Tales by the Tree by Lisa Shambrook

Author:Lisa Shambrook
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: short story, anthology, collection, holiday, Christmas, Yule, humor, Santa Claus, fantasy, family, traditions
Publisher: BHC Press
Published: 2017-11-15T00:00:00+00:00

This is unacceptable!” Santa Claus bellowed. “There’s a child’s name on my list without a present written next to it!” He turned to his helper elf and said, “It was your job, Felix, to check for problems like this. Now we’re at this girl’s house and I have no gift for her.”

“Oh, dear—I was meaning to talk to you about that. We received Jasmine’s letter, but it didn’t mention what she wanted. There was only a drawing of a snowflake.”

“A snowflake?”

“Yes, Santa,” a tiny voice replied.

“Who said that?”

“I did. I’m Jasmine. I didn’t know how to spell snowflake.”

“I see. By the way, shouldn’t you be asleep?”

“I didn’t want to miss you. I had to know if you could help me. I promised my mother that someday I would take her back to the snow she loves. She was born in the north. Her name is Sarah. We only moved here because I needed to see a special doctor.”

“Taking your mother on a trip should be easy enough once you’re older,” Santa explained. “Or perhaps I can arrange something for next year.”

Jasmine sighed. “That’s the problem, Santa. I don’t think I’ll have a ‘next’ year.”

Santa noticed the bottles of medicine near her bed. He exchanged a concerned glance with Felix.

“I thought if I couldn’t go with my mother to the north, maybe I could bring the snow here—with your help.”

“I wish there was something I could do, but I don’t make the snow.”

“Then who does, Santa?”

“Why, the Old Man of the North, Boreas. Most know him as Father Frost. That’s his job, along with sending forth the cold winter winds.”

“Oh.” Jasmine’s shoulders drooped. “So you can’t help after all.”

“You can still have a present if you’d like. I’m sure we can find something on the sleigh.”

“I don’t really want anything else. Thanks.”

Santa turned to Felix and whispered, “This isn’t working. I’ve promised to deliver a gift for every good child. Now what am I to do?”

“Perhaps Boreas could send a little snow her way. That shouldn’t be too much to ask.”

“I don’t know,” Santa said while stroking his beard. “He’s a bit of a grump, though I suppose we could try. Pull Comet and Dasher from the team—they’re the fastest. Have them take you to Boreas. Explain the situation and ask if he can help. And remember to address him respectfully. You’ll need all the help you can get.”

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