up onto his shoulder like a log and walked out her room, out of her house. Santa threw her on his sled and situated himself.

"I only have one reindeer. It might be a little slower. But I promise you, your experience won't be anything less. Sit upright and enjoy," he said and the sled moved. The reindeer started dancing this weird dance, treaded through the snow, and off the ground they went. She was up in the sky. The icy wind and snow clashed against her cheeks. Christmas lights made the city below her a world of joy. She must be crazy. She was flying. She was on a sled with reindeer. With Santa.

The sled landed outside the yard of a traditional house. Regret filled her. She thought too much that she forgot to enjoy.

"Now I need you to go in there and make it all better. I'll make do without him this year, but I would much prefer to have him with me next year."

Gibberish. She didn't understand a single word he said, if he even said anything at all.

Santa chuckled. "I've just girlfriend kidnapped. Help me make my crime worth it."