CHRISTMAS MAGIC

by

Velvet

CHAPTER 1

THE CHAPTERS

INTRO

CHAPTER 1

CHAPTER 2

CHAPTER 3

CHAPTER 4

CHAPTER 5

CHAPTER 6

The older of the two boys sat back on the sofa and watched the younger as he arranged the pieces of a wooden nativity set. The younger one was a blond-headed ball of energy, who at the age of five still saw the world as an exciting place to explore.  

The older one knew better. The world was cruel and mean and it took things away. Forever. And forever was a very long time, especially when you're only six.  

“Frank, do you have Santa in Russia?” The blond looked up at the older boy, his blue eyes wide in anticipation of the answer.  

Frank nodded. He'd asked his new mother about that when he'd first seen the old man in the red suit with the long white beard. “We call him Grandfather Frost.”  

The blond wrinkled his nose. “That's too long. Does he have elves?”  

“No. His granddaughter helps him, the Snowmaiden.”  

“He takes all those presents with just one helper?”  

Frank nodded again. “How many helpers does he need, Joe?”  

“A lot!” Joe abandoned the nativity set and went to sit next to his brother. “Russia's got a lot of kids. That's a lot of presents for just one person to carry.”  

Being only six, Frank had no idea how to answer that. There were already more presents under the tree than Frank had ever seen in his whole life! “It's not about presents, Joey. There's more to Christmas than just getting things.”  

Joey stared at his brother. Somehow he had the feeling that Frank had never gotten very many presents at Christmas. He'd only brought 3 things with him from Russia, and one of those Joey had given him! “If you could have anything for Christmas, what would you get?”  

Frank's brown eyes filled with tears as he stared unseeingly at the Christmas tree. “My mama.”  

Joey watched in shock as the other boy slid off of the couch and ran to their room. Joey slid off too, but he didn't follow Frank to the bedroom. Instead, he went to the kitchen and tugged on his mother's pants. “Mommy.”  

Laura looked down. “Yes, sweetie?”  

“Frank told me what he wants for Christmas.”  

Laura could see that something was bothering Joey, so she set the spoon down that she had been using to drop cookies, took a seat at the table and pulled her little boy into her lap. “What?”  

“He said he wants his mama. Why would he say that?”  

“He misses her. If anything ever happened to me, wouldn't you miss me?”  

Joey nodded. “Can he have her back?”  

Laura shook her head. “She's in heaven.”  

“Oh.” He sat still for a minute, then hugged Laura's neck and bounced off down the hall.  

Laura stayed sitting down. She hadn't expected that little ping of jealousy when Joey said those words, that Frank wanted his mama back. That's ridiculous, Laura! she told herself. Of course he wants her back, no child should have to lose their mother like that.  

She was still thinking when Fenton arrived home at 5:30. He walked in the door, and not seeing anyone in the living room, proceeded straight to the kitchen. Laura was still sitting at the table, a very thoughtful expression on her face.  

“Is something wrong, love?” he asked, dropping a hand on her shoulder and leaning over to kiss her.  

“I'm not sure.” She then told him what Joey had relayed about Frank, and Fenton sat down too.  

“Oh my. I hadn't even thought about what Christmas would be like for Frank without his mother.”  

He noticed a single tear slide down Laura's face and he wiped it away with his thumb. “We'll just have to make it extra special won't we?” he whispered.  

Laura nodded her agreement and managed a smile, then stood from her seat to finish dinner preparations.  

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