Looking for a Story

If I could freeze this moment forever, I would. I would box up this feeling and pull it out whenever I felt sad, whenever I felt like I had failed or like I wasn't enough. The feeling of pride that wells up inside every time someone asks about you and the stories you hold. The way they listen, and some beam with pride. I would forever remember the way it felt to hold you in my hands, to judge your cover and my words in ink. I would hold it close and use it as a weapon when imposter syndrome knocks at my door. If I could freeze this moment in time, it would be the one where the shock of the final draft being done hit me so hard that I had to sit on my bathroom floor. Whenever I felt like giving up on the next project, I would sit in that feeling to inspire me to keep trying. There are times when I look at you and the doubts come like title waves. What if you're not enough, what if no one cares? What if I’ve tricked myself into believing you’re any good? In those times, I will remember the way my editor and early readers praised the stories found within your pages. You might not be the most perfect book, and not everyone will read you, but for me, you are the perfect first step; you pave the way for every book I write after you. I am happy that you came first. Allow me a moment, if you will, to thank those of you who stop by and read my little short stories. Who helped me grow the courage to release my first book, Through the Puddles! I wrote this to summarize my feelings about releasing a book before it went live. I can’t even wrap my head around the feeling from release day that was just a whirlwind. Once again, thank you.

"Miss Ginny! Miss Ginny! We need someone to cut the ribbon at the Library reopening!" "Ginny! We need volunteers for the soup kitchen!" "Ginny, you're still going to come read stories to the seniors? Right?" Everyone wants her to do something just because she was Wave Rocker's chosen damsel? Some call her his girlfriend but can you be someone's girlfriend if you've never been on a date? What makes matters worse, Wave Rocker never sets the record straight and inconveniences her for his own convenience! He should be the one at all these events. But no he uses his damsel for the less glamerless events. Not to mention these events leave her vulnerable to kidnapping. Which lets him play hero. Ginny can't tell anyone but after a year of this nonsense, She's ready to disappear. So between public appearances and her job, she's been making plans to move away. It wasn't easy when everyone thinks they are entitled to your time. But she was ready. She plans to slip out after the big hero celebration and the city can find a new damsel to burn out. Each kidnapping, each Public event, and each unrealistic expectation solidified her resolve to leave. So after the big parade where Wave Rocker saves her and flies her around the city people cheer. While they continue their party at the community center, Ginny slips away, gets in her car and starts to leave Oakville for good. She makes it to the welcome sign when FlameThrower lands in front of her. "Well, well, well, if it isn't the hero's little girlfriend. I thought you'd be soaking in the party!" "Flame seriously not today, I need to go!" She calls from the car. "And miss my chance to ruin Wavies big day? Come on deary you know me better than that." "Flame I SAID I NEED TO GO!" Her voice cracks and the desperation breaks through and she feels tears burn in her eyes. FlameThrower freezes, and his flames stop. "Woah, you're serious, are you okay deary?" "No! No, I'm not. No one cares about me, Ginny. Only me Wave Rocker's girlfriend. And I'm not even sure that's what we are." Her hands pound on the steering wheel. "Ginny, I don't think you should drive today, come on, come back to the compound with me. And if after some rest, if you still wanna leave we'll get you out, I promise." "And why should I trust you FlameThrower?" She gripped the steering wheel ready to speed off. "It could be a trap." "It would be, but FlameThrower has a flair for the dramatic." He holds out his hand, "Willian just sees someone who needs a hand, and maybe a friend.'' "Fine. One Night." she fights the exhaustion trying to claim her. Flamethrower lifts her car and flies it to his compound, hiding her car in the underground garage, "There you're hidden away and no one will find you here." Ginny gets out of her car, "Thank you FlameThrower." "Please just call me William." He guides her through the compound. "Fine. Thank you, William." She looks around, "How can you afford this?" William pauses, "Are you not on the city's payroll?" Ginny just stares at him. "Ginny you are being paid right?" "Paid? No! Are you?" Ginny's body stiffens, everything she’d been through… "Wait you mean to tell me that I've been kidnapping you and putting you in danger when you aren't on the payroll?! That is ridiculous! Ginny, you need to join my side, make them pay!” William’s body starts to burn a bright orange. “I– I can’t believe it, the city pays you two for this little show? Is any of it real?” She feels her own rage grow. “Oh me and Wavie, despise each other. We just both happened to be at the same place at the same time and got affected by the same freak accident. When it became clear that we both had powers, instead of suing the city offered us jobs to boost tourism. Seemed like the better deal in the long run.” He shrugs. They walk in silence for a while, William leads her to the guest room, “I’m serious Ginny, you should join me, I can pay you as my assistant.” “Dress up in a costume and be eye candy? Ya no, I’d rather run away.” She curls up on an armchair in the room. William leans on the door laughing, “Not quite, but I hired a few people to work for me, most of them live here in staff housing, and I could use someone to help me manage them, pulse I run my own business because supervillain can’t be a longtime career. You could help with that. Take a break for six months, disappear and if you want to make the city pay, we can create a fun story and throw off old Wavie for a while, maybe even get an apology from him.” “I… I need time to think about it.” her mind is reeling. “Why did he keep having me do all those events if he was getting paid?” William shifts at the door, “I’m not sure, I thought you were getting paid, the city would always tipped me off to where you’d be.” “Great now I’m too angry to sleep!” She stands up and huffs, pacing around the room. “I’ve got a shooting range for target practice if you need to blow off some rage.” He gestures down the hall. “Tempting, but I’ll wash up and then once I lay down in bed I’ll probably crash hard.” She lets out slow breaths, and heads toward the ensuite “I get that, I’ll make sure you get breakfast in the morning and Ginny?” he pauses just before he leaves. “Yes, William?” She glances over her shoulder. “Really think about it, okay? The City should face your fury.” He smiles and shuts the door behind him. Looking out the window at the city lights, Ginny mutters, “Maybe they should.”

I step out of the portal, “Woah - it really is like time travel.” I look around at a version of my town that has long faded from memory. “Don’t forget ma’ma you only have an hour.” the man in a suit smiles at me. I look in the window of the chain coffee shop I still frequent. She is there, fidgeting nervously, she is in bright teal skinny jeans, with a cute white sweatshirt with a big pink heart on the front. Her long hair reaches well past the middle of her back. I remember the weight of that hair, and how hard it was to manage. For a brief moment, I see my reflection overtop of her, oh how different we are. “Has she been here long?” “She was 20 minutes early, but you knew she would be.” He smirks. “And yes, I was still five minutes late.” I straighten up and put my hand on the door. “Remember, nothing that happens here changes anything that happened after this visit.” he gives me a nod and I head in. As soon as I open she looks up and we lock eyes, I can already tell she is shocked I kept her waiting. I watch her look me over. She takes in my bright pink blazer, black t-shirt and wide-leg jeans. Her eyes stop at my hair, I watch them go wide, it’s short now, and he hates short hair. Her eyes flick to my left hand, no wedding ring, her face falls, and I take a seat. She timidly hands me a hot chocolate, some things never change. She looks at me and her face holds a million questions, and I can’t answer any of them, instead, I slide a few stories across the table, and she looks up at me, “We wrote these?” I nod, she flips from page to page, “Does mom like them?” I smile, “She’s our biggest fan.” I laugh, “Though our best friend might give her a run for her money.” Looking up from the pages I wrote to help her heal, “We get better?” her voice holds hope. I lean forward, I could tell her it’s gets worse before it gets better, or that things will get dark, or how we almost walk away from the light, but I don’t. “We do, and you’ll help others along the way.” She reads those few stories over and over as if she is trying to burn them into her brain, I only wish she could keep them with her when things get hard, it might have made things easier. Soon our hour comes to an end and I reach across the table and place my hand atop hers, “Hey, you’re enough.” She gives a smile that doesn’t reach her eyes, “I know.” She whispers, and I know she doesn’t believe me, I wouldn’t have either. I lean in, “And you're not too much, you never have been and you never will be. You don’t need to take up less space to be loved.” She pulls her hand away and hides behind a sip of her drink. I get up first. “Thank you for meeting me.” I turn where the man in the suit waits to take me back through a portal to a life she hasn’t even started to dream of yet. But before I leave I hear the faint whisper, “Thank you for the reminder.”

Abigail grew up near a hedge maze. She and her family visited the maze almost every weekend, even when the maze turned into a regular park in the winter. Safe to Abigail knew this maze inside and out.  This had its advantages at the big festivals when she got overwhelmed and needed a moment of quiet she knew just the dead end to hide in. Her parent's only rule was to have your phone on you so we can find you in an emergency ,  which she happily obeyed. One day during the kick-off for the summer event Abigail disappears into her little hideout. She flops onto the grass and stares at the clouds rolling by. She can faintly hear the band playing. Then she hears footsteps. Great someone found this dead end.   She sighs and braces herself for questions. "Oh thank goodness! Another human!” That sounds like another kid. Abigail props herself up, "It seems you found my hideout." "This dead end is your hideout?" The girl looks around.  "Yep!" Abigail pops the P, "It's one of the harder dead ends to find so it's pretty quiet.” “And you know this because?" the grit plops down, defeated.  "My family’s a pass holder and the maze never changes.” She shrugs, “So after years I've got it memorized." Abigail smirks, “Names Abigail by the way."  "Tiffany" the girl smiles. "Can you help me out of hear?"  "Do you just want out or do you want to see the fountain at the center?" Abigail lays back down.  "Honestly? I don't know. I feel like I've been running around for hours." Tiffany lets out a sigh.  "Well come look at clouds with me and we can decide in a bit." Abigail lays back down. Then she quickly sends her parents a text, “If someone is looking for a Tiffany, she's got a blue streak. in her hair, she's with me, I'll get her out shortly.”  After it was clear that Tiffany had settled and Abigail shared her water the two girls stood up. "So fountain or just get out?" Abigail stretches.  "Do you mind, I'd love to see the fountain," Tiffany asks uncomfortably.  "Oh yeah, I even knew a shortcut from here. let's go!" Abigail takes Tiffany's hand and leads her through the hedge maze. Soon they come face to face with The Fountain. "How? You made it seem so easy." Tiffany runs her hand under the cool water. Abigail beams. "Like I said the maze never changes, Did you come in by yourself? Rather bold for your first time here.”  Tiffany shrugs, "I guess so. My parents didn't want to try the maze today so I thought I could handle it." "Hey, I've helped several adults get out of the maze. Don't feel bad." Abigail leads her out of the maze.  "Maybe you'll work here someday." Tiffany runs her hand along the plants in wonder at the maze around them. "That's what my mom says." Abigail chuckles. Once the girls get out of the maze they are met by their parents. "Girls!" Abigail's mother waves them over. "Guess what we just learned, Tiffany moved in across the alleyway behind the house. So you girls will be seeing a lot of each other! The girls share a smile.  Over the years, they became partially inseparable friends. Their bond was unbreakable. Abigail and Tiffany both knew the Maze inside and out and often hid in it. As predicted, they got jobs at the park. Tiffany works in the concession stand, and Abigail works at the ticket booth. Part of her job is to rescue lost people in the Maze, which she and Tiffany make jokes about all the time.  Abigail stops by the concession stands on her way for break, "Hey Tiff, ya ready to go?" Tiffany pops her head out "Yep! And it's Friday!'' she brings out an order of fries the girls slip into the maze. "Can you believe it's almost time for college?" Tiffany sits down in the grass and sets the fries between them.  "I know, I still can't believe we aren’t going together" Abigail lays back looking at the clouds.  "I know. It's kinda crazy." Tiffany mumbles, popping a fry into her mouth.  “Think will we still be friends in a year?" Abigail looks over at her. "Well duh! Why would you even ask." Tiffany laughs. “Ya, but we have friends who didn't last through high school. And my mom has like two friends from then." Abigail picks at the fries.  Tiffany lays down next to Abigail, pointing to the clouds, "And if you are the only one I keep from high school. I'd be okay with that.”  Abigail smiles, "I'd be more than okay with that." The girls spend the rest of their break pointing out shapes in clouds and sharing what the future could look like.

Elizabeth walks into her childhood home, it still smells like Mom's apple pie, even though it had been years since her mom had baked one. It’s almost like the smell had been baked into the wall. Here feels like home more than her studio apartment ever does.  Her mom knew how to make a space feel like a home; though Elizabeth isn't sure anywhere will feel like home now that mom is gone. The house is technically hers now. Mom left it to her, it’s a big space just for her, and her mind was wheeling with options. She had time to decide what to do with it, but she didn’t want to linger with her choice. Wandering through the familiar halls of her adolescence and childhood.  Taking a deep breath she opens the door to her Mom's studio. She could still recall all the art that had been created in this room.  "Oh my." Elizabeth gasps. Her mom still had the dress-up box in the corner of the room, she’d always assumed it got moved to the attic once she outgrew dress-up, "I wonder."  She opens the old art supply closet, yep there it is, the "secret" door that leads to the backyard. Mom's studio really had been the back porch that her dad had converted into an art space for his wife.  Growing up she used to believe that when she went through the "secret" door she ended up in a land of fairies and magic, her mom had even designed her a fairy costume to wear in her magical land. Opening the dress-up box, the dress is still neatly folded on top, she slowly lifts the dress out. Looking at it now makes her heart swell, when did she last wear the dress, there were so many little details she’d missed as a child.  She stares back at the door, it’s most likely overgrown and wouldn't open but she steps towards it anyway, longing for something that feels familiar. As if something is calling out to her, she turns the knob and slowly pushes the door open. To her surprise, there's little resistance. And the door opens with ease. The first thing she notices is that it’s raining. But it hadn’t been raining when she got here. There hadn’t even been rain in the forecast. Otherwise, she would have worn her rain boots. When she looks down, her feet are covered in rain shoes that look like they are made of leaves. As she stares at the space that is definitely not her mom’s backyard, she notices there is an umbrella by the door. It looks like it's made of twigs and leaves that are somehow held together by magic.  Opening the umbrella she steps out into the magical land, as she takes more steps memories flow over her. A warmth fills her, and then she hears whispers, “She's back.”  “Is that really her?” “Someone get the grand fairy!” The grand fairy – that feels familiar, she walks deeper into the forest that made her childhood. When suddenly fairies poke out from the trees and brush, using leaves as umbrellas. Near the end of the path, an old fairy appears. Elizabeth picks up her pace, her heart remembering the face of an old friend, she holds out her hand and the old fairy settles in her palm, “You came back.” The fairy’s voice is soft but worn.  “I can't believe this is still here,” Elizabeth says in amazement. “I would have thought all the imagination had worn off.”  “No, you held the imagination in your heart. You remembered us faintly, and so, we lived on. Your mother also painted us from memories of your stories.” The old fairy smiles and Elizabeth feels her composer slip. Her mom had given her a book of those paintings for the last birthday they celebrated together.  Tears burn at Elizabeth’s eyes and she can’t stop them from rolling down her cheeks, hot stinging tears, the little fairy flies up and wipes the tears with a flower petal. “There, there. We were so sorry to hear of your mother's passing.”  Elizabeth nods, “Thank you. It’s been so hard, and she left me the house and I don’t know what to do with it. It’s too much for just me, but how could I part with it?” Elizabeth falls to her knees losing the umbrella, and feeling the cold soak through her jeans, her hair quickly sticking to the sides of her face.  However, the rain doesn’t pelt at her long before several fairies lift the umbrella over her. And the old fairy sits on her shoulder, “Hush now daughter of the forest, you don’t have to make any choices right now. There will be time for that later, now is the time for grief and loss. The house isn’t going anywhere. Surely the Mainland won’t rush you to choose.”  “No, there is no real rush, I just… Mom would know what to do, she’d have wise words and I can’t even ask her what to do.” Elizabeth strikes her hands against her legs as more tears burst from her eyes.  The old fairy flies down and gives a little pull on her hand, “Come walk with us.” Elizabeth nods, takes back the umbrella and numbly walks through the forest. As they walk she feels lighter, the pain is still there, but it’s not as sharp.  “Will I ever feel like I can breathe again?” She whispers to the old fairy who still sits on her shoulder. “You will, I promise. After rain, the sun always shines.” And as if right on cue they enter a little clearing and the sun shines, warming Elizabeth's cold body.  “I wasn’t ready to do this without her.” She lowers the umbrella and lets the sun smile on her face.   “No one ever is, daughter of the forest. But you will find her lessons and love everywhere you look.” The old fairy pats her cheek.  “If I were to stay here, or rather at the house, would you still be here? You know if I wanted to come back and visit?” She can’t help but feel a bit silly asking such a question.  “When you need us we will be here. After all, this is your magical land.” The old fairy flies in front of her.  Elizabeth smiles a little before bidding them farewell and going back through the “secret” door. A few weeks later after sorting through her Mom’s stuff, she moves in.  Sitting down at her mom's old desk, she pulls out the book of paintings and starts writing The Adventures of the Girl and the Fairy Door.

Victor Williams sits down for dinner with his family and before his father can ask about his test two large men burst into his house, “Villain!” They grab him and pull him from his house. “No! My son!” He hears his mom's scream and his sister chases after them. “You can’t take my brother away!” His little sister grabs his ankle and tries to stop them. Victor breaks free from the men, and hugs his sister, “Lacy, you need to be brave without me okay?” She nods, “I'll find a way to see you, I promise.” He whispers before the gab at him again. “I’ll go willingly. There is no need to traumatize my sister.” As soon as he steps outside the world goes black. When he wakes up he’s on a charter bus with other seventeen year olds found to have super powers from the dark side no doubt. “Vic you’re here? You’re like the golden boy, how on earth are you here?” Carson, the kid who had bullied him since grade school sits across the aisle from him. “I…I don’t know.” He leans his head against the cold window but nothing looks familiar anymore. The cold window slows his racing thoughts. He is the son of the city's greatest hero, was he to be the city's greatest villain? Glancing around the bus, he’s suddenly very grateful for the secret identities. Thinking about his Dad brought up that comfortable feeling of rage, his dad isn’t a good person, he’s incredibly rude, selfish and loaded his supper hero status over his mom and family, but because his powers came from a light source he was a hero? It never sat right with Victor, even more so now, sure some of these kids were jerks, but did sending them away to a villain school really seem like the best thing to do? Parents always tell you it’s what in your heart that matters most – until you're seventeen? Soon they pull into what can only be described as a compound, Victor feels his heart sink, what is going to happen to them now? They are led through a maze of corridors until they arrive in the mess hall. Caption Racketeer stands in front of them, “Welcome Young Villains.” His voice echoes throughout the mess hall. “I know some of you are thinking, but I’m not that bad.” Then as if he locks eyes with Victor and it seems like he smirks, “Or even I’m a good person. But the city cares not! Your powers once developed will come out with a black glow and the people will fear you.” He walks down the table, “But you do have a choice, you can stay here and be trained into a villain, or you can go through the painful process of surrendering your power potential and return to your civilian life, your parents will be told you have been reformed.” The kids start to whisper amongst themselves. Victor's mind races, can he go back, would his father be more disappointed if he gave up his powers then if he was a villain. But to be a villain meant never seeing Lacy again. He feels like he’s being torn in two. And if the city can remove your powers, why wait till kids are 17, why not learn to track the gene down when they are younger and have no heroes and villains like other cities. Suddenly it dawns on him, money. The city makes huge money on tourism. “You have 48 hours to decide, until then you will be kept here in this part of the compound, we have to keep the identities of the villains safe.” With a snap of his hand Caption Racketeer makes everyone's favourite treat appear in front of them. Victor has no desire to eat cookies that were not made by his mom. A cold hand sets in on his shoulder, Caption Racketeer stands over him, “Come with me boy.” Victor gulps and follows, “Yes, Sir.” Once in a side room Caption Racketeer lets his mask fall, “Cousin James?” “Hey Vicky Boy! Long time no see eh! So you didn’t inherit Uncle Bill's hero traits, bet he’s disappointed.” That stung more than it should have. “Guess not. Why are you showing me who you are? What about the whole identity thing?” He shifts uncomfortably. “That’s just a thing we say, besides, you already know one of the greatest heroes in the city, clearly you can keep a secret. You're gonna stay here right? No way you can go home, Uncle Bill would kill you.” How can James say that and not see the irony? “I’m gonna think about it.” He shrugs. “Honestly, with how much of a good kid you are, I’m shocked you're here. Maybe I should recommend a retest, maybe it was a bad day.” James mutters. “Why would a bad day change that?” Victor tilts his head. “Don’t worry about it, just stay here with me. You can be my sidekick, we can be a dynamic duo!” James dawns his costume, “Think about it, alright?” Victor nods and returns to his seat numb. The 48 hours fly by, unable to think about going home, a failure he chooses to stay, maybe he can be a secret good guy or something. Once training starts Victor learns his powers are the counterpart to his fathers, his father’s powers move like electericty, his move like waves. He also notices to use his powers he is told to think of the person who angers him the most, the angrier he gets the darker his powers get. The more he focuses on the darkness the harder his heart becomes, his hands start to cool too, this causes him to wonder… “Hey Caption James.” He calls after his cousin once the session lets out, “Can you get a private practice slot? I wanna test out a few things.” “But don’t wanna be embarrassed, I got you cuz.” He flips through the book, “Feel like getting up early? There is an open slot at dawn.” “Yea I’ll take it.” It might hide what he’s up to. “Perfect, I’ll make ya down. The key for the field will just appear on your way.” He turns to leave, “Hey, it’s name day next week, you think of one yet?” “I have some ideas, yea.” Victor shugs, “We’ll see how the next few practices go.” The next morning, alone on the practice field, he stands in the center and rather than thinking about his dad and the rage that had become so comfortable, he thinks of Lacy, her smile, her laughter, the way she always called him her hero. He feels his hand start to warm and the power that flows from his hands is the warm glow of a hero. He freezes. He lets his mind wander back to the feeling of failure, of rage and the power changes back to the black oil like flow. It all made sense, his father may be horribly unkind, but he oozes confidence… “We aren’t villains – the powers reflect how you feel!” and if his father knew that then he set his son to become a villain. And even if his father didn’t know the city had to have figured it out by now, and still they turned kids into villains! For what? Tourism profits! As his rage boils over from his hands flows streams of gold and black, he screams till his throat is raw, and collopes to the turf of the practice field. “I will be the difference I want to see, and the city won’t know what to do with me.” A week later when it comes time to pick a name and a costume he stands before the small crowd of villains, “I will be the Transgressor!” He clapped his hand and his costume, a mix of black and gold with an unbalanced scale across his chest. The other villain cheered, as the applause rolled over him he muttered, “And I will balance the scales.”

Tommy nervously walks into his new school's cafeteria. It should be illegal to make kids move in the middle of the school year. He stands just inside the door, unsure where to sit. The secretary had offered that he could have lunch with her if wanted, but that seemed so lame. “Hi, Tommy!” a girl with pigtails suddenly stands beside him, her name’s Lilly if he remembers right. “Hi, Lilly right?” He shuffles in his spot.  “Wanna sit with me today? I was the new kid a few months ago and it was brutal, so I thought I could sit with you till you find your crew.” She shrugs.  “That would be cool. I used to go home for lunch in my old town, but it was too far away and Mom didn’t want to drive across town four times a day.” He follows her through the cafeteria. “Ah there’s a lot of kids who have that problem, there are only like five kids in our class who go home for lunch so it shouldn’t take you too long to find your group.” She sits in a quiet spot in the cafeteria where they can see the whole room.  “So where's your group?” He asks pulling his lunchbox out of his bag.  “Oh my gosh, you have an old-school metal lunchbox! That’s so vintage and so cool!”  Lilly’s eyes widen.  “Oh yeah, it was my uncle’s.” He shows it off.  “I love vintage stuff, my grandma runs a little shop and I help her some weekends.” She beams.  “Sounds like somewhere my mom should go, she loves that stuff.” He eats his sandwich.  “I’ll bring you grandma’s card.” Lilly smiles and goes to bite in her sandwich. “Oh! You asked who my group is, I don’t have one.” She shrugs, “I’m one of the smartest kids in class, so everyone likes me, but I don’t really have a group to hang out with.”  “I was the smartest kids in my old class. So maybe I’ll give you a run for your money.” He smirks.  “I could use the challenge and a better partner.” She huffs. “I hate when kids only wanna work with you because you're smart but don’t wanna do anything.”  “Oh! That’s the worst! I had that problem all the time.” The two kids chuckle and eat in silence, the sound of the cafeteria becoming a dull hum.  Tommy and Lilly become inseparable friends, they take turns being the top of the class and when elementary school gives way to middle school, the teasing starts, but no matter how many kids make fun of them for being in love they stay friends.  “Did you hear everyone today making a big deal about the dance?” Lilly scoffs. “Yeah, I don’t get it either.” Tommy pauses, does she want to go? Maybe I should ask. “Do you want to go? I know the girls seem to be making a huge deal about it.”  Lilly sets her lunch down, “Honestly? No, I don’t like loud noises, and dances have loud music.”  “Right, you don’t even like movie theatres.” He nods.  As the dance gets closer, thanks to the internet kids make big shows about asking each other to the dance. Tommy can’t figure out why but it bothers Lilly, so with his mom's help, he makes a plan. He slides his lunchbox across the table.  “You're giving me your lunch?” Lilly raises her eyebrow.  “No, just open it.” Tommy smiles.  Lilly opens the box and finds a daffodil, Lilly actually hated lilies, and a note, Movie Night at My Place this Friday? “Oh, Tommy! Thank you, I’d love to!”  “I’ll even let you pick the movie.” He smiles, “I figured if we both weren’t going to the dance we could still do something fun.” He then steals his lunch box back, “But you still can’t have my lunch box.  And tradition is born, Tommy and Lilly didn’t go to dances but instead, they took turns hosting movie nights. From middle school to high school, the two stayed close, even though they did find groups of their own, as high school didn’t give them many classes together.  It wasn’t uncommon for their new friends to assume they were dating or wanted to date. Tommy and Lilly never could give a straight answer as to what was happening between them, they just didn’t talk about it, until Sr. Prom came around.  “Tommy, did you see the Prom Queen and King voting list?” Lilly stares at her phone. “No, we aren’t going, so I wasn’t gonna bother looking.” He sets down the lunch tray his mom sent up.  “Look!” She hands him her phone. “How!?”  He quickly reads through the list, “We made the cut?” He burst out laughing. “Well jokes on them.” Tommy glances over at Lilly's rather distraught face. “Hold up.” He reaches into his book bag and pulls out his lunchbox.  “I didn’t know you still used that thing,” Lilly says, still not understanding what's going on.  “I don’t, but I was gonna sneak this into your locker.” He rubs the back of his neck.  Lilly opens the box and reads, “Lilly, I know we don’t do dances, but if you wanted to prom and wasn’t going to say anything, will you go to prom with me? PS: Yes, I want my lunchbox back.” She looks at him, “You want to go to prom with me?”  “Duh, you’re my best girl, I’d spend a day at the mall with you if you really wanted to.” He pauses, “And if you don’t want to go to prom because of the loud noises, Mom says she and I can turn the backyard into our own dance floor.” “You won’t even go to the mall with your mom…” She looks back at the lunchbox and lifts the Lego daffodil out of the box, “Best girl? My old movie taste is affecting you.”  “I mean it, Lilly. If we go to prom I want it to be with you on my arm as my honest-to-goodness date. Not my friend, but my girlfriend. So what do you say?” He holds out his hand.  She blushes, “I am willing to try prom with your house as a backup if the noise is too much” She takes his hand, “I’d love to be your girlfriend.”  “You mean it!?” Tommy picks her up and spins her around.  “Yes, I mean it!” She laughs and hugs him tight.  *** They didn’t last an hour at prom before they made their way to his backyard where they finished their dance.  The metal lunchbox wasn’t used again for a few years after a relationship stood the test of distance, college, finals, and levels of stress but when Tommy did dig it out again, he intended to let her keep it, if she said yes to the rig she found inside.

During the confusing days between Christmas and New Year's, a knock interrupts Ivy, who is binge-watching the Christmas movies she hasn’t had time for thanks to work. Uncuring from the warmth of the pile of blankets she has herself under, she slowly makes her way to the door. “Chris! What a lovely surprise! Come in out of the cold!” She feels her face warm. She and Chirs haven’t seen each other since before Christmas. “Hey Lady Noel,” he glances around her space. It looks like I’m interrupting some pretty serious RR.” He smirks. “Hey, the office is closed for such a small window this time of year, so I have to make the most of it.” She grins and invites him to join her at the table. “Did you want some hot chocolate, or were you just popping by?” “If you don’t mind the intrusion, hot chocolate sounds lovely.” He hangs his coat on the back of the chair. “I don’t mind, I feel like the movies are rotting my brain. And! I’d love to hear how your Christmas went.” She busies herself with the kettle and finding mugs. “Oh, it was just like every other Christmas. Mom and Dad got me a few gifts and we spent most of the day helping the little opening presents. Becca loved the journal, by the way, thank you for that. How did your gifts go over?” “Really well! Everyone loved them!” She beamed as she set two mugs on the table. “You know hot chocolate seems to be becoming our thing.” “So it is.” He takes a long sip and then wraps his hand around his mug. “So can I ask why you stopped by? I didn’t think we were at a social call level.” Ivy teases. “Well I hadn’t seen you since the carol festival, and I wanted to ask you something, and a phone call or text just seemed lame.” He tilts his mug back and forth. “Well, you have my attention.” Ivy leans in. “So I know it’s still December.” Ivy nods, her face warming, “But I was wondering if you had plans for New Year's? I found out that the Museum is doing a New Year's Around the World party, and I asked the guy to hold two tickets for me. Because I know I would rather ring in the new year getting to know you and trying out different traditions than sitting at home with my family.” “You're asking me on an actual date? Not just some fill-in for a family event?” Ivy feels the blush and takes a sip of her drink trying to have her face, she likes Chris, but… “If you want to be technical the date can start at 12:01 January first.” He flashes her that charming smile. “That would keep me within my rules.” It’s her turn to tilt her mug back and forth. “I sense there is a but at the end of that sentence.” He leans in. “It’s just… I don’t do casual relationships.” She makes a point of looking him in the eye, “I know we’ve spent this month going to events together, but I didn’t view those as dates, I viewed it as helping out a new friend.” “What if I wasn’t asking for something casual?” Chris overs his hand across the table. Ivy stares at it for a beat, “But you're here on temp work.” She sets the mug down leaves the table and walks over to the calendar, making space between them. Chris doesn’t move at first, “And the guys I work for always offer me a permanent job once the temp contract is done, I could stay.” He pushes his chair away from the table. “I can’t be the reason you stay here.” She turns away. She hears him get up, “And what if you were? It’s not like I’m giving up a dream job or perfect life to move to some backwater town for you, and even if I was, would that really be so bad?” She can tell he's close behind her now, “And, I grew up here, my family is here, my adorable niece is here, if anything you're just a fantastically wonderful bonus about finally coming home.” He places a hand on her shoulder, silently asking her to turn around. She faces him, “And if it doesn't work out? I won’t be the reason you run out of town in the middle of the night, nor will I give up everything to get away from you.” “I think we are getting ahead of ourselves here, I’m asking for a date, no plans need to be made right now, I want to keep getting to know you better and we have till February to worry about me staying.” He lets his hand fall from her shoulder, taking her hand in his. “I’m just asking for a chance, that's all.” Ivy bites her lip, thinking about the fun not dating dates they’ve had throughout December, would it all change when the magic of Christmas wore off? Would he get tired of her and leave like everyone else? Was it worth the risk? “Alright, Chirs Kringle you got yourself a date.” His face lights up, “You mean it? I promise we’ll have a great time and if you decide you hate the party, we can come back here and watch all the cheesy movies you want!” “Don’t make promises you can’t keep now.” She laughs. “I don’t break promises.” He says with a tone more serious than the moment required. “So I’m learning.” She gives him a soft smile. He drops her hand, “I’ll let you get back to your RR, and I’ll see you on New Year's, I’ll pick you up at 5:30 and we can get dinner before the event?” She picks up his coat. “I’ll be ready with bells on.” She winks. “Now that, I’d love to see.” He laughs as she walks him to the door. “Thanks for taking a chance.” “Don’t thank me yet. You might regret it.” She laughs nervously. “Somehow I doubt I’d regret an evening with a beautiful girl like you.” He winks and walks out the door. Ivy waits till she hears his car drive off before she bursts into giggles and skips back to her pile of blankets, before she turns her movie back on she pauses for a moment to embrace the love story she might just be starting.

Avery hands her mom her Christmas list, at eleven, she didn't put any toys on the list. She was too old for that. Her mom reads it over, “A cable knit sweater, earrings, charm bracelet, earbuds, and a new water bottle. All very grown-up things, honey.”  "Yeah, well my friends and I made our lists together." Avery shrugs. “Are you sure you don't want to add something to do on Christmas day? Your brother and sister will both get toys on Christmas and you may want to ask for something to do, a puzzle, a craft, or even a toy.” Her mom hints handing her back her list.  Avery holds her hand up, refusing to take the list back, “My friends didn't put those things on their lists, Mom."  Her mom gives her a gentle smile, “I know dear, but your friends aren't here are they?" Avery hesitates, “No, I'm happy with the list.” She nods, convincing herself as much as her mom. "Well, alright then dear. If that's what you want.” Her mom shrugs and sticks the list on the fridge.  The next Saturday, Avery was hiding in her room, headphones in, music blasting. Why did school have to get so close to Christmas! She is so tired! Her mom knocks on her door, and pokes her head in, "Honey? Since you are so grown, wanna help me create Christmas magic?”  Avery feels a rush of excitement, but tries to play it off, “Ya, sure that's cool or whatever." She jumps off her bed and follows her mom to the car.  "I need your help deciphering your siblings' Christmas lists.” Her mom chuckles and hands Avery the lists in poorly written crayon. "Insisted of writing them themselves this year. So anything you know would be great.”  As they find a parking spot at the shopping center, Avery solves about 80 percent of the list. Which is as good a start as any. As they wander through the toy aisle, Avery pauses, "What ya looking at Honey?” Her mom calls from a few feet ahead.  "Oh just the Barbies, Ella and I always get Barbies on Christmas and we play with them while Tommy and Dad play with whatever toy he got.” She picks up the Barbie she knows Ella really wants, "I guess I should tell her I didn't ask for one” she kicks at the ground.  “That is the downside of growing up, I suppose." Her mom steps back, “If I was going to ask for a Barbie for Christmas, I’d pick that one" She points to a Barbie in a bright pink blazer. " How about you?”  “Mom, I'm too old for Barbies.” She rolls her eyes.  “Maybe you are, but I still think they are fun, so come on, which would you choose?" Her mom places a hand on her shoulder. "Fine, the Minnie Mouse fan one, cuz she'd fit in with the rest of my Minnie Collection, and Ella wouldn't take it.” She shrugs, “We should keep moving. We've still got a lot to find."  As Christmas gets closer, Avery begins to wonder if she made a mistake, not asking for something to do on Christmas. But she wouldn't let her mom know she was right. And she did promise Ella as part of her Christmas gift she would play Barbies on Christmas. It was like a tradition or whatever. So she won't be bored. However, she did end up back at the store with her dad. She wanted to get mom a Christmas gift that wasn't from the three of them kids. After all, she is getting older. "So kiddo, what did you want to get your mom?”  She looks at the floor, “It’s kinda stupid." She mumbles, the closer they got to the section of the store the more she thought her mom would hate it.  “Hey, don't talk about your ideas that way. I'm sure she'll love it.” Her dad encourages as he follows her through the store. Avery stops in front of the display, her dad smiles, “I see, you're sure?" Avery nods, “I think it's perfect."  Christmas morning is bright and clear and the family's a mountain of wrapping paper and each gift is open. Avery hands her mom the gift she bought, “Oh honey you didn't need to get me anything extra."  She shrugs, “Dad isn't the only one who can make Christmas Magic for you." Her mom tears away the paper, “Oh! This is so fun! Ella, look what your sister got me!”  “You got mom a Barbie!? Now Mom can play with us too!” Ella grabs the box from her mom and looks on and on about the fun pink jacket she is wearing.  Soon the wrapping paper mountain is in trash bags and toys are ready to be played with. Avery sits on the couch as she watches her brother and father zip around the living room with his new remote-controlled car. While her sister and mom unpack their new Barbies. Maybe the regret is settling in.  Before she finds an excuse to go to her room to hide for even a few minutes, her mom hands her one more wrapped gift. "But I opened all of mine already."  Her mom winks, “Maybe this one got lost." Avery slowly opens it, and her smile gives her away, the Minnie Mouse Fan Barbie, it's even cooler than it was in the store. "Thanks, Mom. Maybe, I'm not too old for toys just yet.” Avery slips onto the floor and joins her mom and sister in playing with their new Barbies.

Brooke is someone who loves Christmas. She adores it, her house is full of decorations. Christmas music is always on her playlist, and as soon as it is socially acceptable, she blasts it for all to hear. She loves all the parties, the get-togethers, events, and fundraisers. She saved money for Christmas all year to make Christmas as magical as possible. However, this year something is different – she is tired and burnt out.  She glances once more at the calendar, she is officially closer to Christmas than she is to the beginning of the month. And somehow she hadn't had a night at home since December first. Between working the occasional late shift and Christmas events, she hadn't had a quiet night at home, yet this year. And it just felt wrong.  That's when it dawns on her, this was the only night she had nothing going on. “How did I do that?” She asks the empty room. “Is that why I am so spent?” Her phone dings, it’s her mom – reminding her, there was an event at the church tonight, some sort of ladies' tea fundraiser thing she hadn't RSVP to because she genuinely couldn't remember if she had something going on this night or not. She could get ready and go, she could pick up an ornament on the way…But the idea of staying home curled up under a blanket with a warm cup of hot chocolate and a Christmas movie feels too irresistible. She types out her reply, “Hey Mom, uh, I forgot to RSVP for that. I know I could just show up but  I'm honestly feeling pretty spent, so I think I'm just going to stay home tonight.” She takes a breath and sends the message.  Won't everybody be so disappointed in her? Won't they think less of her if she didn't show up?  She always went to the ladies' teas. She shakes her head and starts her kettle. She then decides to make some popcorn. Sure popcorn wasn't the best supper option, but for a movie night, it was perfect. She could add some cheese and apples alongside to make it a little healthier. Brooke listens as the butter and oil melt, adding the popcorn slowly it starts popping and the kettle starts to whistle. She adds some milk to the bottom of her cup and mixes in the hot chocolate powder, the sound of the water pouring into her mug makes her feel all cozy inside. Soon the popcorn is done and her cup of hot chocolate is warm and toasty in her hands. Using her foot to click on her heated blanket, she carefully sits down on the couch. The blanket starts to warm, and she begins to scroll through the thousands of Christmas movie options. Did she want to watch something new or something old? While she scrolls through the listings on the TV, her mind once again, begins to wander. Such a shame you're going to stay home   instead of going to that party with all your church friends . You could make time for little Tommy's Christmas play, but can’t make it to a church event? Brooke tries to stop the spiral, but it’s so loud. Why have you burned all your energy on silly Christmas events, like work parties and friends events so that you can't go to this one event? You waste time shopping… “Stop it!” She shouts slamming her mug on the side table, “It's not a problem that I take a night off. There are hundreds of Christmas events in the city alone every year. And I cannot possibly go to them all. I love Christmas, and I'm sitting here burnt out because I have not given myself a night off this entire season. I'm not a failure for wanting to take a night off!” She covers her ears as if that will stop her mind from racing with guilt. Your mom could make time for it, and wasn’t she just as busy? Weren’t all the ladies at the event just as busy as her? Why was she so important she could take a night off? After all, wasn’t the reason for the season to be busy?  She freezes, and the spiral stops.   Her frustrations pour over, “No. No, it's not, nothing about this season is supposed to be about this ridiculous over-the-top busyness! A young woman had been going about her business when an angel showed up and told her she was going to have a baby who would save the world. The man who was supposed to marry her had been sleeping when the angel interrupted his dreams to tell him to marry the girl and help her raise the Messiah. People were too busy the night that Jesus showed up to notice. Nobody knew the Savior had come that night. Except for some Shepherds in their fields, who were sitting out in the calm and the quiet of the night when angels interrupted their normal routine.  There is nothing in the Christmas story that demands, this particular busyness. If anything, it demand us to take a break and slow down because if we all spend our days being busy we might just miss it!”  She pauses – we might just miss it, other than at church listening to advent readings and a sermon series leading to Christmas. Had she actually thought about the reason for the season? She reached over for a church bag which sits on the other end of the couch. She can spend a few minutes reading through the different accounts of the Christmas story. Just as she was about to open her bible, her phone dings, another text from her mom. “Good call, sweetheart. Taking a break is important this time of year and you've been so busy. I'm glad you're taking a night off.” She responds, “Me too Mom, me too.”  Silencing her phone, she opens her Bible and begins to read about the reason she celebrates. The reason this season was her favourite in the first place.