Prompt: When Santa stopped moving I knew it was up to me to save Christmas.
When Santa stopped moving I knew it was up to me to save Christmas. I stood in horror, eyes gaping at the sight in front of me. Santa, still dressed up in his red and white suit, was sprawled across the floorboards, surrounded by broken presents, loud snores coming from the back of his throat and his continually rising chest.
It was December 24th, Christmas morning only one hour away, and a whole herd of impatient reindeer leaving hoofprints in the snow outside. There was no way Santa could possibly deliver the entire world presents… and I knew what I had do.
Pulling on my thickest red jacket, red sweatpants and Mum’s black ugg boots, as well as a Santa hat draped over the banister, I headed out through the front door. What I saw was breathtaking. Amongst the flakes of snow slowly drifting from the dark night sky, in the front yard, stood all of Santa’s reindeer. Rudolph was stationed at the front, bright red nose flashing in the darkness.
“Santa’s just taking a nap,” I reassured them, shivering once before climbing onto the red and gold velvet seat of Santa’s sleigh. The whole thing was adorned in holly leaves and jingle bells. A small, red, velvet sack with various wrapped presents filled to the brim was slumped next to me in the sleigh, and as the reindeers began to run with their tall legs and hooves through the night sky, I was surprised by the fact it was a never-ending supply of gifts!
Grinning wildly as I realised I had just discovered Santa’s infamous secret, the reindeer soared through the sky to land on the roofs of all houses. I snuck down the chimney of each house in America. I gave them all a load of presents, sitting royally underneath the Christmas tree and in the red stockings of each child. Dusting off black ash before returning to the sleigh, Santa’s reindeer soon soared even higher through the night sky, and as the oceans whizzed past below us, we were soaring on top of the world, through countries, over continents, swooping down past islands and around skyscrapers.
Before long, the slightest hints of yellow and orange colours formed across the horizon, and soon the majestic reindeer had returned to my roof, Rudolph’s nose shining bright as we finally landed. At the door stood a grinning Santa; looking ever so happy with his red cheeks and grey beard, greeting me - and the reindeer, of course - with a loud laugh and tight embrace.
“Thank you for saving Christmas, my dear boy!” he said cheerfully, in a voice only Santa would be expected to have. He pulled out a present from behind, and as I ripped it open speechlessly, what was underneath the bright red and white Christmas wrapping was better than what I could have ever imagined.
“Oh, Santa! Thank you so much!”
In my arms, yapping with the excitement of a boy in a candy shop, was a small white puppy. I stroked it’s ears lovingly as it nuzzled into the crook of my arm. Looking up to thank Santa once again, I was startled to see that all that was left were faint hoof marks in the fresh, powdery snow. And as the sun rose, the sky the colour of lilacs and cotton candy, Santa and his beautiful reindeer sped through the sky, past the heavens to return to the beautiful, snowy landscape of his home, the North Pole.
Prompt: I knew that if I stood really still they wouldn’t suspect I wasn’t a real Christmas tree.
Hundreds of unsuspecting shoppers walked by, the occasional person stopping to look at the huge Christmas set up. It was just my luck that my Uncle had gotten me a job at Thanksgiving - however, a Christmas tree was not what I had in mind.
An entire three hours of standing perfectly still, in a hot Christmas tree suit… for only $40! Not only that, but I was mounted to a platform and couldn’t move. I hated it.
Swivelling my eyeballs in the direction of the clock, and seeing I had another hour to go, sighed. Another kid came up to me, gasping something about Christmas being his favourite time of the year. However, he was abruptly cut off by a piercing siren - and the thick scent of smoke filling the air. It was a fire!
Panicked shoppers began to rush out of the shopping centre, store owners shutting their doors quickly and mall wardens trying to calm everyone. On the outside I stayed still but on the inside I was screaming! Some of the other Christmas workers began to run out, even Santa Claus! I couldn’t move! The mall was emptying so fast no one could save me.
“HELP! HELP! I’M STUCK!” I shouted, my voice echoing through the now-deserted mall. The sirens continued, black smoke pooling around the seats of the food court at the edge of my vision. I wasn’t expecting a voice back, the smoke was beginning to fill up the whole building and the sirens were wailing like there was no tomorrow. However, it was my total surprise when someone yelled back.
“CHRISTMAS TREE!”
“SANTA!”
Santa Claus was bounding towards me, black boots thudding against the ground as he came nearer. He quickly unlocked me, picking me up in his surprisingly-strong grip.
As the roof came crashing down in a ball of fire and fury, Santa Claus carried me out of the shopping centre, screaming “SINNERS!”
So that’s why I will never visit my Uncle again on Thanksgiving.
