An entry for @narratives Mistletoe competition! c:
Since forever I have been wishing for Santa to bring me the beautiful rocking horse that sits behind my favourite shop's window. They let children sit on him and sometimes I ride him. When I do, we are no longer in Tim's Toy Store- we are racing over hills, faster than the wind. We are moving so fast, trees whiz past in a smudge of green and brown. The wind whooshes through my hair, all I can think about is not letting go.
Then Mum tells me to get down and I let some poor other child have a go.
The other children don't get it, their faces do not show the magic I feel on that rocking horse.
I really, really want it for Christmas.
"What did you write for your Christmas list this year, Bethany?" my older brother asks, pulling the piece of paper out of my hand.
"Don't rip it!"
"A rocking horse? Again?"
I sniff, "We're best friends. I can't leave him in that shop to be ridden by strangers any longer."
My brother kneels so he is the same height as me. "Sometimes Santa can't afford expensive presents. Sometimes he has to make his own, as a substitute."
"What's substute?"
"Sub-stit-tute, Bethany. It means something different but similar in place of something you can't have."
"But I've been so good! I brush my teeth every night and morning and help Daddy feed Barnaby and I even helped Mummy dry the dishes! I try so hard..." My heart is sinking at the thought of not getting my beloved horse. "Santa is magical! He is supposed to bring everything I want!"
"But sometimes, he just can't."
"NOOO!"
I thump really loudly on the stairs as I climb upstairs before crying into my pillow.
"WAKE UP WAKE UP IT'S CHRISTMASSSS!" I call to my sleeping family as I skip downstairs.
There, under the sparkling tree are beautifully wrapped presents! There aren't as many as I expected but still, there are some. I can barely contain my excitement. There's something special about the smell of Christmas trees mixed with the coffee my mum is making and the feeling of...what was that word my brother used...apprehension? There's something special in the air, a hint of magic.
Both my parents approach from behind, bend down and hug me.
"Merry Christmas, darling," my mummy says.
"Merry Christmas Mummy and Daddy." I hug them for a moment.
"And now presents?" I ask.
"And now presents," my dad smiles.
There's an itch of disappointment. New socks, mittens, a doll and a encyclopedia is all well and good but what about my rocking horse?
"Mummy, did Santa drop my present?"
"Why do you say that?"
"Because my rocking horse isn't here." My bottom lip starts to tremble. "It's just, I wanted it so much." I try really hard not to cry because no one should cry on Christmas.
"Oh, don't cry Bethany. Here, go and get yourself tidied up for your Aunty's."
Still sniveling and crushed with the lack of Santa's magic, I head upstairs.
The steps echo with a hollowness, so different to my excited skips earlier this morning.
"Bethany, can you come to the living room?" my mummy calls.
"Comin-oh!"
"Your brother found the present Santa dropped!" Mum says.
And there, in front of me is a present about the right size to be a rocking horse.
I take the utmost care from this point on wards. I study the tag:
Dear Bethany,
Merry Christmas!
Love, Santa
(and your brother)
"Did you help Santa get me this?" I ask.
My brother nods.
I beam at him. All this time, my brother had been talking to Santa about it and so had tried to confuse me by telling me I couldn't have my beautiful horse! Aha!
So in a flurry of paper, I rip the wrapping paper off.
A rocking horse.
But not the one I wanted. His mane is not soft and shiny, it is short and scruffy. He is not a pearl white, he is dapple grey and wooden brown.
"What's wrong?" my brother asks. "Do you not like it?"
Be grateful, be grateful.
"Oh, no, I do. It's lovely." I force a smile.
"Do you know what's really special?" my mummy tells me.
"What?"
"Your brother helped the elves make it!"
I look at the horse again before turning back to my brother. "You made this?" I ask, surprised.
"Well, the elves taught me and then we built it together. I know it's not the one you wanted but..."
"NO, I love it so much more now! Let me have a go!"
My daddy lifts me onto the the noble steed's saddle and then, I'm off.
We're galloping over snow drifts and past fur trees sparkling with coloured lights. The northern lights shimmer above us.
My horse whinnies and jumps over a log and we're flying.
