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From: J R D <jrdss@pobox.alaska.net>
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Subject: {ASSM} Bad Wishing:A Little Girl's Christmas
Date: Sun,  9 Dec 2001 23:10:04 -0500
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Had to get a new email, so I'm reposting my old works under the new 
addy to get it out.

In this story, Patty finds a little girl having a bad time because 
her parents have forgotten what Christmas is all about.  So she 
arranges with Patty for a wish, and even though she doesn't 
understand exactly what she's wishing for, makes her wish...

Now, onto the boring stuff

-------------------------

DISCLAIMERS

-------------------------

This story contains scenes of an erotic and/or controversial nature, 
and is not intended for the perusal of minors.  Further if perusal of 
such material is considered illegal in your area or immoral by your 
religion or personal beliefs, you should likewise bypass this story.

This story remains the property of the author.  Permission is granted 
to download, photocopy, copy and repost so long as any such action 
contains these disclaimers, and no attempt is made to profit from 
this story.

All characters in this story are the creation of the author, and any 
resemblance to real persons, alive or dead, are purely coincidental.

This story may contain aspects of fantastic science or magic.  The 
parameters of what this science/magic can accomplish are completely 
at the discretion of me, the author, and, as such, I make no 
apologies for any rules of "real" physics, chemistry, biology, or 
magic that may be broken within the story.

-------------------------

Now onto the fun stuff

-------------------------

BAD WISH 6:A LITTLE GIRL'S CHRISTMAS

Seven year old Muriel Lucas ran into her room and jumped on the bed. 
She buried her face in the pillow and started sobbing.  She was still 
crying when she heard a voice say, "Ah, now what would a wee lassie 
like you be havin' such a fit about?"

Muriel sat up and saw a strange little man all dressed in green 
sitting on her dresser.  "Who are you?"

"My name be Patty.  Patty the leprechaun.  Now what does a pretty 
lass like you have to cry about?"

Muriel sniffled a bit, and said, "I shouldn't talk to you.  Mommy and 
daddy say I shouldn't talk to strangers."

Patty smiled.  "Normally good advice, lass, but I'm not a stranger. 
All children know the wee folk.  We live on the edges of dreams where 
the innocent walk and only the young remember visiting.  Now what's 
wrong?"

"It's this lousy season."

"Christmas?  I thought all humans loved Christmas, particularly 
little children."

"I used to love Christmas, but this year...  Everybody just sucks. 
Daddy keeps complaining about bills.  Mommy says she's so busy with 
her work that she doesn't have time for Christmas.  The only 
decorations we have is that ugly fake tree down on the table." 
Muriel wiped a tear from her cheek and sniffled.  "That tree is 
smaller than you are."

Patty grinned.  He leapt down from the dresser and walked over to 
Muriel and sat beside her on the bed.  "Lassie, you shouldn't 
despair.  I have seen many wonders, many magics in this world, and 
the greatest of them all is the magic of Christmas.  But Christmas 
doesn't come from out there."  Patty swept his hand in a wide sweep, 
signifying the rest of the world.  "Christmas comes from right here." 
He tapped her chest.  "Your parents know the true spirit of 
Christmas; they just forgot it as they grew up.  As long as you keep 
it true in your heart, it'll infect others and make them know it, 
too."

Muriel sniffled up the last of her tears, and said, "Thanks."

"Feeling better?"

"A little."

"Good.  I have to go now, got a lot of work to do, but if you need a 
little cheering up, call me and I'll stop by as soon as I can."

"Patty, could you help me?  Help me teach my mom and dad about the 
Christmas spirit?  Use your magic?"

"I can't.  I am bound by ancient laws not to use my magic except in 
trade for gold."

"Wait a minute."  Muriel leapt off the bed and ran to the closet. 
She dug around for a while, then came out carrying a pair of 
gold-colored ballet slippers.  "I got these for Christmas last year. 
Mom was supposed to get me some ballet lessons to go along with them, 
but she never got around to it.  I'd really like to get to use them, 
but," she held them out to Patty, "I'd gladly give them up to help 
mommy and daddy be happy again."

Patty took the shoes and looked at them, fighting back tears of 
sentiment.  He was almost heart-broken over the fact that he'd have 
to turn them down.  With no real gold in the shoes, they weren't 
worthy of a wish.  But then he stopped.  The law stated that he was 
only allowed to trade wishes for gold of significant value.  But the 
law said nothing about it needing to be real gold, and these shoes 
were clearly of significant value to the girl, so...

"Alright, it's a deal.  I can give you one wish, but you must be very 
careful what you wish for.  I must grant the wish as you word it."

Muriel nodded.  She didn't really understand, not being old enough to 
realize the difference between literal definition and inferred 
meaning of words.  Patty, not being used to dealing with young 
children, had no idea that she didn't know what he meant.  But she 
did think about it and said, "I wish my parents would learn what 
Christmas was supposed to be by living each other's childhood," 
thinking it to be a very grown-up sounding wish.

Patty was about to ask her to rephrase, but stopped.  Sometimes kids 
knew best, even if they didn't know it.  The wish probably wasn't 
what she intended, but it would do the job.  Patty smiled and said, 
"Granted."

Downstairs, May Lucas was working on some typing that she had.  She 
could've done it at work, but she wanted to impress her new bosses, 
so she took it home to get ahead.  Michael Lucas had just finished 
paying the last bill.  He had a little extra left over, which he 
planned to just store away for a rainy day.

Suddenly, the world just dropped out from under them and both passed out.

************

Michael woke up in a soft bed.  He sat up, the soft shirt he was 
wearing shifting on his frame.  He looked around.  His blanket was 
covered with pictures of pink bunnies, and there was a pink bunny on 
his shirt.  Without knowing why, he got up and snuck downstairs. 
Underneath the tree were far more presents than what had been there 
last night, and he knew that Santa had been there.

He ran down and looked around.  He wasn't allowed to open any gifts 
before his parents got up, but that didn't mean he couldn't look. 
Santa usually left one unwrapped gift for him that he could see. 
When he got downstairs, he saw it.  A big, pink, fluffy, stuffed 
bunny rabbit (he loved bunny rabbits) larger even than he was.  He 
clapped his hands gleefully, thinking about where that'd go in his 
room.

Now he just had to wait for his parents to get up.  He could go 
through his regular routine of making a lot of noise until his 
parents got up, but that never seemed to work.  In fact, he was 
beginning to suspect that they purposefully ignored him just to tease 
him.

He instead decided to get into his stocking.  His parents didn't mind 
that.  He dumped the stocking out.  Most of it was chocolate or dried 
fruits, and, of course, there was that new toothbrush that Santa gave 
him every year (as if he didn't get enough pressure from his parents 
about brushing), but what really grabbed his eyes was the single pair 
of clip-on earrings.  His very first pair!  He ran to the bathroom 
and put them on.  They were crooked, but mom would help him 
straighten them out when she got up.

He returned to the living room, the new weights already feeling weird 
on his ears, but mommy had told him that would happen.  He sat down 
next to the contents of his stocking and began eating some of the 
food.  He wasn't allowed to eat the chocolate until he had breakfast, 
but he could eat the fruit.

Then he decided, "Why wait?"  He'd show his parents he was a big girl 
now and make his own breakfast.  He went out to the kitchen and 
looked up at the cabinet with the cereals.  He then went over to the 
column of drawers and pulled them out.  The lowest went out furthest, 
and each one up a little less, forming a set of impromptu stairs he 
could climb to get up on the counter.  Mommy had told him not to do 
this, but how else was he going to get to the cereal?

He got out a box of Cocoa Puffs (his favorite), set it on the 
counter, got a bowl from the next cabinet, set it beside the cereal, 
and jumped down.   He took the bowl and box and put them on the 
table, then went to the fridge.  The milk pitcher (mom made her own 
from dry) was on the top shelf and barely within reach.  He grabbed 
it and pulled it down, spilling a good amount on the floor.  He 
carried it over to the table, setting it beside the other stuff.

He poured the cereal into the bowl, filling it right to the rim.  He 
poured the milk in on top, spilling half the cereal and some of the 
milk on the table.  He got a spoon from the silverware drawer and dug 
in.

After most of the way through, he heard someone behind him and looked 
up to see mommy.  She was smiling, and he lifted his spoon, proudly 
saying, "I made my own breakfast!"

She said, almost laughing, "I can see that.  Finish up your 
breakfast, young lady.  Santa left you a lot of gifts to open."  He 
didn't understand what she was so amused about, but he happily 
scarfed down the rest of his cereal and went with mommy back to the 
living room.

The rest of the day was normal for them, opening presents, mom 
cooking, dad reading while smoking his pipe, and him playing with his 
stuff.  And the haul had been great this year.  Among other stuff, he 
got a new Barbie with a new doll house, a whole collection of stuffed 
animals (including 5 new bunnies), and a small collection of plastic 
jewelry.  He had hoped for some make-up, but mommy said he was still 
too young for that, and he guessed Santa agreed with her.

************

May woke up when her little brother, Luis, climbed into bed with her. 
He looked up and smiled conspiratorially.  They both got out of bed 
and crept over towards her older brother's bed.  She was getting 
pretty sure her older brother, Kenny, let them "ambush" him every 
Christmas morning, but he never admitted anything.  They jumped on 
the bed, yelling, "Christmas time!  Christmas time!  Get up!  Get up! 
Get up!"

Then with a loud roar, he suddenly grabbed them and started wrestling 
like brothers do.  The two of them were getting better, but Kenny was 
growing up, in his first year of high school (almost an adult!), and 
when he had them pinned down, he yelled "Winner and still champion, 
Kenny Lucas!" then made the roaring sound of a simulated crowd.

 From the door, they heard their dad say, "Alright, kids, time for Christmas."

Luis and May ran downstairs with Kenny and dad following behind. 
They went through their gifts quickly.  Most were hand made, and May 
loved them all.  They were a poor family, particularly since mom had 
died, but somehow dad always made Christmas a special time.  And the 
best time was when Kenny got to the special gift they had got him. 
He unwrapped the box and said, "An official, regulation-size NFL 
football!  Dad, I can't accept this."

May said, "You better!  Luis and I both chipped in to help."

Dad said, "When your brothers heard your coach recommend some home 
practice last September, they both agreed to go on half allowance to 
help pay for that.  If you're going to make it to State on a 
scholarship, you need all the practice you can get."

Kenny turned to his brothers.  "Thanks, guys.  Why don't you go get 
dressed and we'll go toss this around."

May and Luis ran upstairs and got into their Winter clothes and went 
outside with Kenny.  While dad made their Christmas meal, the three 
boys tossed the ball around,  Then they had their meal and both of 
the younger boys crawled into bed, too tired to keep their eyes open.

************

It was the first day back to school from Christmas break and Michael 
was on the playground playing with his doll with some of his friends. 
He didn't even question that he had spent a few years growing up in 
the body of his wife, nor did he question the fact that everyone 
around him referred to him as May.

While playing, Linda said, "Cool doll, May, where'd you get it?"

"It was a gift from Santa."

"Oh, you mean your parents got it for you."

"No, it was a gift from Santa."

"Don't tell me you still believe that.  Grow up.  Santa's just a 
story adults make up for little kids."

"LIAR!  Santa is too real!"

Linda snorted a most unladylike snort.  "Come on.  Flying reindeer? 
One sled filled with toys for ALL the girls and boys?  Delivering all 
those toys on one night?  Santa. isn't. real."

Michael stormed off, refusing to play with mean old Linda anymore. 
But her words had already sunk in and were having their effect.  Over 
the rest of the day, all the logical inconsistencies of Santa 
filtered forth, and by the end of the day he was convinced.  His 
parents had lied to him.  Santa was a lie.

That afternoon, when he got home from school, he went upstairs to his 
room and got the ultra-large, stuffed bunny he had gotten from Santa 
years ago and started dragging him down the stairs.  About halfway 
down the stairs, mom saw him and asked, "Dear, what are you doing 
with Mr. Floppy?"

Tears in his eyes, he said, "Getting rid of him."

"Why?  I thought he was your favorite gift from Santa?"

"Santa's a lie!  I don't want to see him anymore!"

"Oh, hun.  Come on down here.  Leave Mr. Floppy where he is."

Michael came down the steps and his mom pulled him up on her lap. 
"Now let's talk about Santa."

"You gonna try to tell me he's real?"

"Depends on what you mean by real.  Am I going to tell you there's a 
big man in a red suit up at the north pole with a bunch of elves 
making toys?  No.  But Santa is the spirit of giving without 
expecting anything in return.  He's the essence of all that is good 
about Christmas, and as long as you keep him real in your heart, then 
the world will be a better place."

"I... guess so."

"Now look at Mr. Floppy.  Think of all the joy and happiness he's 
brought you.  Does he deserve to be thrown out just because he was 
paid for by your dad and me rather than made by Santa Claus?"

"No.  I guess not."

"So let's get Mr. Floppy back to your room, and I'll make you some hot cocoa."

"Okay."  Michael did as his mom asked, but despite her words, the 
world had lost just a bit of its magic.

************

May was pretending to be asleep in bed.  She could hear her little 
brother Luis sneaking up on her.  Kenny was off at college, so now it 
was her job to be the ambush victim every Christmas.  She heard and 
felt Luis jump on the bed and tackle her.  They wrestled around until 
May managed to pin Luis, saying, "Winner and still champion," and 
making roaring sounds just like Kenny had done when he had won.

Both boys then looked over to the door, expecting to see their 
father.  He had always been right there every Christmas after they 
finished their little wrestling match, but not this year.  Luis said, 
"Maybe we can get dad."

So they snuck into dad's room.  He appeared to be still sleeping, so 
they jumped onto the bed, yelling and screaming to wake him up. 
Finally they stopped, but Luis kept shaking his dad, saying, "Daddy, 
wake up.  Wake up, daddy, wake up."  Finally he turned to May and 
asked, "What's wrong with daddy, Mikey?  He won't get up."

May knew, but she didn't want to say.  "It's... just something.  I'll 
try to get him up.  You go down and make yourself some breakfast."

"O... okay."

Luis left the room, and May checked her father, just like they had 
taught her in health class.  But there was no pulse, no heartbeat,and 
the body was noticeably colder than it should've been.  May crawled 
off the bed, sat in a chair and cried.  She was still crying when she 
heard the phone ring and her brother call out, "Mikey, it's Kenny."

May wiped her eyes and went downstairs.  She took the phone and 
shooed Luis back to the kitchen.  When she spoke into the receiver, 
Kenny asked, "Hey, kiddo.  Luis said something was wrong with dad. 
What's up?"

"Kenny, daddy's... dead."  She sniffled back some tears.  She 
couldn't cry.  Big boys weren't supposed to cry.

"Are you sure?"  May explained what she had done.  "Okay, just to 
make sure, call an ambulance.  Now.  Then call Mrs. McGuillicutty and 
ask her to come over.  I've got a car I can borrow.  I'll be home by 
noon."

The next few hours were a grief stricken blur as May watched people 
come and go.  Finally Kenny got home and things settled down.  At the 
end of the day, Kenny said, "Okay, you guys have had a rough day, so 
why don't we open the presents now?"

May was too upset and blurted out, "I hate Christmas!  I never want 
to open another present again!"

"Hey!  Don't ever let me hear you say that again!  I don't care about 
your opinion of presents, but Christmas is about family.  Saying you 
hate Christmas is saying you hate family.  Every year, dad went to a 
lot of trouble to make Christmas a special time for you.  Don't let 
your grief ruin that."

With tears in her eyes, May said, "Kenny, what are we going to do now?"

Kenny took her in his arms.  "We'll find a way through.  We'll stick 
together as a family and find a way through."

************

Michael walked downstairs, his soft, blue nightie clinging to his 
form like a lover's caress.  He saw the stack of presents and smiled. 
Right in the center was a carved ivory bunny.  He was eighteen and 
the quickest way to get him to smile was still give him a bunny.

He walked to the kitchen and got out a box of Special K (a girl had 
to watch his figure), and prepared his bowl of cereal.  While eating, 
he heard a strange pop, but thought nothing of it.  Only a short 
while later, he noticed a strange flickering of lights from the 
living room.  He went back and nearly freaked when he saw that the 
Christmas tree was on fire!

He ran through the room and upstairs, banging on his parents' door. 
After they were awake, he ran back to his room, grabbed a coat and 
boots and ran to the rope ladder in the box at the end of the hall, 
under the window.  His father was waiting and tried to usher him 
through the window.  He tried to go back, realizing he had forgotten 
Mr. Floppy, but the flames were already coming up the stairs and 
almost to his bedroom door.  He regretfully went through the window 
and retreated to the family's place of safety.

After the fire was over and some of the rubble was cleared, he found 
what remained of Mr. Floppy.  The only thing left was his head, and 
it was covered in soot and burn marks.  His parents thought it was 
just silly, girlish sentiment when he held it and cried.  They didn't 
understand.  Mr. Floppy had come to symbolize the essence of the 
season to him.  When he went up in flames, so did most of the magic 
of Christmas.

************

May slammed her book closed.  "I'm never going to get this!"

Kenny told her, "Relax, and just go with it.  You'll get it."

"History's just a mystery to me.  I'd much rather add up a column of 
numbers.  Math is so much more... precise."

"So when you get to college, major in accounting or math.  But for 
now, you got to finish all these little classes that the school 
district, in its infinite wisdom, has determined that you need to 
take."

"Kenny, I was thinking about that.  About going to college after I 
graduate next May."

"Yeah?"

"I was thinking that I could put off going to college for a few 
years.  I could take your job at the plant, and you could go back to 
college and finish up.  Then maybe you could get a better job, and 
make it easier for you and Luis while I was away at college."

"No way, kiddo.  You've got a scholarship to State, and next 
September, you're off to college."

"But it's only a partial scholarship.  You had a full scholarship."

"Which I'm not even sure I'm eligible for anymore."

"But-"

"Mikey, I appreciate the thought, but it's time for some blunt 
honesty.  The most I was ever going to be was a ball jockey, running 
a weird shaped hunk of air and plastic up and down a hundred yards of 
turf.  If I was good AND lucky, maybe I could've gone pro.  But you 
and Luis?  You've got the brains to really take yourself places.  But 
not if you're slaving away in a factory making assembly-line 
furniture for 12 hours out of every day."

"But-"

"No more buts.  You're going to college and that's final."

"Thanks, Kenny."

"That's what family is for."

************

Michael wandered through the dance hall.  It was the last dance 
before finals, and even though Christmas was a few weeks away, the 
official theme was "The Holiday Season."  All the holidays of the 
time were supposed to be represented, but about 80 percent of the 
decorations were the standard Christmas fare.

He wandered out of the hall to the open area outside.  There was no 
one out there, but that was okay.  Michael didn't really feel like 
company.  He figured he'd spend the rest of the dance outside, but 
after a few minutes, he realized his dress and stockings were scant 
protection from the cool December air.  He was about to return to the 
hall when someone placed a heavy coat around his shoulders.  He 
turned and saw a handsome, young man and smiled up at him.  Michael 
said, "Thank you."

May said, "What's a gentleman for?  My name is Michael."

"My name is May."

"No offense, but you don't seem much in the spirit of the holidays."

"I'm not really.  Last year my house burned down on Christmas 
morning.  Between that and some business setbacks, things haven't 
been the same.  I guess I'm just feeling a little melancholy."

"I know the feeling," May mused.  "Five years ago, my father died on 
Christmas morning.  Passed away in his sleep.  My brothers and I 
always managed to make Christmas something special despite that, but 
without them..."

Michael finished the statement, "Christmas just doesn't have the same magic."

The two of them looked into each other's eyes and May said, "Neither 
one of us seems happy here.  Want to go get a latte or something?"

"I'd like that."

And having found each other, a little of the magic of Christmas was restored.

************

"What?  You can't be serious!" Kenny said.

May replied, "I'm sorry, Kenny.  But I love this girl and I'm going 
to marry her."

"But what about your family?  Luis is going to be entering College 
next year.  We need your help."

"I'm sorry, but I've got a woman I love and a family to be.  I've got 
to think of them first."

"Them?  Don't tell me you got this girl knocked up?"

"Yeah, I got her pregnant."

"Great!  So because you can't keep it in your pants, Luis and I have 
got to suffer?  Why couldn't you at least use protection?"

"HEY!  For the record, I did use protection.  It just failed.  And 
just to forestall any further argument along these lines, I asked her 
BEFORE I knew she was pregnant.  The pregnancy just speeds everything 
up."

"So because you and your little slut can't-"  Kenny wasn't able to 
finish his statement when May slammed her fist as hard as she could 
into the side of his face, knocking him to the ground.

"Don't you EVER talk that way about May again!"

Luis got between them.  "Come on, guys.  We're a family here.  We can 
work this out."

May said nothing as Kenny stood.  Kenny said, "Nothing to work out. 
Little Mikey wants to choose his girlfriend over his family, he can 
just get the hell out and never come back."

May was shocked.  Luis said, "Kenny, you don't mean that?"

Kenny remained silent and stoic.  May angrily said, "Fine.  If that's 
how you want it, I am out of here," and turned and walked towards the 
door, grabbing her coat as she went.

Luis turned to his eldest brother.  "Kenny, please."  But Kenny said 
nothing and walked towards the kitchen.  Luis dashed out the door to 
catch his brother, intercepting him half way down the walk.  "Mikey, 
wait.  Come on back inside.  Kenny's just angry.  He'll cool down. 
Don't ruin Christmas."

"Me ruin Christmas?"  May pointed back to the house.  "I'm not the 
one running him out of the house!"

"Kenny's just angry.  You did everything he couldn't.  You'll 
graduate college next May, and you've got a job lined up.  Now you 
come in and say you're not going to be moving home.  He's upset, but 
he'll get over it."

"Fine.  When he gets over it, I'll be in my dorm room.  I didn't ask 
him to go George Bailey on me.  I didn't ask him to sacrifice his 
future for me."

"Mikey-"

"Luis!"  May took a deep breath.  "I'm sorry.  I really am.  Our 
original plan was that we'd marry in a few years after you'd gone 
through college, but with the baby on the way...  I'll still do what 
I can for you, but I've got to look after May.  I'm going to be a 
father, Luis.  That's got to come first."

"I understand.  Just give Kenny some time."

May sighed.  "He's got all the time he needs.  He's got my number at 
the dorm."  Luis tried to protest, but May just walked past him to 
the beat-up clunker car she had bought earlier that year.

************

Michael's father was almost yelling.  "I can't believe you're going 
to marry this... this pauper!"

"I love him father.  He's a good man who treats me right."

"But the other boys we introduced you to."

"Overstuffed puffins more concerned with profit management and 
inner-business politicking than with me.  Michael loves me, daddy, 
and I love him.  That's all that matters."

"Fine!  You want to marry this boy against my wishes, you do this 
without us.  I'll disown you.  Cut you out of the will.  Cut you off 
without a penny."

"If that's the way you want it.  Michael and I will make do."

"Hah!  You've never had to exist without money before.  Wait'll you 
find out what the real world is like.  You'll be back begging for 
forgiveness."

"Is that what you think of me?  That I'm some hot house flower who'll 
fold at the first sign of trouble?  I'll show you!  I'll make it on 
my own without your damned money!"  And before his father could say 
another word, Michael stormed out of the house in tears.

He drove right back to the dormitory, seeing his intended drive up at 
the same time.  He ran right into his beloved's arms.

"What's wrong?"

"My father and I had a big blowout.  He threw me out of the family. 
I didn't even get a chance to tell him I was pregnant."

"Sounds like what happened with my family.  So I guess all we've got 
now is each other."

Michael sniffled.  "Some Christmas we've got."

"Hey.  As long as we're together, we'll make Christmas a special 
place for you, me, our baby," May rubbed his tummy, "and any other 
babies that come along."

Michael was so caught up in the moment that he kissed May with all 
his heart and soul.

************

May was at her desk doing the bills.  Little Muriel came up to the 
edge of her desk and asked, "Daddy?"

"Yes, dear?"

"Daddy, I was thinking that since we couldn't afford store 
decorations this year, we could make our own.  I drew this tree." 
May, barely paying attention, just made non-committal agreeing 
sounds.  "Daddy?"

"Muriel, daddy's very busy right now.  Whatever it is, ask your mom."

Muriel was sad, but said, "Okay."  She went over to her mother at the 
typewriter.  "Mommy, I made up this tree, and thought we could get 
together and make up a bunch more for Christmas."

Barely noticing the crayon drawn tree, Michael took it and set it on 
the other side of the typewriter.  "Very nice, dear.  I'll put it up 
on the fridge later."

"No, mommy, it's for-"

"Muriel, honey, mommy's very busy right now.  Why don't you go 
upstairs and play with your dollies?"

In real life, neither noticed their daughter run upstairs with tears 
in her eyes, but now their attentions were forced to her, even if 
their eyes were not.

Then the world dropped out from under them again.

************

They were back in their own bodies, stunned.  May looked over and 
picked up the tree her daughter had drawn.  Michael looked around, 
seeing the decoration-less room they were in.  They both stood at the 
same time.  Michael said, "I'm gonna go out and get some Christmas 
stuff.  Will you-"

"I'll take care of Muriel.  We'll get started on some home-made 
decorations, but you'll need to get construction paper, glue, et 
cetera."

"Be back shortly."

After Michael left, May went upstairs to Muriel's room.  "Honey?"

"Yes, mommy?"  Patty had disappeared right after granting the wish, 
only seconds before.

"I'm sorry your father and I haven't been really Christmassy this 
year.  He and I just forgot what the season was all about."

"Okay.  Where is daddy?"

"He's out getting some more paper and stuff.  Let's you and me get 
started on some decorations of our own."

Muriel gleefully yelled "Okay!" and leapt off the bed to get into her 
supply of art stuff.

After about fifteen minutes, May said, "Mommy's got to go make a quick call."

************

Michael was running through the stores, getting a bunch of supplies 
for their home-made Christmas.  He was walking right by the thrift 
store when he saw it, knowing it was perfect.

After he loaded all his purchases into the car, he made a quick call 
before driving from the mall.

************

It was Christmas morning in the Lucas household.  The walls were 
covered in paper trees and Santas, and glitter covered paper 
ornaments were stuck to the tree.  The place was clearly home-done, 
but that only made it all the homier.

They passed out all the gifts, until only one very big box was left. 
May picked it up, figuring it was for Muriel, she read the tag, 
saying, "And this one is for... me?"

She looked to Michael for some kind of explanation, but he said, 
"Just open it."

Muriel tore open the wrapping and paper and opened the box.  She was 
surprised when she saw a big, stuffed bunny, larger even than Muriel. 
"It's... Mr. Floppy.  But how?"

"It's not the exact same doll, but when I saw him in the thrift store 
I knew he was for you."

May picked up the stuffed bunny and hugged Michael, tears in her 
eyes.  "Why are you crying, mommy?"

Wiping tears from her eyes, May replied, "Sometimes adults cry when 
they're happy."

"That's silly."

"Yes, dear."  The doorbell rang, and May pushed Michael towards the 
door.  "You got me all misty eyed, so you get that."

Michael walked to the door with a big smile on his face, figuring he 
knew who was on the other side of the door.  But when he opened the 
door, he was stunned into immobility.  "Luis?"

Luis stepped in and hugged him.  "Hey, big brother.  Long time, no see."

Behind Luis, Kenny stepped up to the door.  "Hey, squirt.  Got room 
at your table for a broken-down old fool, too stubborn to admit when 
he's wrong?"

Michael grabbed his brother and hugged him, tears in his eyes. 
"Always room for you."

May said, "Welcome, guys.  Come on in.  We don't have much, but 
you're welcome to share everything we have."

As the guys hung their coats on a nearby coat-rack, Michael said, 
"Things might be stretched a little tighter than you think, May."

"Why's that?"

The doorbell rang again, and Michael grinned.  "Your turn to get the door."

May gave him a curious look, but stepped past him to the door.  When 
she opened it, she almost feinted.  "Momma?"

May's mother stepped in and grabbed her daughter to her tightly.  She 
hugged her so tightly that May thought she was going to pass out. 
When they separated, May saw her father just behind her mom. 
"Daddy," she said properly.

"May-flower.  Can you ever forgive me?"

"Oh, daddy!"  She leapt into his arms and hugged him.  "But what 
happened?  Why'd you come?"

Her mother said, "Michael called us yesterday.  He said it'd be 
wonderful if we could both come by for Christmas."

"We're kind of packed, but it will be great."

Kenny said, "Hey, there's always room in a Lucas household for 
family," while giving Michael a knowing look.

Suddenly, Luis said, "Hey, Mikey, there's one last gift under the tree."

"Really?  I thought we got 'em all."  Michael walked over and picked 
it up, reading the tag.  "To Muriel; From Patty"  He handed the gift 
to Muriel.  "Patty a friend of yours?"

"Yeah."  She tore open the wrapping and opened the box.  Inside was a 
pair of ballet slippers in her size, these ones silver.  Beneath the 
shoes was an envelope.

Written on the envelope was a note saying, "I may not be able to use 
magic except in exchange for gold, but sometimes the intrinsic magic 
of gold is enough.  Merry Christmas!"

She opened the envelope and pulled out the paper inside.  It was a 
certificate to a ballet school for a year's worth of lessons.  May 
looked at it and said, "Patty must be a very special friend."

Muriel smiled and said, "Very special."

Luis said, "Come on, guys.  Let's make dinner!"

They got together and started making dinner.  At one point, May 
pulled her husband aside and said, "Y'know, I can't actually recall 
ever having told you about Mr. Floppy."

"Yeah, well..."

"It happened to you, too.  You lived my life while I lived yours."

"I guess so.  Any idea what happened?"

"No.  But it was definitely a needed wake-up call.  So what do you 
think after living my life?"

"It definitely gave me a better understanding of you, but..."

"What?"

"Nothing."

"Come on, hun.  What's up?"

"It's just..."

"Yes?"

"After living your life, I realize that I prefer sleeping in 
nightgowns to the pajamas I normally wear.  Would you think me too 
fruity if I wore one of your nighties to sleep in?"

May grinned.  "I think we could work something out."  Then she kissed 
him, and they walked back to the rest of their family.

************

HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO ALL MY READERS!
"This is reality, not T.V.  Can't you tell the difference?"
"Sure.  I just like T.V. better."

J R D
jrdss@pobox.alaska.net

-- 
Pursuant to the Berne Convention, this work is copyright with all rights
reserved by its author unless explicitly indicated.
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