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- Story Listed as: Fiction For Adults
- Theme: Horror
- Subject: Horror / Scary
- Published: 12/20/2019
Silent Night
Born 1976, M, from Whitechapel, AustraliaMother ripped and tore with her vermillion nails. Father watched excitedly as red strips fell on the pale, wooden floor. Baby cooed and bounced in his crib. Not a word was spoken; not a word was needed. When it was done, there was stillness and staring and anticipation. It was the greatest Christmas gift ever given or received. Mother's eyes misted over. Father wrapped a thick, muscled arm around her shoulders. Baby peered out through wooden bars like an inmate.
A knock at the door made Mother's stomach lurch. Father shot her a glance. Baby disappeared into his blankets. Knock! Knock! Then murmuring from outside made Mother sigh. Father rolled his eyes. Baby barely moved. The floorboards creaked sparingly as though they knew to keep quiet. Father crept to the door and opened it carefully. The carollers inhaled in unison before unloading both barrels of Silent Night into Father's face. Mother appeared. Baby peered out through a crevice in the bedclothes.
The singing continued in earnest. Mother looked at Father. Father looked back at Mother. Baby looked at the present on the floor. When the carol concluded, Mother smiled and waved the troupe in. Father appeared panicked but he soon came around. Hospitality is what Christmas is all about after all; hospitality and presents, that is.
Mother led the carollers down the hall. Father followed. Baby hopped up and danced like an imp. One by one they entered the sitting room: their faces as white as the fallen snow outside. On the floor was a monstrosity; a thing of utter horror. Redness against the pine and a face twisted in agony. One of the singers made to flee but Father blocked her way. They needed to see it; they needed to know.
It was the ugliest Christmas jumper any of them had ever seen. It was bright red and badly knitted. Staring out at them was what was meant to be the smiling face of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: it looked more like an angry aardvark. One of the carollers tittered, another coughed nervously and yet another began to mumble incoherently. Mother pointed at the floor emphatically. Father did the same. Baby glared at the strangers in his house.
"Oh no thank you. None of us needs a jumper it's fair to say. We should be on our way, in fact. Christmas cheer to spread," said the self-appointed spokesman of the group. Feet shuffled and seasons greetings were uttered. Mother looked around feverishly. Father herded the choir away from the sitting-room door. Baby smiled.
One of the carollers screamed and fainted; that's when the rest of them noticed the body of Santa Claus under the tree.
Silent Night(Jason James Parker)
Mother ripped and tore with her vermillion nails. Father watched excitedly as red strips fell on the pale, wooden floor. Baby cooed and bounced in his crib. Not a word was spoken; not a word was needed. When it was done, there was stillness and staring and anticipation. It was the greatest Christmas gift ever given or received. Mother's eyes misted over. Father wrapped a thick, muscled arm around her shoulders. Baby peered out through wooden bars like an inmate.
A knock at the door made Mother's stomach lurch. Father shot her a glance. Baby disappeared into his blankets. Knock! Knock! Then murmuring from outside made Mother sigh. Father rolled his eyes. Baby barely moved. The floorboards creaked sparingly as though they knew to keep quiet. Father crept to the door and opened it carefully. The carollers inhaled in unison before unloading both barrels of Silent Night into Father's face. Mother appeared. Baby peered out through a crevice in the bedclothes.
The singing continued in earnest. Mother looked at Father. Father looked back at Mother. Baby looked at the present on the floor. When the carol concluded, Mother smiled and waved the troupe in. Father appeared panicked but he soon came around. Hospitality is what Christmas is all about after all; hospitality and presents, that is.
Mother led the carollers down the hall. Father followed. Baby hopped up and danced like an imp. One by one they entered the sitting room: their faces as white as the fallen snow outside. On the floor was a monstrosity; a thing of utter horror. Redness against the pine and a face twisted in agony. One of the singers made to flee but Father blocked her way. They needed to see it; they needed to know.
It was the ugliest Christmas jumper any of them had ever seen. It was bright red and badly knitted. Staring out at them was what was meant to be the smiling face of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: it looked more like an angry aardvark. One of the carollers tittered, another coughed nervously and yet another began to mumble incoherently. Mother pointed at the floor emphatically. Father did the same. Baby glared at the strangers in his house.
"Oh no thank you. None of us needs a jumper it's fair to say. We should be on our way, in fact. Christmas cheer to spread," said the self-appointed spokesman of the group. Feet shuffled and seasons greetings were uttered. Mother looked around feverishly. Father herded the choir away from the sitting-room door. Baby smiled.
One of the carollers screamed and fainted; that's when the rest of them noticed the body of Santa Claus under the tree.
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Douglas Richards
10/19/2020Loved it!!! So very well written. Inspires me to write a Christmas story myself. :) Take care!
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JD
12/22/2019ho ho ho... and ugh oh... oh... no!
U silly naughty boy, you!
I guess we know who won't be making Santa's 'Nice' list this year! :-)
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JD
12/23/2019I expect it will be a very large lump, Jason! But Merry Christmas to you and yours anyway! : )
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Jason James Parker
12/22/2019Ha Ha. I'm expecting a lump of coal in my stocking. Thanks for reading, Jd.
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