Christmas Story. Novels & Stories

but not here. Richard listens to all this, his face intent, but he chuckles, shaking his head ruefully. "Yes, and last Christmas was no picnic either, was it? You three hunted by Klempner´s men and, well, getting my offices attacked and set on fire wasn´t exactly my first choice from Santa." He gives her a long look. "I imagine that Christmas when you were a child, in the Blessingmoors Home, was nothing to celebrate either?"

The guests keep coming and bringing some memories for this date. We do not exchange gifts at Christmas, only on January 6 , Day of Kings where Melquior, Gaspar and Baltazar , the wise men, bring gifts to everyone just as they did with the baby Jesus. I remember well that I wrote my letter to them asking for the gifts I would like to receive on the morning of January 6.

A Gift for the Reader A Christmas Story-Ethan and Brynne's Very First Meeting 24 December 2023 London The street was remarkably sparse considering it was Christmas Eve. Probably because it was so damn freezing cold outside people were smart enough to stay in. It was totally clichéd to be shopping for a gift at this late minute, but here I was pushing my way through the doors of Harrods in hopes of something really perfect for my aunt Marie. I knew I'd better get my ass in gear too, because I would be spending the day with her tomorrow and had nothing to show up with!

"Christmas is coming. You already have the lighting tradition, the dinner… but what about a special event? Something that brings the guests and the local community together." Rosa leaned forward, her eyes sparkling. "What do you have in mind, dear?" "A 'Christmas Stories Sunday,'" I suggested, the ideas flowing faster than I could articulate them. "Here in the main barn. Tables with coffee, hot chocolate, cookies. The guests are invited to share a Christmas memory—happy, funny, touching. You could have someone playing guitar in the background. And at the end… a joint donation to a local charity in the name of everyone here." The silence that followed was loaded. I looked at Rosa, then at Mar

Lowering myself to her level, I held her shoulders gently and brushed a strand of hair from her face. “No,” I said softly. “No, honey. You just had a nightmare. That’s all.” She didn’t look convinced. “Mummy has no reason to hurt Daddy,” I added quickly. “I’ll be back soon. And guess what? We’re spending Christmas here with Grandma and Uncle Elliot.” Her face lit up instantly. “Yeah.” “I’m just going to get a few things for Christmas,” I said. “I’ll be back.” I turned away before she could ask anything else.

Jasmine loved Christmas so much. She and Hermon used to decorate the Christmas tree at home each year. They would walk through the busy streets on Christmas Day, taking in the joy of everyone around them. However, those beloved Christmas customs had diminished since Jasmine and Thorne relocated overseas. She had actually given up on Christmas completely. She was making an effort to move on. Jasmine was, after all, her daughter, whom she had reared for so many years after carrying for nine months. Now, as she stood in the middle of the thronging masses, memories came flooding back, evoking feelings she had previously dismissed.

I learned to be thankful and quiet. That acceptance made me hate Christmas. Love songs made my skin crawl. The lights under our tree looked like glass eyes. The ribbons on the presents were traps. Every year, the house tuned itself to cheer and I pretended to enjoy it. The twenty-fifth became the night when a new kind of cold touched my bones. It was the day the truth had crawled out at me like an animal. It was the day I had learned how much of my life had been decided by other hands.

Maya's Pov I woke up to someone jumping on my bed. Again. "Merry Christmas! Get up, get up, get up!" Sophie was worse than a five-year-old on Christmas morning. She wore pajamas with reindeer on them and a Santa hat that kept sliding off her head. "What time is it?" I groaned. "Seven. Come on, we open presents at seven thirty. Family tradition. No exceptions." She bounced out of my room, leaving me alone with my messy hair and complete lack of holiday cheer at this ungodly hour.

When Noah Levine came back, Christmas had already passed. I'd thrown that reindeer lingerie into a street trash bin. "Babe, I left in such a rush last night that I forgot to give you your Christmas present." He pulled out a sapphire necklace and swept my hair aside to fasten it around my neck. Because he leaned in so close, I could clearly see the red marks on his neck and smell the sickly sweet perfume that obviously wasn't his. Knowing the scent belonged to my own sister made my stomach turn.