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Coralie
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Dec 14, 2016 10:30AM
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Flurries and Crystals and Swirls, Oh My!
~Coralie
Prompt: Your character was taking a lovely walk down an unfamiliar path. They first hear a noise. A loud clanking noise. What does your character do? They go after it. They get closer and closer to the source of the sound. What was it? And who made that mysterious noise? Find out in this month's mystery!
(I took a few liberties with the prompt...)
Word Count: 2,939
“Ough!” Crystal cried out. She jumped in fright, looking over her shoulder.
“Shh!” Mama warned, her breath fogging in front of them as she spoke.
“But, did you hear that?” Crystal whispered back.
“It’s just the crackle of the fire,” Mama whispered, starting to sound exasperated, “Now you promised me that you could handle this.”
Crystal eyed the fireplace wearily. The chill didn’t bother her; she was used to it just like Mama. In fact, she didn’t like the warm. Even the houses without roaring fires made her sweat a little bit. Though, she had to admit, the flames were beautiful...in a terrifying kind of way. Crystal shivered, turning back to her mother.
Mama sighed, looking over at her young daughter, “Please don’t make me regret bringing you along. We still have many houses to visit.”
Little Crystal nodded enthusiastically, returning obediently back to work on the tree. She couldn’t help but laugh as she noticed each of the ornaments, sending icy crystals all over the branches as she giggled. The last house they had visited wasn’t as fun. The tree had been bland and uniform, but this tree...now, this tree had character. There were ornaments that looked like they had been handmade by little girls and boys and there were some that looked very old. No two ornaments were the same. It was just like something out of a flurrytale!
“Mama! Look at this one!” Crystal flew over to a beautiful swan lake ballerina. She wore white feathers and a pretty silver crown. Crystal mimicked the pose, mirroring the graceful porcelain ornament. She wasn’t quite as tall as the ballerina, yet, but one day she would be, just like Mama. Crystal blew gently on the ballerina’s dress, sending glittering sparkles all over the white feathers. Her smile grew even wider when she looked at the finished product.
“Yes, dear, it’s very beautiful,” Mama smiled, looking up from the small pair of sparkling silver slippers that she was working on. It hadn’t been all that long ago that she’d been amazed by the sights of every light and candy cane too. She’d always loved the gifts beneath the tree. Even to this day, she never tired of gazing at the array of wrapping paper and ribbons. Mama didn’t want to be hard on Crystal. This was her first Christmas Eve inside the homes, so Mama let her little girl flutter about, taking in as much of the grandeur as she could.
The pair danced and twirled around the tree, smiling and laughing as they worked. Finally, after the tree had been thoroughly dusted in a light coat of sparkling snow and twinkling glitter and the tinsel had been arranged just so, Mama called out for them to move on to the next house. The two stood back, surveying their work before turning to go. Crystal followed gleefully, waving goodbye to Odette. This was the best night of her life!
Back out in the cold, Crystal took a deep breath, relieved to feel the icy wind against her pale skin. She could practically feel the energy seeping back into her as they traveled through the dead of night to the next house on their list. The wind whistled loudly around them, playing in Mama’s curly hair. Crystal kept hers up in a tight bun, like the ballerinas. It was frosted over, a bluish-blonde, like her mother’s. Ice crystals wove through the strands of her hair, sparkling in the twinkling light of the stars and streetlights. Crystal whistled back into the wind, smiling when the snowflakes danced in response. Crystal nearly crashed into her mother when she stopped in front of the girl.
“This is it,” Mama smiled at the grand brick house in front of them. She looked over at Crystal, whose deep, blue eyes widened at once.
“Mama, this is the house you always tell stories about! It looks just like you always said.”
The house had white shutters and you could see the tree through the first window. There were two stories and lovely dark green curtains covered the windows upstairs. Lights dripped from the gutter like delightful icicles. There were even more lights on the trees in the yard and little reindeer tracks on the porch, leading up to a small wooden rocking pony. A pair of pink snow boots sat on the Christmas-themed welcome mat next to two large, black pairs and one small, red pair.
“That’s right,” Mama replied, “This was my first house, and the same family still lives here, even after all these years. I try to leave them a little something special each year. What do you say? Should we go inside?”
Crystal grinned, clapping her hands together. She burst through the door, not worried about making too much noise. She was naturally quiet, just like her mother. Only her loud voice would ever disturb the family. Crystal had been practicing her silent movements all her life and she was at the top of her class. Mama said it was in her blood. Her family had always moved and worked silently and they were proud of it. Mama was always so quiet when she spoke, but sometimes, little Crystal got really excited and forgot to whisper.
Inside the house, Crystal noticed more snow boots lying about the foyer with hats, gloves, and coats strewn about the hall. They fluttered down the long hallway and into the open living room. A fire burned in a small fireplace across the room; it was far enough away from the tree to almost seem quaint. They approached the large, very decorated tree, gazing up, up, and up. Crystal patted the head of a nearby nutcracker who stood guarding the gifts under the tree. She smiled again. This was the most wonderful tree yet!
Crystal set to work on the back of the tree, starting at the top. Mama started at the bottom. Crystal knew it was so she could peek at the presents as she worked, but she didn’t mind. She found that she liked to see the angels and stars on top of the trees. The angels were her favorite. There were so many of them and they all looked so different. This one even lit up with different colors on her wings!
Just as she blew gently on a pretty, purple ball, Crystal heard a loud thump above her. She didn’t jump, but she was so startled that she missed the ornament! She bit her lip as she looked at the newly frosted light. No one would notice and Mama would only laugh. She took a breath to try again, but another thump caught her attention. It wasn’t exactly the same as the first one, but it must have come from the same place.
Crystal looked nervously down the tree to where her mother worked. She hadn’t appeared to notice the noise. Shaking her head, Crystal turned to the purple ornament, blew gently on it and searched for another. She walked up and down the branches, gently touching every part of the tree as she went and thinking about the strange noise.
“Snap out of it,” she whispered to herself as she found a small silver trumpet hanging from a branch, “Mama would tell you to just leave well enough alone.” She gently touched the pretty instrument and smiled as swirls of sparkling snowflake designs appeared on its side. Distractedly, Crystal moved on to the next ornament, a pretty red cardinal. Another thump sounded, and she looked up. It was coming from the room above them.
Glancing down, Crystal noticed that Mama was deep inside the tree. She wouldn’t notice if Crystal just slipped away for a moment...would she? Curiosity froze inside of her. She had to know what that noise was! With one final glance down at her mother, Crystal darted for the stairs. If Mama asked, she could say she was covering the stair rail. She’d heard stories of how others had decorated more than just trees.
Once she’d reached the stairway, Crystal hesitated, looking back at the tree. She couldn’t help but smile at the half-finished job. It was incredible to see the difference a little bit of magic made on a tree. Turning to the dark hallway above her, little Crystal paused. Determination set in as another thump sounded. She flew up the stairs and nearly ran straight into the wall. Luckily, she saw it in time and scurried to a stop, squeezing her eyes shut and holding in her squeak with great effort. Slowly, she opened her eyes again and backed away from the wall. Looking around her, she noticed a smaller tree on a table in the hallway. Smiling, she fluttered to it. This tree had only little glass angels for ornaments. They were different colors and just transparent enough to see the lights refracting through the skirts and wings.
Crystal quickly touched and blew on every one of the angels and even some of the branches. She refused to do sloppy work, but it was a small tree, so it didn’t take long. Finally, she turned to one of the doors at the end of the hallway, closing in on the odd thumping sound. Her slightly pointed ears perked up as she neared the door.
Thump!
Crystal jumped back, startled. The noise was much louder up here. This was certainly where the noise was coming from. Crystal flew to the door handle, but dared not touch it. What would Mama say? She looked back over her shoulder toward the stairs. She crossed her arms and huffed, sending silver crystals flying all over the handle.
“Well…” Crystal grumbled, “You’ve come all this way. Now what?” She fluttered back over to the small tree. She felt safe around the tree. Her kind lived in trees and out in the wind. She took one comforting look at the angels and nodded her head.
“Okay, I’ll do it.” She nearly marched through the air back to the door and without a second thought flew under it to the room beyond.
At first, Crystal couldn’t tell what had made the noise. She blinked in the darkness, trying to see past the delicate butterfly-shaped night light that made her eyes hurt. The lights on the trees were mellow, but this thing was huge and glaring. It even made shapes on the ceiling.
“Whoa,” Crystal breathed as she looked at the ceiling. There were glowing stars stuck all over the ceiling. She giggled, sending snow flurries into the air.
Thump!
Crystal covered her mouth with her hands and backed against the door. Oh no! She thought as she realized what the thumping was. A huge, dark figure loomed above her. It was a shadow cast by the night light. But the shadow didn’t terrify Crystal as much as what threw it. It was a girl! A human girl! Crystal squeaked in fright and darted for the floor to fly back under the door and into the hallway.
“Wait,” a voice called out softly, “Please don’t go.”
Crystal paused, looking back at the little girl sitting on her bed. Her voice had been kind and soft, not like the stories told. Humans weren’t supposed to see them.
“You can see me?” Crystal asked, puzzled.
The little girl laughed, and Crystal smiled when she saw a missing tooth. “Of course I can see you. You can see me, can’t you?”
Crystal nodded, fluttering back up to the girl’s eye level, though she stayed right next to the door.
“Are you a sugar plum fairy?” asked the girl, her head cocked sideways.
This time, Crystal laughed so hard she nearly snorted. She covered her mouth with her hands as snow flurries filled the room. She shook her head, “No.”
The girl gasped, “How did you do that? You made it snow in my room! Oh, do it again! It was so pretty!” The girl bounced on the bed and Crystal heard the thump again.
“Your bed thumps,” Crystal smiled.
Mod
“Why are you awake?” Crystal asked.
“I couldn’t sleep,” the girl’s face turned sad and she looked down at her hands, “I was tossing and turning, but I keep having nightmares.”
Crystal nodded, that was why she heard all the thumping. Then she shook her head, staring at the girl, “Nightmares? On Christmas Eve? Why aren’t you dreaming of pleasant things like gingerbread men and…”
“Sugar plum fairies?” the girl looked at Crystal, “I was hoping you had come to make my dreams sweet. Santa won’t come if I’m still awake, but I can’t bare to see another nightmare.”
“What are your nightmares about?”
The little girl shrugged, “I only remember bits and pieces, but I wake up shaking and crying every time. I always see an army of mice as tall as men. They’re never very nice. It’s been like this for a few weeks now. Mother says they’ll go away soon. I thought if I found something sweet to dream about it would chase away the nightmares.” The girl smiled leaning down on her elbows so she could look Crystal in the eyes without looking down at her.
“Tell me about you. Maybe you can chase away my bad dreams.”
Crystal gazed curiously at the little girl. Her light blue lips parted and she thought hard before she spoke, sending puffs of fog into the air. “I’m not a gossamer,” she shook her head, “I can’t fix your dreams, and I’m not a sugar plum fairy. They’re helping the gossamers tonight because it’s Christmas Eve.”
“Then what are you?”
“I’m a snow sprite,” Crystal answered.
“What’s a snow sprite?” asked the little girl.
“We’re like sugar plum fairies and gossamers, but we don’t work with dreams. We decorate trees on Christmas Eve.”
“But we decorate the tree after Thanksgiving every year,” the girl said indignantly.
Crystal smiled, “But doesn’t the tree look extra special on Christmas morning?”
“Oh,” the girl said, “I thought Santa did that.”
Crystal laughed again and the little girl smiled at the icy snowflakes that burst into the air around the snow sprite. “How do you do that?”
Crystal stood up. She walked over to the lamp on the night stand and put her finger over her lips, “Shh…watch.” She gently touched the short lamp stand, sending silvery swirls all around it and up to the light bulb.
“Wow!” the girl grinned from ear to ear, “that’s beautiful!” Crystal smiled proudly.
“Is it always silver?” the girl asked, not daring to touch the frosted lamp stand.
“Mine is,” Crystal hopped back to the clock, settling down again, “but not all snow sprites have the same color. Mama decorates with a dark blue.”
“Why did you pick silver?”
Crystal giggled, “We don’t pick our colors, silly. We’re born with them.”
“Really?” the girl settled down into her covers, peering sideways at the snow sprite.
Crystal nodded, “Yes, my best friend, Aspen, decorates with purple. Her work always looks best with Mama’s I think. And Eira, my little sister, will decorate with green when she’s old enough. She’s been practicing all year, but she’s still in school.”
“But you aren’t?”
“Not anymore,” Crystal shook her head, crossing her legs and pulling against her knees as she leaned back, “I just graduated! This is my first Christmas Eve in the homes.”
“Congratulations,” the girl giggled. She yawned, beginning to feel tired, “What’s your name?”
“Crystal. What’s yours?”
“I’m Clara,” the girl answered, sticking out a finger, “It’s very nice to meet you, Crystal the Snow Sprite.”
Crystal didn’t know what Clara wanted her to do with the finger, so she kissed it, sending snowflake patterns all the way down to the girl’s wrist. It’s what the snow sprites did when they met one another. They showcased their best talents when meeting new people. It was a gift, so she made sure to put extra detail into the snowflakes for Clara. She liked the little girl.
Clara shivered, “You’re so cold!”
Crystal bowed her head, “I live with the snowflakes and icicles. If anything, you’re warm!” She stuck out her tongue and crossed her arms again.
Clara’s purple eyes widened, “I didn’t mean anything by it. I just wasn’t expecting it, that’s all.”
Crystal nodded. She looked down at the clock. “Oh,” she said, sadly, “I should go. Mama will worry and we’ve still a few more houses to visit before morning.”
Clara sat up and gently kissed Crystal’s small head. Crystal smiled as an oddly warm feeling spread through her. It wasn’t uncomfortable, but fuzzy and it made her smile inside and out. “Goodbye, Crystal.”
“Good night, Clara,” the snow sprite flew to the door. She turned back, taking in one large breath before filling the room with as much sparkle and glittery swirls as she could. It would last til morning and Clara would hopefully have better dreams. Though her magic didn’t work like the gossamers’ did, she imagined the snowflakes and frost would keep away the frightening nightmares and draw in the sugar plum fairies. They liked shiny things.
“Will you come back again?” Clara asked, yawning again. Her eyelids fluttered as she strained to keep them open, not wanting to miss a moment of the beautiful, icy blue snow sprite.
Crystal nodded, “I wouldn’t miss it for the world.”
“Merry Chris...,” the girl whispered, finally drifting off.
“Have a magical Christmas, little one,” Crystal smiled.
The End.
Mod
I guess I'm sort of using a prompt because it's an addition to A Summer's Place but in winter. Thank you. : )
I hope you all are nice and toasty right now because I am freeeeezing! It's Christmas Eve and I'm insanely cold. Why, you might ask. Well the reason I give is this: it's at least ten degrees, I'm standing on a hill covered with white snow, and I forgot to bring my good gloves. Look, I was in a rush to get outside so I didn't have time to grab them on my way out. Though now I kind of wish I was a bit late to attend the sledding party with our church. If only I brought my gloves. . . .
"Watch out, Wolfe!" A voice exclaimed from behind me.
I turned my head in the direction of the voice and felt my face grow numb. A snowball had hit my face right in the middle and now the snow was trailing down into my snow pants.
Great, just great.
As soon as I brush the snow off my face, I saw three figures coming towards me. I can tell immediately who two of the figures are, with their black snow pants matching mine. They were the twins but I couldn't distinguish who the last person was.
"I didn't think you'd fall for that!" Frida exclaimed, clutching her stomach.
Dimitri copied her movements and yelled, "But she did!"
I crossed my arms and huffed. "I don't exactly like getting hit right in the face with pure ice, you know."
They were coming closer and now I could actually see who the last snow-geared person was.
It was Jack Smith, Archer Smith's cousin.
He had the same combed hair as his younger cousin. Though while Archer had a rich brown, Jack's hair was Raven black.
Jack shrugged. "I thought you guys wanted to throw it at her pants, not her face."
"But it's more funny when you toss the ball at their sensitive spots," Frida chuckled, while showing a look of mock surprise.
In case you're curious as to how it is that the twins are hanging out with this new kid, it's only because he showed them that he was a professional trouble maker as well. You really don't want to know what happened. But let's just say it involved the pastor and a dog.
"Oh, yeah? Then how about this!" My friend's voice, Evelyn, called from the side of us as she hit Frida's face with a white blur.
"Oh, it is so on," Frida told Evelyn as she made her own snow balls, with her winter gloves, and threw some more back a Evelyn.
I took that as my cue to slowly run to Evelyn, who was now hiding behind a tree for cover.
"You just had to do that, didn't you?" I asked her.
"I just couldn't help it," Evelyn said, shrugging with a mischevious grin.
"Yeah, well, I hope you know what you got us into," I scan the area, hoping not to get nailed with another ice ball.
Evelyn gathered lots of snow towards ourselves so we could use them as ammunition.
"Did they stop firing?" She asked.
I was about to say yes when I got smacked with yet another snowball that day.
I stared at her, my face covered with snow. "Does this look like they stopped?"
"No, it doesn't, but at least now I can help," Archer's voice wasn't too far away from us.
I brushed the snow away from my face and looked to see that Archer was crouched right next to me.
"Oh, hey, we're getting clobbered out here," I said.
Archer scooped up snow into his mittens and patted it down firmly, forming a real snowball.
"On three, we're all going to charge after them," Archer explained, forming more snowballs. "Evelyn to the right, Amber to the left, and I will head straight for them. We'll surround them and then attack. Everyone got it?"
I nod and so does Evelyn.
Archer handed us each three snow balls. I carefully cradle them in my arms, not wanting them to slip out of my grasp.
"Good. One. . . two. . . three!" Right on cue we all dashed from our cover.
I made my way to the left, as Archer instructed, and tried my best to hide behind the now bare trees.
I could see that Archer was doing his best to run towards our now enemies and Evelyn had made her way back to the top of the hill.
I need to catch up! I thought.
Soon, I too was also on the hill. I could see the enemies scanning behind them. Too bad we'll be throwing these babies at their backs.
I saw Archer throw his hand up in a fist, signaling us to stop. I froze in my footsteps and held my breath.
The three were right in view where I could easily nail them if I chose to.
Then Archer slowly placed his hand by his side and yelled, "Charge!"
I sprang from my hiding place and threw my snowballs, one by one, at the group.
I was grinning ear to ear. I finally out smarted the twins and this time I wasn't the victim.
But the figures weren't what I was hoping them to be. They turned to face the three of us and I gasped.
Standing before us was the pastor, his wife, and Archer's father. They gave us questioning looks before they burst out laughing.
"You kids certainly know how to give us old folks a heart attack!" The pastor said, his wild hair bouncing on his head.
"What made you to charge like wild Indians?" His wife asked with a chuckle.
I opened my mouth and said, "I'm sorry pastor, but I thought you were the twins and Archer's cousin."
"Ah, well," He gave us a lopsided smile. "No harm done."
"You sure you don't want me to get help, pastor?" Archer's father asked.
"No, no, John. I'm just fine. No need to cause an alarm."
"Good," Mr. Smith turned to his son. "Now, if you're going to throw snowballs, make sure it's a child and not one of the adults." - He smiled warmly. - "Otherwise you'll get tossed down this hill. Understood?"
"Yes sir," Archer returned the smile and saluted his father.
"Run along now, I need to talk to pastor for a minute," Mr. Smith waved us off, gesturing that we really should run along
Archer was the first to move past the group and out towards the parking lot. I soon followed him and so did Evelyn.
"I can't believe what we did!" Evelyn said, throwing her arms up in the air. "We could've gotten in so much trouble!"
"True, but we didn't," I said with a smile. "I don't think pastor would've punished us."
"No, but our fathers' might have," Evelyn shuddered.
Archer laughed ahead of us. "They wouldn't do anything drastic like that."
"I agree," I said.
"Of course you do," Evelyn mumbled.
Before we got further into what might've been an awkward conversation, a fleet of small kids from church yelled at us, "Come on you three! You're missing the best sledding spot!"
We rushed over there and joined them, hoping to grab random sleds from a pile. There were only two left.
Someone swatted the back of my head. "Looks like two of you are going to have to share."
It was Frida then Dimitri did the same thing.
"Can you guys please quit it!" I shouted.
"Only if you agree to race like the rest of us," Dimitri did a swooping motion with his hand to the little kids.
"Okay, fine," I grumbled.
"We challenge everyone here, to a race!" Frida yelled, earning cheers from the group. "The winners get to throw snowballs at there least favorite person!" More cheers, "Grab your sleds and head over to Suicide Hill!"
Luckily, the hill was right there so I just had to place the sled right on the edge like everyone else.
I place a blue plastic sled at the edge of the hill and peeked down. They didn't call it Sucide Hill for nothing. It was a loooong drop.
I scooted towards the front when I felt some weight drop itself in the back.
"Mind if I join you?" Archer asked with a smile. "You know, more weight means that we will go faster."
I nodded, looking at him and regretting it because I could feel my cheeks get warm.
"Good, now, do you know when we should start?"
I shook my head. "I have no idea, but I have no doubt we'll hear it soon."
And sure enough, we did.
It was Frida's voice and she yelled, "Three, two, one, go!"
I jerked the sled forward but it didn't move.
"Here," Archer rolled his way off and gave the sled a good, solid, kick.
The sled moved slowly at the edge, teetering a bit. Archer hopped on, wrapped his arms around my waist as I held on to the rope, and that made the sled sped off down the hill.
"Yeah!" He shouted behind me as I shrieked with joy.
Everyone else was speeding past us while some people had tumbled off their sleds.
"We're nearly winning!" I yelled at him.
"Not yet," Archer said, he extended a finger, pointing at three sleds ahead of us.
And of course the three people on those sleds were the twins and Jack.
"How does it feel to be partnered with a girl, couz?" Jack yelled.
I could feel Archer's arms go up in a shrug. "It's actually not too bad."
I turn to sneak a glance at Archer and said to him, "Lay your hands out at the snow, and throw it at them."
I saw him smile and nodded.
He did exactly what I was hoping he would do and tossed chunks of snow at them.
Frida yelped from the cold and, surprisingly, fell off her disk. Jack was close behind her so he tumbled off too. But Dimitri was the only one left.
"Sorry, sis, but this time you're not winning!" He called.
"Wanna bet?" I grumbled. I then said to Archer, "Lean in. We should go faster. Making the weight in the front."
Archer slowly pressed his body against my winter jacket and wrapped his arms in the same position as before.
"This okay?" He whispered.
I nodded and we actually did go faster. We whizzed past my brother, who was yelling in protest, and I laughed.
Archer laughed along with me as we reached the bottom of the hill.
As soon as the sled came to a full stop, I rolled off of it and so did Archer.
The sled was right in the middle of us as our breaths curled up into the air.
"Well, that was fun," Archer chuckled to my right.
"Yeah, it was," I said with a smile.
"Merry Christmas, Amber."
"Merry Christmas," I said back to him, looking up at the cloudy and wondering what tomorrow would bring.
Mod
The Yuletide CatBy, Emily Mae
* I didnt end up using a prompt. But I hope you guys like it. I also went for a not so traditional christmas theme so please keep that in mind :)
*word count: 1,685
<><><><><><>
~ No one noticed it, over in the dark corner. Observing quietly, the activity bustling around it. Its eyes focusing on one girl. The one that needed it the most…..
Lillian had heard stories of this creature, The Yule Cat. All the stories told of a creature like a Cat, that appeared only during the Yuletide season. It comes and spreads hope and joy to People. Or so the stories said.
But to Lillian they were just that, stories. Stories that parents told their children to ease their fears. Stories of hope and compassion.
Lily knows better than to believe in such fairy tales. She knows happy endings are a lie.
<><><><><>
Lillian stands in the filthy alley. Her clothes, the filthy rags, hang loosely off her shoulders. Her long brown hair sits upon her head in a tangled mess.
She walks to the end of the alley, looking this way and that before leaving it. Lillian runs across the cold cobblestone road. The road is covered in a light powder of snow. Lillian’s bare feet swiftly carry her from one stone to the next.
Across the road was a small bakery. Behind the glass window, Lillian could see displays of delicious sweets. Lillian’s eyes stared at all the beautiful dishes, as if she could taste it if she looked hard enough.
Alas, she turned away from the sweet temptations she couldn't afford to want.
“Your foolish, you know that?” she whispers angrily at herself. “ You know better than to hope like that.”
The road was full of carriages and wagons. Some full of people from here and there. Others were carried materials for Yule celebrations.
Lillian walked quickly down the road with her head down.Trying to avoid being noticed.
In her head she is listening to all the sounds, the yelling of a boss to his workman. The gentle commands one gives to his horse’s. Women whispering to each other about the latest gossip.
Lillian notices a group of women talking of this years Yuletide Festival. She stops nearby to listen.
“They say this year it's going to be better than last year.” Says one lady.
“I heard that the Yule cat will visit this year.” A young woman pipes in.
“I can't believe anyone would believe that. That's an old tale for children.” Says a tall woman.
Lillian continues walking, when all of the sudden someone grabs her wrist.
Lillian's head whips around, her free wrist poised to attack. When she looks, next to her is a hunchbacked old lady with warts, staring into her face.
“Let go of me you old hag!”
The old woman looks hurt, but only for a moment.
“Don't believe them.” She says in a scratchy voice. “Don't believe the mindless gossip on the streets.”
“What are you talking about?”
Lillian says almost shouting. Trying to pull her wrist free.
“Believe in the cat.” Shouts the old woman, Flinging Lillian away with such force that Lillian falls.
Lillian full of anger cannot understand what just happened. But when she turns to question the old woman she had disappeared.
“Crazy old coot.” Whispers Lillian, rubbing her wrist and shaking her head.
The sun had begun to disappear when Lillian settled herself for the night in another alley.
<><><><><>
Lillian hadn't always been like this. She hadn't always been all on her own.
Lillian used to live in an old home just outside the town. She lived there with her parents and five younger siblings. Her father worked little jobs here and there. But the money was never enough.
Lillian could remember how her mother always made the best of what little they had.
Lillian helped out wherever she could, but there's only so much a young girl can do.
It was the time of Yuletide, five years ago, when the fever started in the heart of town and began to spread. The fever came quick and once it came you didn't have long left. Soon there were barely any houses with healthy people left.
Lillian was only eight when the fever struck her house. Her younger siblings were sick first. Her mother tried to nurse them, but before long the last stage of the sickness had come.
They had had little time to grieve for the younger ones they lost before the fever struck again….
Lillian had always saw her father has the man who could handle anything. He used to set her up on his knee and tell her stories of the Cat.
“You always believe, alright? Never forget that.” He used to say “ Because once you've lost that hope in there,” pointing to my heart. “ You'll have a hard time getting it back.”
But for all his believing in hope and good things, the fever chose him next. This was the hardest for Lillian. She sat by his bed night and day, doing whatever he needed. Two mornings after it came it was ready to take her father.
She sat by his bed, holding his hand. He looked her in the eye and his last words were
“Hope for better things and always believe in the Cat.”
Her father's death almost killed her. She didn't eat, despite her mother's pleading. She cried until she had no tears left.
Her mother tried to keep up a strong air for Lillian. But she cried when she thought Lillian had gone to sleep.
Soon, as if the fever hadn't taken enough, it took her mother. It was quick and Lillian was almost numb to it.
She went outside and screamed and cried and yelled at someone who wasn't there.
“Believe, he said! Believe in the Cat and better things will come! Well look where believing got you!”
When the fever left the town it left behind a very small fraction of the population there was before.
But everyone went along and continued to rebuild the town. But no one bothered to check on the family right outside their town.
<><><><><>
Now it was the eve of Yuletide. Lillian does as she always does on this day. She travels out to the old house. Out front are six grave markers.
Lillian sets a bundle of holly onto each one.
She sat in front of the graves. She let her head fall into her hands, But she didn't cry. When she looks up some time later, she's is looking straight into the eyes of a White cat.
Lillian jumps up exclaiming, “Get away, you sneaky thing.”
The cat darts away.
Lillian notices on the graves, where she had once put holly, there are now wreaths. She walks over to investigate and on the side of the house she sees something strange.
A large basket hangs on a nail in the wall. She quickly takes it down and looms inside. Its filled with bread! She can't believe her eyes. Looking around, she doesn't see anyone who could have left it.
Lillian takes out a loaf and breaks it in two, checking if it's real or just in her head.
“Tastes real.” she says taking a few huge bites.
Lillian grabs the basket and runs to the alley she had stayed in last night.
She stands at the end of the alley watching all the people getting the street ready for the Yuletide festival.
<><><><><>
It's now the morning of the first day of Yuletide. Lillian moves out of the alley and the streets are filled with people. Some dancing and singing and others line the street cheering.
Lillian notices a White cat walking through the crowd and decides to follow it.
The Cat weaves through the crowd expertly. Lillian almost lost sight of it several times. She had followed it to a dark corner street near the end of the festival. When she stood in front of it, it starred up. Lillian looked and saw that it was a full moon.
When she looked down again, the Cat was gone. In its place stood a large man with a long white beard, dressed in a long green robe.
“Ah, nice to be out of that form. Even if it's only for tonight.” He smiled and laughed a jolly laugh. “ I've been watching you Lillian.”
“How do you know my name?” Lillian asks with a scowl.
“Why, I know all you special ones.” He says.
“Special ones?” Lillian’s eyebrows raise.
“ Yes the ones that need me.” he says taking Lillian’s hand “I will show you.”
Before Lillian can say no, The man grabs her hand and she instantly feels a shock. Before her isn't the street anymore, but a place upon a cloud. Lillian looks down at her feet in wonder, she is standing on a cloud!
The man laughs at her surprise.
“You see, for a majority of the year I am stuck in the form of a Feline. But once a year on the full moon of Yuletide, I return to my human form. My job is to bring holiday jolly to those who need it the most. Each year I can pick one child to bring here.” He gestures all around him. “ This is a place where wishes are granted. Each year it can only produce the power to grant one wish. Though I wish it could be more, this is just how it has to be.” His voice becomes sad, but only for a moment. He kneels beside Lillian. “ What do you wish for my dear?”
“I want to be with my family.” she says. Though deep down she has no hope that this wish could be granted. That she’ll just wake up to it all being a dream.
“Are you sure you want to make such a journey?” The man asks patting Lillian’s hand.
“Yes.”
“Very well then. But remember you can't come back once you've gone.”
“ I know.”
The man nods his head and begins to chant, “Yuletide season, Jolly time, ring the bells of Christmas chime.”
Lillian is confronted with a blinding light. When she uncovers her eyes she finds herself in a place filled with Christmas cheer, but greatest of all her family is there. And that is all she could ever wish for.
<><><><><><>
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