A Christmas Countdown by Julie Blaho, cappuccino

Five Christmas cookies under my highchair. I squealed with delight as I hurled your careful creations. You handed me another with a smile and let me enjoy it my own way.

Four long minutes to tie my shoe in the parking lot before Christmas mass, but you didn’t try to do it for me. You crouched in the cold snow with the hem of your dress dragging in slush, and sang: “Over, under, pull it tight. Make a loop, but not too light.”

Three red diaries tucked under my Christmas quilt. Filled with friend drama, crushes, and copied homework confessions, I didn’t ever worry. I knew you wouldn’t peek if you found them.

Two tender earlobes pierced for my sixteenth Christmas, even though you hated the idea. And when they got infected, you never once said, “I told you so.”

One Mom. A thousand ways to love. There’ll never be enough Christmases with you.

 

About the author

  

Julie Blaho is a creature-crazy country girl who divides her free time between teaching kids to ride horses and writing. She writes in Italy and has work published in Flash Fiction Magazine, 101 Words, and The People's Friend. www.julieblaho.com / Instagram: felicione_farm 

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The Trouble with Santa by Julie Blaho, egg nog

 

Tonight’s tips jangle in my coat pocket. It’s enough to buy a second Santa present for Judy. A small one, yet, together with the other, the joy on her face will make Christmas rich this year. Last year, Toys for Tots only had dolls, but if she was disappointed in Santa, I couldn’t tell. Judy’s a good girl. She never complains.

I knock on Mrs. Wheeler’s door and gather Judy from the couch. She shifts her arms around my neck. Her hair smells like cigarette smoke, but Mrs. Wheeler is all I’ve got, so I don’t complain.

 

***

 

“Santa came!” Judy tugs me into the living room and rips into the smaller package first. Her eyes light up. “Colored pencils! I won’t have to borrow Sara’s anymore.”

Then the big one.

“Pony monopoly?” She deflates. “Last year Sara got PlayStation from Santa. I tried to be good all year, so he’d bring me one too, but Santa loves Sara more.”

“Santa loves all kids equally.” I squeeze out the words around the lump in my throat. “I’m sure there’s a reason he picked this for you.”

“Maybe it’s because I love ponies. Will you play with me?”

“Dibs on the blue horse van, but I’ll let you go first.”

Judy giggles and doles out the play money. Christmas is as rich as I’d hoped.

 

About the author 

Julie Blaho is a creature-crazy country girl who divides her free time between teaching kids to ride horses and writing. She writes in Italy and has work published in Flash Fiction Magazine. You can find her on Twitter: @FelicioneFarm or Instagram: felicione_farm 

 

Did you enjoy the story? Would you like to shout us a coffee? Half of what you pay goes to the writers and half towards supporting the project (web site maintenance, preparing the next Best of book etc.)